Erin Lallinger '16

A junior at Vanderbilt University, where she is double majoring in Economics & Spanish and minoring in Medicine, Health, and Society. Erin is involved in various organizations, and a member of Chi Omega.

"This semester, I am studying abroad in Santiago, Chile and traveling around South America, something I would have never decided to do if it weren’t for Houston Christian. I had the opportunity to go on two Globe Trek trips that were some of the most transformational experiences of my time in high school. Globe Trek taught me a lot about myself, as well as the importance of getting out of your comfort zone and experiencing new cultures.

 

Houston Christian instilled in me the educational foundation necessary to succeed in college. The teachers I had at Houston Christian were some of the most dedicated and inspiring educators I have had the opportunity to learn from. I have yet to have a teacher since then that has had the same passion for teaching as those I had at Houston Christian. They fostered my keen desire to learn for the sake of learning and understanding. This has been helpful in college, where I have been able to take classes purely because I thought the material was interesting.

 

I am most grateful for the emphasis HC placed on leadership, which helped to define my world view and develop my character. Having Colonel Wilson as a teacher for three years taught me the importance of integrity and how to stand firm in my convictions. Of course, I also learned valuable academic lessons: a business class I took my sophomore year at Vanderbilt was almost exactly the same as a Colonel Wilson leadership class. Three years removed from HC, Colonel Wilson has still been one of the biggest influences in my life. HC’s leadership emphasis prepared me more for my future than I would have ever guessed, and the leadership program alone is enough reason for me to be grateful that I chose Houston Christian."