When the Story Blesses the Kingdom Number 8 #becauseofconcordia

                                                                                                                    photo by Heidi McClelland

A thread in the stories shared about the Concordia Ann Arbor campus is that students were "met right where they were."  That's on the path and in the journey of God's refining work in their lives. There is an expansive look at the culture of grace here at CUAA and a firm directive to live out the extension of the hand of Jesus to those arriving on campus. Here, Emily shares a story that blesses the Kingdom, because she was welcomed and included to be "a part of us." CUAA is not a "one size fits all" campus.  The faculty, staff, students and community know the leader they serve and seek to live out being followers of Jesus on mission together. 

She is a part of the story that matters. 

When the Story Blesses the Kingdom

by Emily Cohoe

I’ve spent the last week or so being at a loss for words That was partially because I was in denial, but also because I felt I wasn’t the alumni you all wanted to hear from.

I didn’t go into church work. Actually, I dropped my church work major and knew I wanted to work in a secular environment.

I didn’t love my Concordia academic experience. Actually, I got so frustrated that I looked to transfer.

I didn’t stay in the Lutheran faith after graduation. Actually, I’ve spent the last 5 years deconstructing and reconstructing my ideas of what it means to be a Christian. 

But.

Concordia was exactly what I needed at the time.

The people I met at Concordia were passionate, empathetic, and even a little bit quirky. But, they changed my life for the better and kept me going during some of the darkest times of my life.

Before I transferred to CUAA, ( I was 300+ miles away at another college) when I got the news that one of my childhood best friends was killed. The day of his funeral was the day of one of my exams. I went sobbing to the professor's office shortly after finding out about Ryan’s death and asked if I could miss my exam to go to his funeral. She apologized, but said I would ultimately need to obtain a copy of his death certificate from his parents in order to be excused. If I didn’t ask for the death certificate, I’d get a 0 and fail out of the class. This ultimately would cause me to fail out of nursing school. Missing the funeral of my friend of over 15 years made my decision to transfer an easy one. I was lost, I needed change.

Fast forward 3 years. I’m a sophomore at Concordia in the middle of finals week when I find out my grandma died. Her funeral was the day of my final math exam. Based on my first experience with death in college, I wasn’t optimistic I’d be able to miss my final.

Sobbing once again, I go to my professor's office with the news of grandma's death and that her funeral was the day of the final. She gave me the tightest hug and told me to go be with my family. She gave me her cell phone number and said to text when I got back in town.

I got back after finals were over and texted my professor. She said whenever I was ready, I could come take my exam. I went to campus and down to her office, where she had coffee and donuts waiting for me while I took my final. She even told me while I was gone, my family was on the daily prayer list for chapel.

The people of Concordia are what kept me there. Then there also was the loud, obnoxious group of friends I met thanks to my high school friend who already attended CUAA. When I transferred, all 15+ of them welcomed me with open arms and became the people I relied on most throughout my undergrad. Known as ‘Squad’ on campus, we were constantly adventuring together on and off campus. These friends constantly showed up to any performance of mine, and would even make a big spectacle and dress up as if they were going to the Oscars, not a community theatre production.

There isn’t a place remotely close to CUAA. Their passion for all people and spreading the Gospel is so unique. While I didn’t go down the church work path, I love going back to campus and watching students find their faith and pursue their passions. Concordia Ann Arbor is a college worth saving.

My heart is with you, CUAA. You are a city on a hill.

Emily Cohoe

Concordia Ann Arbor Alum

Class of 2019

She currently lives in Perrysburg, Ohio.

She is the enrollment marketing manager at University of Toledo

 and oversees all enrollment related marketing.

 She just received a Masters in Educational Psychology.