Loving the outdoors, music, and her Tri Chi family, senior Emma Riley is a very involved Ouachitonian. From directing the winning Tri Chi Matches Tiger Tunes show to speaking weekly at Refuge, Riley loves the environment of the school she had no intentions of attending.
After years of coming to Ouachita events and hearing about how her grandparents met at Ouachita, growing up, Riley was convinced she wanted to be different and not continue the family tradition.
“[But] the closer and closer it got to making an actual decision, I was like, ‘I think I need to go to OBU,’” Riley said.
Her decision not only made her mother—who is also an alumna—ecstatic, but it ultimately proved to be a great decision for Riley for several reasons.
After years of struggling with doubting her salvation because she couldn’t remember the specific prayer she prayed, professors at Ouachita helped Riley realize she was saved.
“That’s been a really wonderful thing about being at Ouachita is having the professors that will say ‘it’s okay that you struggle with doubt, but let’s move past that,’” Riley said.
The Christian studies professors helped Riley understand that her doubts were “just a way that the enemy would distract [her].”
This is why, when it comes to Riley’s favorite part of Ouachita, it is the people she has encountered.
“In one aspect, that’s the students that I’ve met, the people that I’ve gotten to know really well. I guess the other side of the people is the professors. The Christian studies professors are just incredible,” Riley said.
She thinks one of the greatest benefits of going to a smaller school like Ouachita is the possibilities students have to connect with other students and especially professors.
“Just being able to build relationships with people that come from different places and are going different places, it’s really neat that Ouachita fosters that. We’re all here for four years, so let’s do something about that,” Riley said.
Her education at Ouachita has not only been beneficial in building relationships, but it has also impacted her desires for the future.
“It’s really impacted how I view how education should be and that really plays into the possibility of me wanting to go into something like that,” Riley said.
Riley, who does not know exactly what God has for her in the future, has a ‘next step’ after graduation in mind.
“After graduation, which is quickly approaching, I am planning on going to seminary. I’m not sure what that’s going to look like or where that’s going to be,” Riley said.
After careful consideration, Riley felt that she wanted to use her Christian Studies degree to work in the ministry or teaching others, and knew that seminary would be required for both. So, she is applying to seminaries now.
Riley is currently ministering to several students not only on Ouachita’s campus, but also Henderson’s through her work with Refuge.
“So there’s this stigma that exists at Ouachita that you’re either in a social club or you’re involved in Campus Ministries. Campus Ministries has kind of become its own thing, and not that that’s a bad thing. That stigma is not real. You can be involved in whatever you want to be involved in. You’re not cooler if you’re a part of this or a part of that,” Riley said.
So, even after joining Tri Chi her freshman year, Riley not only participated in Refuge and Christian Focus Week, she also supported multiple events put on by Campus Ministries. After three years of being actively involved in CM and taking a preaching class, Riley was encouraged by others to apply to be a Refuge leader. With much consideration and lots of prayers, Riley felt God was calling her to apply, so she did, and after a long period of waiting, Riley got the good news.
“The fear set in really quickly, but it’s been really rewarding,” Riley said.
This year, Riley has not only enjoyed working with her other team members, but also working on making Refuge a more impactful experience for students.
“One thing we’ve been working really hard at this year is making sure that the whole thing is just one worship service. We want it to be one smooth service. So it’s been really fun to work with the rest of the team,” Riley said.
Although Refuge is a passion of Riley’s, she loves music and playing Ultimate Frisbee as well. Riley also loves her two tattoos. One is the Greek word θεοδίδακτοί or theodidaktoi (roughly, “taught by God”), which is from one of her favorite Bible verses, 1 Thessalonians 4:9. The other is a cross with the word “perfect” across it, which is a good reminder for Riley.
“I struggle with perfectionistic tendencies, so it’s a really good reminder that I’m not perfect and it’s only because of Jesus that I can even have a relationship with God,” Riley said.
Even though Riley enjoys her life on earth, this tattoo helps her remember what is really important in life and how one day, saved people will be in perfect communion with God. She likes knowing that despite all the imperfections in her life, one day she will be truly happy and perfect in heaven for an eternity.
“It’s just a good reminder that the things that are imperfect and things that aren’t complete, they are not going to be this way forever,” Riley said.
By: Ethan Dial, Staff Writer
