Young Graduate in Golden Commencement Ceremony
Tulsa, Ok - Emily Goelzer was only 16-years-old when she came to Oral Roberts University
as a student and soon she’ll join ORU’s 50th graduating class. It’s not uncommon,
though, for Emily to start learning at an early age. Under her mother’s supervision,
she started kindergarten at the age of four and began taking classes at community
college when she was only fourteen. She actually completed her final two years of
high school in just one year while taking college courses. Those courses enabled her
to enter ORU carrying enough credits to graduate in just three years. So she’ll graduate
at the age of nineteen, when many are just beginning their college careers.
In her time at ORU, Emily has been involved in the Honors Program, served as an APA on her floor, and has participated in the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature. As an international relations major, she has also been involved in Model United Nations in which she previously functioned as a delegate and is now a head delegate, leading and training other students in the program for the spring conference in St. Louis.
In thinking back on her decision to come to ORU at such a young age, she wonders if maybe she came one semester too early. She said her parents even questioned it. But when they prayed about it, they felt the Lord say, “Don’t worry about it. She’s here for a reason.” Despite the difficulty of some aspects of the transition, ultimately she believes this was the Lord. She says, “Would I go back and do it? Yes. Was it easy? No.” She credits her support system, with her two older brothers on campus and her parents back home in Phoenix, Arizona.
Emily said that during her time at Community College, she came across many who were surprised to see someone so young already attending college. She also recounted moments of her time here at ORU where she would be walking into the elevator for class and could hear the people walking out whisper to their neighbors, “That girl’s only sixteen!” Over time, she has learned to turn what could be an insecurity into an amazing opportunity for growth.
So what’s next for Emily? She likes politics and wants to eventually work in government, likely overseas. She believes the international diversity at ORU will help her. In her words, “It’s been a great opportunity to get immersed in that culture.” More than this, though, Emily said the ultimate reason she came to ORU is to develop her relationship with God. For her, this is the biggest take-away. She’d also like to be involved in foreign missions for a year or two before launching her career. But she believes the relationship with God she has developed at ORU will guide her in whatever she does.
Be sure and join us as we celebrate Emily’s graduation along with the 50th graduating class. The golden commencement ceremony is set for May 6, 2017.