God Has Better Plans

Heidi Dart is proud to call herself a communication student at Southwestern.

When God has a purpose for you and a better place for you, it’s best if you follow God’s plans and not your own.  This is what Heidi Dart, a freshman public relations and marketing major, learned.

“My parents came here to Southwestern, but I told myself that I wanted to follow a new path.  I wasn’t about to go to SWAU,” says Dart. “But last year during spring break I came to visit and I broke down crying. My mom asked why I was crying and I told her that I knew God wanted me here, but I didn’t want to go.”

Dart is from Colorado, where she attended Campion Academy and served as a resident assistant.  But her experience working at summer camp at Glacier View Ranch is what she will never forget.

“I was 13 years old when they hired me to be part of the kitchen staff, but later I was hired as a counselor,” says Dart. “Summer camp can really put you on a spiritual high if you allow it. I had some of my best and worst times at camp, but there are 50 other people there to help you out and help you grow spiritually and mentally.”

Summer camp not only helps the counselor grow spiritually, physically, and mentally; it also exposes them to different kids from different backgrounds.

“Camp gives you, as a counselor, a lot of experience in a variety of households,” says Dart. “Also as we tend to be in our own little bubble, it’s great to see what other think about Jesus. And it’s good to work with different personalities. As I’ve learned in my communication classes, different people experience life differently.”

“That is one of the reasons that I chose to study public relations,” says Dart. “Also, I prayed about it and talked to my uncle who graduated from Southwestern with a communication degree. I really felt like God wanted me to do this.”

Since her move to Southwestern Adventist University, Dart has learned to love the school and everything it stands for, especially her professors, who she finds very helpful and knowledgeable.             “The professors I’ve had during my freshman year have been great,” says Dart. “We want people to care about us and my professors were willing to be there for me whenever I needed to just talk.  Every time I left the room one of my professors would tell me to have a good day and just randomly ask me how I was doing. It’s really great to have professors who don’t just treat you as a number, but as a person.  Having professors like this really helps us in our studies and our education as well.

“The biggest impact that Southwestern has had on me is in giving me opportunities,” says Dart. “Since I came in as a freshman, I’ve been able to take advantage of so many opportunities because the faculty and staff trust me. My boss at enrollment didn’t know who I was, but he hired me to go to Colorado and do a college fair at my old high school.  I didn’t expect for them to hire me since I was new. They had so much faith in me that it motivated me to do my best in everything I do for them.”

Dart has now learned to trust in God and listen to what He has to say. She is grateful that she listened to God’s voice and followed in the path that He had for her.

“Southwestern has a very friendly campus,” says Dart. “I’ve never felt so much at home even though I’m so far away from home.  This is a place where you can make great friends. It may only be 10 friends, but they will be almost like a family, and I like that very much.”

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