Jerry’s Kids: Lara Patterson

Meet Lara Patterson, this week’s “Jerry’s Kid.”  She’s from Ohio, likes Death Cab and John Mayer, and works as a writing tutor on campus.  She also lists her Religious Views on Facebook as “YHWH – Shalom,” which is confusing, because she’s not Jewish.  Regardless, Lara’s views on life and doubt at Liberty are well worth hearing. To meet the the two previous “Jerry’s Kids,” click here and here.

Name: Lara Patterson
Class year: Senior
Major: Biblical Studies with a Youth Ministry minor

What’s your favorite thing about Liberty?  Your least favorite?

It is probably cliché, but the people are my favorite thing about LU.  I’ve met my best friends here, been inspired by amazing professors, even become friends with random staff around campus.  People can and will disappoint because they’re human and that’s what humans do best,  but overall the people here are what kept me here.

As to least favorite: I could make jokes about The Liberty Way or the dining hall, but honestly, the most troubling thing at LU for me is the lack of access to quality counseling.  I respect those who run Student Care, but in my half dozen or so visits there, almost all have been negative experiences.  I suspect that SC is intended to be a portal to outside counseling if needed, but so often it seems that they want control.  And in a place where you can be fined $250 just for swearing….yeah, personal self-disclosure isn’t happening.

What did you think of Dr. Falwell?

I spent my first semester-and-a-half passionately disliking the guy.  However, the more I listened, the more I came to realize that, while we disagreed immensely on some issues, the guy was never afraid to admit when he was wrong.  I remember during one convo, he admitted that he had a tendency to put his foot in his mouth and that he regretted that.  And when Jerry loved people, he really meant it.   So I guess I love and miss the guy and can’t wait to see him in heaven where we can argue.

Who’s the most inspiring person you’ve met at Liberty?  Why is he/she inspiring?

Dr. Fowler.  His Old Testament Backgrounds class opened my eyes to a serious love for the Old Testament that I didnt know was possible.  However, he is also not your typical Bible professor. He’s sarcastic, deeply honest and sometimes refreshingly cynical of some aspects of religion.  I dont know of anyone who has inspired more respect from his students or inspired me more personally.

Do you think Liberty students are more or less tolerant than their non-Christian counterparts?

Instead of saying more or less, I would say LU students are a different brand of intolerant.  I’ve met so many people who mean well and strive to love people, but then they shun the words tolerance and open-mindedness like they were symptoms of a chronic spiritual disease.  Too often, Christian students have grown up being told which issues, sects, and political parties are out to destroy morality and faith.  I believe in moral absolutes as much as the next guy, but the world is a complex thing and you cannot just program yourself to respond to it.  Basically, I think LU students mean well, but they need to recognize their “intolerance” by putting themselves in the shoes of those they are mocking.

What’s one thing you’ve learned at Liberty that will stay with you long past graduation?

Never stop asking questions and wrestling with truth.  [Word. -- Ed.]   Far too many people are either afraid to ask tough questions or too burnt out from not being sure of the answers.  However, one of the beauties of faith is working it out & discovering truth.  You dont have to shut down logic, reason or compassion to love God and serve Him.

Liberty students/faculty/alums: Want to be interviewed? Drop me a line.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 5th, 2009 at 3:09 pm .