Name: Julia Heath
Graduation year: 2015
Hometown: Miami, FL
Major: Christian Education
Why Solidarity? Because racial tension divides the church. As a Christian Ed major, I want to build up the body of Christ to the best of my ability - I see racism and prejudice as things that are breaking down the community within Wheaton College and the church at large, and I want to fight it.
About me: I grew up in the suburbs of Miami with my parents and older brother, who is almost 3 years older. We are a very musical family, my father having graduated from the Wheaton conservatory. My mom was an English/Spanish major at Wheaton, and so we have a great affinity for literature at my house. My brother and I were homeschooled all the way to college, which is an experience that I will always treasure. I love Wheaton, and I love what it stands for. Life after Wheaton is a bit far off yet, but I know that all I want to do is ministry. Youth ministry, prison ministry, special needs ministry, family counseling, social work, whatever, as long as I'm channeling God's love for me into love for other people, I will be happy.
What would you like to achieve from being on Solidarity this year? I want to become comfortable with the topic of race. As someone who will be engaged in ministry for my whole life, I want to be able to discuss diversity with understanding rather than as someone making assumptions based on media and cultural stereotypes.
How has the community at Wheaton impacted you? It has taught me that it’s ok to be broken. Freshman year, I was blessed with gracious professors who let me sit in their offices and tell them how challenging my life was. They then proceeded to pick me up, dust me off, and empower me to improve and keep going. I never received judgment from them. In addition to mentoring, I had a very supportive community of friends that I am so excited to go into sophomore year with!
When you’re not studying or working on projects, where can you be found on campus? At the gym in the mornings, at Sam's on my laptop in the afternoons, and probably on my floor with my crazy crew of friends the rest of the time.
What makes Wheaton unique? The professors. They actually care for our well-being and look out for us.
What would you do at Wheaton if you had more free time? Take as many BITH classes as possible. Not even kidding. I am a Bible nerd to the core.