A firm foundation
Raising their son in a Christian household in southeast Vancouver, Justin’s parents made sure he was in church every Sunday. Justin describes, “They really set that foundation with me . . . raising me with those core Christian values”—something he looks back on with gratitude.
Justin admits that as he grew older and as his parents allowed him to mature and make his own faith decisions, he began to get “lazy” in his faith, closing off his heart over time. However, from his first year at TWU and as the youngest in his freshman dorm, Justin was impacted by the faith and friendship in the young men he was surrounded by. “I found that Trinity Western really helped grow my faith as soon as I got on campus,” Justin explains. From friendships formed through dorm activities and sports, Justin discovered that his heart began to open up, and he found himself pursuing God once again—for himself. His renewed devotion to God was nurtured as fellow believers in his circle of friends were able to mentor and disciple him in his faith walk.
A calling refocused
Justin has always been an avid athlete, playing a wide variety of sports growing up, including soccer and baseball but mostly focused on ice hockey. He describes, “I just love team sports. I love the competitive environment. I love winning but also getting along with your teammates.” This love for sports was what initially led Justin to study kinesiology. Looking back, he explains, “When I went towards kinesiology, I really just wanted to merge my love for sports and that active lifestyle—and just being healthy with being able to help other people.”
However, as Justin grew closer to God, he began to have a shift in his perspective. He explains, “At Trinity Western, that's where I discovered that I really wanted to help people more. . . . Not really that sports aspect anymore, but more so being able to help other people—getting to educate them, fill them with confidence when exercising, and really just being alongside them in their walk of rehabilitation.” Now working in the field, Justin shares, “It's really inspiring to see people get better and improving . . . It's really fulfilling.”
A career choice confirmed
As Justin grew in his faith, the reason behind his desires came more into focus: less on him and more on God and others. Justin reflects on graduating from TWU, saying, “I got an education—I also gained lifelong friends. I gained a strong passion to be with other people and walk alongside people for the rest of my life.” Most importantly, after his TWU journey that included self-discovery and redefining desires, Justin recognizes he’s gained even more, professing, “I find myself pursuing God.”
Also see: Nursing graduate Brianne D. found community and a calling—at her doorstep
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is a global Christian liberal arts university. We are dedicated to equipping students to discover meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. Drawing upon the riches of the Christian tradition, seeking to unite faith and reason through teaching and scholarship, Trinity Western University is a degree-granting research institution offering liberal arts and sciences as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has locations in Canada: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, and Ottawa. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Instagram @trinitywestern, Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn. For media inquiries, please contact: media@twu.ca.