No Longer ‘A Round Peg In A Square Hole’

Virtues student excited about future after fully embracing God’s design

The path to a life based on God’s design is not always a straight line.

And for one Virtues student, that path has had a few more turns than she expected. But after a few bumps in the road, the destination has become clear.

“It hasn’t turned out quite how I imagined it, but he’s got it, “ said Sierra, who is finishing up her two years in The Virtues Campus program. “It’s in God’s hands, and I know it’s going to be OK.”

Looking back at her senior year in high school, Sierra said she had narrowed down her career interests to animation and film production.

“I always had a drive to use my creative and artistic abilities to find a career,” she said.

When she entered The Virtues Campus program, one of the first things she did was take Career Direct, a comprehensive assessment that combines biblical principles with cutting-edge career guidance technology. It confirmed her feelings about her talents and interests, as her artistic side was listed at the top of her personalities in her report.

However, her parents expressed doubt about the potential career prospects for that field, causing Sierra to question if it was her best choice.

When it was time to start her college courses, she decided to pursue the field that was the second largest part of her personality — science. She began a journey that she thought would lead her into the field, ideally in biology or psychology.

“I struggled at first, and I think it was because I was ignoring a huge part of my personality,” Sierra said.

The more she tried to imagine herself in a scientific setting, the more difficult it became.

“I was working in a weakness of mine, and not a strength,” she said. “I was struggling with that and struggling to see God’s part in that plan. Now looking back, it wasn’t part of his plan for me. I wasn’t designed like that. I was designed to focus on that bigger part of my personality, and not ignore it.”

Sierra’s academic pastor at Virtues encouraged her to revisit her options related to the top results in her Career Direct report. This meant switching her major to Communications so that she could pursue a career in film production and animation.

“I knew I had to figure something out,” Sierra said. “I didn’t want to waste thousands of dollars on an education I don’t fit into.”

Before the end of her first year, she decided to change majors. However, she initially tried to switch to Liberal Arts instead of Communications.

“I was still trying to have a safety net — have something else to fall back on — and not jump fully into God’s plan,” Sierra said. “I have no doubt that that’s what he wants for me, to go into some form of entertainment and to get his message out that way.”

Sierra soon found out that her half-measure wouldn’t work anyway, as a major in Liberal Arts was not supported by the type of financial aid she needed.

“I feel like God had a hand in that. He was saying, ‘If you’re going to listen to me, really listen to me. Go into communications!’” she said with a laugh. 

Sierra is now on track to do just that, and she said she feels like she “can finally take a breath.” 

“I feel like now I’m a round peg in a round hole instead of a round peg in a square hole,” she said. 

Sierra added that her parents are on board with her decision, especially with her newfound enthusiasm for her future.

“They see how excited I am,” she said.

Sierra is currently working on finishing her online AA degree with Virtues’ partner, Waldorf University. This fall, she will attend Waldorf’s campus in Forest City, Iowa, to pursue a Communication Arts degree with a focus in Digital Media. She has also been awarded a scholarship that will cover 75 percent of her tuition.

“The more I think about it, the more I can’t wait to go,” she said.