This is my McCormick Story...

04-06-2022

By Priscilla RodriQuez

1. Which McCormick tradition/practice/activity/ policy are you most proud of?

WORSHIP, WORSHIP, WORSHIP! Worship at the Seminary is creative and often innovative. It is the place where the voices of so many are heard through various expressions of art (music, dance, paintings, spoken word, etc.) It is the place where the gifts of many tongues often ring throughout the year. Thank you to Dr. Lis Valle, past and current worship teams for your work every year to assure that we have these various experiences of worship.

2. What’s your most difficult in-seminary memory? What happened and did you learn anything from it?

My most difficult in-seminary memory is this time of the pandemic. The sadness of receiving news for prayers for those who had COVID 19, those who were hospitalized, and those who lost loved ones that they were not able to say their final good bye to. The hardest personal loss within the Seminary for me was that of Miss Dola Thompson-Hill. Her beautiful Spirit, warm smile, and conversations with her are missed.

I have really learned to have a greater appreciation for life itself, work colleagues, student colleagues, family, church family, and my inner circle of friends.

3. What is your memorable McCormick event?

I believe this happened for me this week, when the celebration of student appreciation week brought back students for a meal at the Seminary. I felt like all of my five senses just came to life! To see the faces fill the room with their smiles, the sound of laughter and conversation, the touch of hugs and fists bumps, and the smell of the food that we experienced. The joy of sitting together with a fellow classmate for class that evening was wonderful. It all just felt amazing! I just had to take it all in. Thank you Tracy, Thehil and David for this wonderful moment!

4. What was the most enjoyable book you had to read for seminary work?

Well, I have two books that have been most enjoyable to me. The first book is by Nancy Pineda Madrid, Suffering and Salvation in Ciudad Juarez Mexico, and Her Story: Women in Christian Tradition by Barbara J. MacHaffie.

5. What was your favorable class and why?

This is a hard one to answer! So I will share two, not in any particular order. One is the Book of Isaiah with Dr. Kang, because it was one of the first online courses I took. I found Dr. Kang’s course to be very engaging and thought provoking. As a Latina, I was grateful to hear the voices of Latinx women, along with others, in the course. The second one is the course that I am currently taking “Prayers of the People” with Dr. Ken Sawyer and Rev. Nannette Banks. This course has brought the end of my seminary studies full circle.

6. In retrospect, do you think the expectations you had when you were joining seminary have been met?

Yes, for the most part. I believe I only took two courses that didn’t quite meet my expectations. My seminary journey has been a transformational journey.

7. What is your advice to the continuing students?

My advice to continuing students would be first to be sure to take a Pastoral Care Class, a class on Education, and the Prayers of the People course when it comes back up. If you are an artist in any way shape or form, and the occasion arises that there be a course on the Arts as expression of activism, theology, etc. If one doesn’t come up, then request that one be a part of the curriculum or create a space where your voices as artists can be heard. Finally, be sure that you have some kind of support system. You are not in your seminary journey alone, there are many there with you. There are many willing to extend a hand and/or just be a listening ear. Never be afraid to seek out and look for help when needed.

8. Any parting shot?

PRAY PRAY PRAY! Pray your way through Seminary!