Anthony Priest

Anticipated graduation year: 2010

Major: Psychology

Hometown: Olympia, Wash.

Whitworth activities/clubs: Jubilation (sacred dance club), men's chorus, ballroom dance, Up 'Til Dawn, TOM'S Shoes Campus Representative, intramural soccer, basketball and volleyball; resident assistant for 2009-10 school year.

Favorite book: A Grace Disguised, by Jerry Sittser

Favorite movie: Happy Feet, Freedom Writers, Madagascar, Blood Diamond, Hotel Rwanda

Favorite quote: "You must be the change you want to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi

Favorite thing about Whitworth: Around every corner of this school is a student or faculty member who is genuine. In opposition to the social trends of an American society where we walk all over each other to reach the top, at Whitworth we walk hand in hand, supporting one another in attaining and exceeding our goals.

Favorite off-campus study program experience: Spring Break '09 Jamaica mission trip through SERVE! The group made all the difference in the world, and I am grateful for getting to know all of them on a personal level; they have been a true blessing in my life. We remain close amidst the busy college life here at Whitworth. We will forever be able to think back to the vulnerability and trust shared atop the roof of the Verney House Hotel in Jamaica. Our hosts were the most generous and caring individuals, always making certain that we were comfortable and enjoying our stay. They would even stop working to share words of wisdom with us to take back to the U.S. The children we served stole my heart forever. They played with us, loved on us, accepted us and taught us. The trip was truly life-changing.

Favorite professor: We are blessed here at Whitworth with amazing professors and I therefore do not have a favorite above all, but one of my many is Suzanne Ostersmith. She is the head of the dance minor here at Whitworth, and does not receive enough credit for all that she does for her students and how much she cares. I came into her Jazz I class with no prior dance experience whatsoever, and she has since taken me under her wing and been gracious with me throughout this learning process. She has given me the tools to take dance as far as my heart desires, and has done so with great enthusiasm and a gentle spirit. Suzanne has taught me technique I cannot even pronounce, let alone spell. I am extremely grateful for the impact she has had on my Whitworth experience, and for everything she has taught me.

Best Whitworth moment or experience: A great theologian and professor, Todd Cioffi, once told me to get as broad an education as possible while here at WU, and I took that advice very seriously. Trying new things seems to be the story of my time here, and I am blessed for every minute of it. I have been able to let go of any fears or predispositions and simply be open to whatever the Lord brings me. Since I received Cioffi's advice, I have found myself in theatre classes, dance, musicals, Jubilation, dance conferences in Utah, Tanzania next Jan Term, and mission trips to Jamaica, just to name a few. My overall experience would simply not have been all that it has become had I not learned to make myself vulnerable, and even to find comfort in that vulnerability.

Advice for incoming students: The first thing you do at Whitworth University should be to build relationships, meet people, and embrace the community here. Take full advantage of the opportunities at hand, because graduation comes much too quickly, and you do not want to think back on your experience and say. "I wish I would have tried that, or gone to that event, or gotten to know that person." Try new things. Branch out of your comfort zone.

What I plan to do after graduation: This will likely change by the time you read this, but at this point I plan to take some time off to work in the mission field, and then go to grad school and earn my doctorate in family counseling. Eventually I hope to run my own practice in counseling.