Some of us were scared about the future, some of us were sad about leaving, most of us were excited about what was next, but all of us were graduating from Eureka College. As a member of the graduating class, I received my diploma, changed the position of the tassel on my hat, and eventually changed my Facebook status to "alumnus." Though the diploma given to me carried only my name, this culmination of my undergraduate career was not solely the result of my own efforts. The strength, support, and encouragement of others both challenged and reassured me during my time at Eureka College, ultimately playing a huge role in my success there.

The various members of the EC faculty helped to cultivate a thirst for knowledge, providing valuable wisdom and needed insight. My family remained a rock of support; an anchor that ensured a strong footing throughout all of my adventures. I developed friendships that will hopefully last a lifetime and learned what it truly means to "be there" for someone. While the college only recognized me during that graduation ceremony, my presence there was only possible because of the role so many individuals have played in my life.

Yet, the picture as painted remains incomplete. My family, though serving as an anchor, was a great distance away. My professors were responsible for my intellectual development, but their domain was only in the classroom. My friends mean the world to me, but as my peers we journeyed the road together, all of us needing the same guidance and support. It was God's Church in all it's various forms that provided this support and encouragement. Several church related institutions provided scholarship support that helped to make my education affordable. Local congregations, the Christian Church in Illinois and Wisconsin, and several General Units provided opportunities to take on responsibility and grow as a leader. Yet, the gift I am most grateful for is the wisdom, insight, and help offered to me by so many individuals within the Church who are serving God in a variety of ways. The words of these individuals and the examples provided to me by the way they carry out their ministry, allowed me to honestly examine my own understanding of the Christian faith and explore the call developing within me.

My education and faith understanding has prepared me to pursue graduate studies in ministry and theology. While I am far from certain where God is calling me on this faith journey, I am sure that wherever I go and whatever I am doing, God's Church, and those servants within the Church, will be there to nurture and support me. I shook the hand of the college President and walked offstage, forever grateful because of the time and energy that so many individuals have invested in my life. It is their faces I see next to my name on that diploma.

Beau Underwood is a member of the Student Ecumenical Partnership (STEP) Leadership Team and is a member of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Princeton, Illinois.