Ella's Story: The Power of Faculty Mentorship

"Majoring in international studies at Covenant helped me discern the part I can play in God's work in the world. Covenant's emphasis on calling and love for others have encouraged me to pursue graduate studies at Cornell University, not merely as a way of personal or career advancement, but to further equip myself to serve God and others."

Ella Sahertian '18 came to Covenant College from Tangerang, Indonesia. After graduating from Covenant College with a degree in international studies in 2018, she was accepted to Cornell University's graduate school. Ella is currently studying city and regional planning. She credits the faculty and the rigorous academics at Covenant for her successful admission into Cornell, and for her boundless growth as an international undergraduate student.

"Growing up in Indonesia and living in different areas surrounded by economically disadvantaged urban settlements sparked my passion for poverty alleviation. But it was Covenant's classes and faculty mentorship that truly helped me see how I could impact areas struggling with poverty and how I could do so with a Biblical worldview. "

"Majoring in international studies cultivated and strengthened my research, analytical, and writing abilities, which are essential to my graduate studies at Cornell. My bachelor's thesis (Senior Integration Project) was also an extremely valuable experience for writing a master's capstone project. Not only did working on my SIP train me to critically assess the literature and current debates in the field, but it also honed my ability to fluently and appropriately use footnotes, construct a bibliography, and find and evaluate sources. These skills are critical to thriving in graduate school, and I'm grateful that Covenant has instilled them in me."

"Most importantly, the mentorship I received from my professors at Covenant greatly influenced my decision to pursue an MRP degree at Cornell. Specifically, the guidance and advice that I received from my advisor, Dr. Cale Horne, was invaluable. I'm very grateful that he encouraged me to intern at a local non-profit during the spring semester of my senior year, which turned into my first post-grad job. My work at this non-profit inspired me to pursue an MRP degree at Cornell."

"I'm profoundly indebted to these professors who genuinely invested in me and have deeply cared about and supported my academic success and professional development."