Delila Carter
Current Role
CNA 2, Salem Hospital
Major
Health Science, 2016
What’s one thing that surprised you about Corban?
How much I connected with the community. I was a pretty new to Christianity during my freshman year, and I had the fear of not being “Christian enough” to be able to build the friendships I was hoping for. Yet, the Lord placed me in a hall with girls who had similar stories as mine, and many of those women are still my best friends today. It was a time of healing for all of us, and as a result I believe we all got closer to Christ.
What about Corban specifically prepared you for this next step in your journey?
Prior to my senior year I was getting straight A’s, feeling like I could accomplish anything because I did what I was “supposed” to do. It’s not until I got my first “C” on a test my senior year that I realized I was only learning the material for a grade. It is hard for students not to be so focused on what grade they obtain, and instead focus on how they are going to apply what they have learned to the real world. Receiving my first couple of B’s, the amount of work I had to do with upper-level science classes, along with having many tough conversations with my professors is what prepared me for my next chapter in life.
What’s one thing you would want to tell someone starting their journey at Corban?
Breathe. Your journey is just beginning. You may not know what you want to do with your career, and even if you do, be prepared for that to change! The Lord uses our Corban experience to grow us academically AND spiritually. Enjoy every moment of your years here: pour into your relationships, serve the Salem community, and get involved in all of the activities on campus. But also, find time for REST. You cannot be loving to other people if your emotional health is not well. Take care of your body and your soul. Find balance with all of the things you have to do and learn how to say no to things that are distractions from what you are pursuing. It is good to enjoy all of these activities, but it can also cause huge amounts of stress when it overpowers your time for school.
Who is one professor who had a strong influence on your development? Can you give an example?
Honestly, all of my professors were such great mentors to me. However, Dr. Sarah Comstock really poured into my life during my senior year at Corban and was a huge source of encouragement during a time of great stress. In fact, she was one of the professors who had tough conversations with me that I mentioned earlier. Dr. Comstock actually gave me my first “C” on an exam (it’s okay Dr. Comstock, I have moved on). I won’t forget how I went to her office with tears in my eyes wondering why I had received the grade that I did. Yet, she was the first professor to look at me and say “Delila, I care about you. I want you to succeed! I don’t care what grade you get on my test, I care about what you get on the MCAT. I want you to be a good professional! It’s not about getting an “A” on my tests, I want you to LEARN.” I needed to hear that. Hence, I still remember that conversation today. I could not be more thankful to her in preparing me for the real world. It was the tough love I needed to break that idol of perfectionism and focus more on becoming the woman the Lord wanted me to be. I am very thankful for professors like Dr. Comstock who really invested in me as a student!
How were faith, leadership and ethics woven into your courses? How did those elements prepare you for life, regardless of where you work?
Faith, leadership and ethics were very vivid in every aspect of my courses. Faith was very prominent obviously in my Bible courses, but also in my science courses. I remember having many conversations about evolution and how we as Christians would respond to evolutionary theory. Leadership was intertwined in many group projects, and one in particular taught me how to be a good leader amidst the challenges of working with people unlike me (Thank you Allen Jones and “Feminism and the Bible”). Not to mention the formal presentations or research projects that many health science majors had to prepare that equipped us with leadership skills. Ethics is very connected to faith and leadership, so it was also equally as interlaced with many of our classes through academic integrity and honesty. These elements trained me as a Christian who lives in a non-Christian world and works in a non-Christian workforce. I perceive my job differently than my peers and find purpose in it amidst the difficulty and stress I face. Ethics guides the integrity I possess in whatever I do, and the morals I use to make tough decisions. I also have the ability to tactfully lead in not just my job, but also in my church and Salem community.
Were there any unexpected challenges or setbacks after graduation?
I applied to medical school and P.A. school right after Corban, and didn’t get in either. Yet, the Lord shutting those doors was honestly the best thing that could happen to me, even though during those times I was very frustrated with where I was at in my journey. It was difficult looking at my peers in medical school or in their medical professions while I felt like I was being left behind (comparison is TRULY the thief of joy). However, getting those rejections helped me reflect on what I was truly passionate about, which is people and science, and not medicine. Working in the hospital for over three years has helped me distinguish between those things. Long story short, I am actually about to start my Master’s in Secondary Science Education in February. I am excited about being able to pour into students the way my mentors pour into me, and at the same time teach the subject I love!