Kristen Matthews is a senior elementary education major with an middle school math endorsement and embodies what it means to be a Gustie.

She is highly involved on campus and loves everything about Gustavus, including her friends and the community.

When Kristen first started looking at colleges, she reluctantly viewed Gustavus as an option.

Her mom graduated from Gustavus in 1988 and she wanted to separate herself from those family ties. However, after touring three times she decided that Gustavus would in fact be the college for her.

Kristen said the family ties she initially disliked “became endearing to me and I was surrounded by a welcoming community.”

She loves the beautiful campus and the feeling of belonging the professors and community express here.

After deciding to attend college here on the Hill, Kristen made another big decision to pursue education as her major.

Having been moved by so many teachers and loving spending time with kids, Kristen said this choice was a no brainer.

“I know that I have been called to work with kids because they fill me with joy. They are truly amazing and remind me of the simpler things in life.”

Currently she is student teaching in a first grade classroom and says the kids are teaching her more about herself than she thought she could ever know.

“Kristen is a kind-hearted, patient, and loving person who makes everyone feel welcome, drawing people in with her positive attitude. ” — Mallory Arnold

Her education professors wholeheartedly agree with her choice to pursue education.

Michele Koomen, an education professor and Kristen’s advisor, says that she exceeds the criteria needed to be a good teacher.

“Kristen does all of her course prep, applies the teaching methods with integrity, and shows incredible leadership both with students and her own classmates” Koomen said.

She claims that Kristen is set apart from other students because of her humility and the way that she supports everyone’s learning.

Kristen is always prepared, but is never the first one to raise her hand and works to include everyone in class discussions and activities.

Besides being dedicated to her major, Kristen is incredibly active in a number of different Christian organizations on campus.

She is a coordinator for Gustavus Youth Outreach (GYO), helping to serve the youth at the churches around St. Peter.

She is also in the worship band for Proclaim, the non-denominational worship service here at Gustavus, and leads the Vesper services.

Another way she likes to worship is with the Choir of Christ Chapel, a place she says offers deep acceptance and joy.

Kristen loves these organizations because she loves to worship and said, “it is one of the best ways that I connect with God.”

She also loves the way Gustavus has been growing in the Christian community and the way God moves on our campus.

Kristen is not the only one who enjoys her involvement in these organizations.

Hubert Ngabirano, another senior on campus, says that he is incredibly grateful for her leadership in these organizations.

“If Kristen commits to something, you know it’s going to get done” Ngabirano said.

Besides all of the organizations she is involved in, Kristen has other reasons for loving Gustavus.

The biggest one is all of the friends that she’s made throughout the years. After having struggled her freshman year with feeling out of place, she was excited to return sophomore year because of the friends she made.

She finally felt at home because she was surrounded by the best friends she could have asked for.

“Friends that would support and love me for who I am. They say that you meet some of your best friends in college and I firmly believe that this is the truth for me. I know that I have gained friends for life and that is my favorite thing about Gustavus” Kristen said.

Not only has she made many connections on campus, Kristen is now that friend and guide for others at Gustavus.

Mallory Arnold, a junior here at Gustavus plays with Kristen in the Proclaim worship band, and worked with her at Camp Wapogasset over the summer.

“Kristen is a kind hearted, patient, and loving person who makes everyone feel welcome, drawing people in with her positive attitude,” Arnold said.

Arnold explained how Kristen was the first person who reached out to her and helped Arnold make the adjustment to college life.

Ngabirano backs up this sentiment saying that Kristen genuinely cares and is ‘constantly encouraging’ and he appreciates knowing he will always have an honest interaction with her.

Now that Kristen is a senior she is looking forward to all of her lasts with her friends.

“If Kristen commits to something, you know it’s going to get done.” — Hubert Ngabirano

Excited for the last time the trees bloom, hammocking in the arb, last concerts, last proclaims, and all the lasts her organizations will have.

She says although she will graduate she has to remember that “being a Gustie lives on for longer than our time here.”

Although she came to college to get her degree, Kristen came away with so much more. Stressed in her faith, values, and views, Gustavus has changed Kristen into a totally different person from her freshman year.

She has learned who she is and has gained confidence in advocating for herself and others, another reason Kristen is excited to graduate.

Friends and professors are also excited to see her graduate and watch what Kristen goes on to do.

“I want to use the tools Gustavus has given me to advocate for the kids that come into my life and to fight for justice,” Kristen said.

With her strength, faith, and love of life, Kristen will take her memories of Gustavus into her future classroom and all of her endeavors.