Kelly Hopkins ’18
She had dreamed of being a mechanical engineer since fifth grade, planning to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Then Kelly Hopkins ’18 realized something very important after she started college: She didn’t want to be an engineer after all.
So, the next semester, she followed her own path and switched her major to computer information science.
“My mom was really supportive of me, sympathetic and understanding,” said Hopkins.
As she shifted gears academically and took 18-hour course loads—which included classes such as calculus, physics and circuits—she found a routine as a student and an athlete. She competed on the tennis team, a sport she’d enjoyed since she was 9.
“I had to manage my days hour by hour—class, practice, homework, take a nap,” she said of her busy schedule.
When it came to deepening her faith, she took the same approach—step by step. Although raised in the church, she worried about being “Christian enough” for Messiah. However, during her college experience, she says her perception of God has been shaped.
“I definitely feel I have all the tools to have a relationship with God. He cares about every aspect of your life,” she said. “Some people think they’re too far gone for God to want them, but there’s that whole Prodigal Son thing. I still don’t feel comfortable putting my hands up (during worship), but you do your thing. I’ll do my thing.”
What was the most difficult part of her college experience? Networking. “I’m an introvert,” she said, “but I’ve gotten a lot better at public speaking—reluctantly.”
Further honing her networking skills, she served as the Student Government Association vice president for diversity affairs. Before graduation, she landed a job as a technology and solutions analyst at Deloitte in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
“God gives you infinite chances. No human would do that. The point is to not abuse that, but it’s comforting,” said Hopkins as she embarks on her career.