2007 graduates Lyndsie Kidd and Christa Mercer will room together and study same curriculum at Duke University.
Artist Alanis Morissette said it best in her 1996 smash hit, "And isn’t ironic….don’t you think?"
Christa Mercer (left) and Lyndsie Kidd at this year's
Commencement, held Saturday, May 12.
Life can be ironic, especially for two Virginia Wesleyan graduates who both plan to attend Duke University in the fall.
But the quirky story doesn’t stop there. In fact, it’s just the beginning of a tale which intertwines the two alumnae of the College.
Not having previously known each other, Lyndsie and Christa first met in 2003 at Virginia Wesleyan. For the first two years, the duo roomed together, took the same classes in the Religious Studies program and shared the same professors.
Four years later, they each graduated from Wesleyan, both majoring in Religious Studies, and are accepted into Duke University where they will soon begin work in the Masters of Divinity Program.
Their paths are similar, yet distinct. They share a common bond when they say they were called to ministry during their adolescent years of life.
"I’ve always wanted to go to Duke University since I can remember," said Christa. "At the age of 14, I received a calling to ministry."
Lyndsie mirrors Christa’s youth experience, saying ministry became her career path during her senior year of high school. "And I’ve been pursuing that calling ever since," she said.
During their four years at Virginia Wesleyan, both Lyndsie and Christa were at the top of their class, graduating summa cum laude and cum laude respectively. The two also worked in a church atmosphere during school to gain real-world experience. Christa worked in the children’s ministry at her church where her father is the minister; and Lyndsie completed an internship at Spring Branch Community Church to fulfill her requirement as a double major in Recreation and Leisure Studies.
"The combination of these two majors was perfect in beginning my preparation for student ministry," said Lyndsie. "I had the chance to complete an internship where I got to apply everything I learned in my undergraduate classes into a real life experience. The internship also helped me fill in the gaps where classroom learning couldn’t," she noted.
Christa also accredits the combination of academia and hands-on training as preparing her for her future in ministry.
"The religious studies department at Virginia Wesleyan is awesome," said Christa. "The mentors, such as the faculty, have prepared me for anything I will study in the future."
Two students with similar paths in life have chosen one school to continue their education. Both have left their mark on Virginia Wesleyan and are looking forward to the next phase of life.
When asked how they feel about attending Duke this fall, they have similar answers, ironically.
"I’m excited about ministry and being able to work with the entire congregation as a whole," said Christa. "I’ve spent time with the children’s ministry in church and now I want to experience the entire congregation."
Lyndsie says she too is "really excited about going to Duke Divinity in the fall to further my education and prepare for the ministry."
And just like undergraduate work, the two will once again be sharing spaces, the same curriculum and professors. "It’s great because we already know we can live together," Christa quipped.
The future for Lyndsie and Christa couldn’t be better, or more ironic.