Laurie Stroud

My Christian faith shapes how I see both my future and my purpose in pursuing higher education. I grew up in church, spending many Sundays sitting “criss cross applesauce” on the floor with young children, reading Bible stories and helping teach basic truths about God’s love. These moments planted and nurtured something in me. I …

My Christian faith is the foundation of my decision to go to college. I was born prematurely at 30 weeks, measuring the size of a 24-week baby. Doctors diagnosed me with sensory neural hearing loss and told my parents I might never walk, run, talk, or even cry. In those fragile first days of my …

My Christian faith has never been just something I claim. It has been the quiet strength guiding me through some of the most defining moments of my life. I grew up watching my mom pray at the kitchen table late at night, her Bible open beside a stack of unpaid bills. I did not always …

I was raised in a home that prioritized service. Our family motto is, “Osbornes leave it better than we found it,” and we mean that both literally and relationally. I was taught from a young age the impact that serving others has on both myself and the person I am serving. My passion for service …

My Christian faith has been a constant foundation in my life, shaping the way I view myself, my future, and the decisions I make—especially my decision to attend college. Growing up, I was surrounded by people who attended college, and higher education was often viewed as the expected next step. My two older twin sisters …