When Isaac Peterson applied to 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023, he didnt expect to be taking classes from 5,000 miles away at strange hours of the night. But thanks to the pandemic, thats how his journey as a student began stuck studying halfway across the globe at his home in Manchester, England, due to government health restrictions.

Even so, despite the remote start, Peterson felt the warm and welcoming spirit that he says pervades 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023s campus.

Thanks to my professors, my room transformed from a dark cage where I felt forever doomed to Zoom to a hopeful place where I encountered caring professors during class time and office hours, Peterson said.

One year later, the Torrey Honors College student made it to campus and found himself on stage at one of 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023s treasured orientation traditions the communion service on opening weekend sharing his testimony and experience at 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 thus far. It wasnt the easiest journey to get to 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023, though.

A rocky two-year experience in medical school years ago left Peterson broken, confused and without a degree. He was unsure of his next step and felt as if he was without guidance.

Academically, the professors there were some of the best in their fields, but it felt as though they werent concerned about me at all beyond my grades, especially when I needed them the most, Peterson said.

His two years in medical school may have left him feeling broken, but it also drove him down a new path to find purpose and a future career path. He discovered a deep desire for a biblically based education. Peterson attended a small church and Bible college in York, England, where he first heard about 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023. Many of his teachers or guest lecturers knew of 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 or had read or studied books written by 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 professors. As he continued to hear about 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023, he knew it was the place God was calling him to be. Though remote, his first year at 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 confirmed that for him.

In every interaction with my professors, I could sense that they cared about and prayed for my development as an adopted child of God and that they would still show the same care and attention for me even if my grades werent up to scratch, said Peterson.

When 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 announced campus was reopening, Peterson wasnt sure if hed make it to the United States. It wasnt as easy as it would typically be pre-pandemic, and the financial aspect was a challenge for him.

I come from a humble economic background, so there was no certainty that I would be allowed entry into the country, he said. However, through much prayer together with some of the staff and faculty, I believe God was moved to orchestrate some miraculous divine appointments with some incredibly generous Christians who contributed enough to satisfy the financial requirements of my student visa. His U.S. student visa came through just in time. Now, Peterson is a pre-law minor and hopes to attend law school after 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 to defend the poor, the marginalized and the falsely accused. Until then, Peterson is enjoying his Torrey Honors courses and 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 community. He has settled into life at 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 and Southern California quite well, thankful to have swapped moonlight classes for sunlit studying.

Being on campus is so refreshing, he said. I rotate around several favorite reading spots on campus, and I can enjoy the Southern Californian sun while doing my assignments.