Jessica in Uganda with Jemimah (right), a member of her Ugandan host family.
Jessica Kelley
Bachelor of science in psychology
St. Petersburg, Fla.
Following God's plan.
As a student at Southern Wesleyan University, Jessica Kelley discovered that no matter what plans she has in mind for her life, God’s plan is greater.
“I graduated from high school in 2005 and went through a hard time emotionally, so college was not in my thought process,” she said.
“I got a full time job, starting living what I thought was my life and felt discontent. But God had a greater plan for my life. Thankfully, with encouragement from a close friend I decided to apply to college and got accepted into Southern Wesleyan. With much hesitation, I followed God’s call to go.
Moving away from family and the warmth of sunny Florida was a challenge, but after arriving at SWU I could see God working in my life.
After changing my major at least three times, I found Psychology and the idea of helping those in the world who need to be loved. Everyone has a story, something they want to share with the world and all they need is someone to listen. Now that I have been at SWU for three years, I know that I want to go out and show God’s love - the same love I received when I stepped onto the SWU campus.”
Kelley spent a summer studying abroad at a university in Mukono, Uganda and discovered how God stretched her.
“It was incredible. It wasn’t at all what I expected it to be,” she said. “We’re very fast-paced. Over there, it’s about just spending time with people.”
Although Kelley found her classes in Uganda challenging, she learned much about their culture.
“History and traditional religion were hands-on learning in the classroom. You talked about it, then literally walked out of the classroom and were confronted with issues, like traditional religions and taboos.” For example, one of the local taboos Jessica learned about is that when you are driving and a squirrel crosses the road, then something bad will happen to your family.
She also spent some time with a local family and visited a school for the blind once a week.
“It was incredible for me to see kids fully embrace life in all aspects. They play soccer, even though they are completely blind and they are bookin’ it. They run better than I can walk. They know where the ball is, and are actually kicking the ball. They know how to wash their own clothes and make their own food,” she said.
“Southern Wesleyan has taught me to listen closely to my heavenly Father and learn to let others show me His love. Life is full of disappointment and fly-by-the-minute thrills, but the one thing I have truly gained from being at Southern Wesleyan is that I am content in the love of Jesus.”