By Kade Kahanek | One of Howard Payne’s prime epitomes comes from Trinity, Texas. Her name is Jade Taylor. Since the Fall of 2015, Taylor has been setting an example for all HPU students.
Jade Taylor was destined to attend college at HPU. Her father Mark, mother Michele, sister Jessica, and brother Jeremiah all graduated from HPU.
“I didn’t apply anywhere else, my entire family graduated from here,” said Taylor.
Jade Taylor started her freshman year as a nursing major, but when HPU discontinued the program, Jade found herself at a major crossroad. Taylor was faced with a decision to either attend somewhere else and earn a degree in nursing or try a different study at HPU. On a trip abroad to London, England, Taylor sought counsel from her best friend, Maggie Van Nes—a family studies major. Maggie tried to convince Taylor to change her path to psychology.
“I prayed really hard about what I should do and took the Myers-Briggs test,” Taylor said.
The Myers-Briggs test indicates a person’s personality and from there the person can decide which career path to take. Taylor’s results indicated that she would be best in the field of counseling. Taylor decided that was the right career path for her. She decided to stay at HPU and changed her major to psychology.
All it took was a trip abroad to figure out a future for Taylor. She plans to graduate in December 2019 with a degree in psychology.
Taylor is interested and committed to become a flight attendant for a few years after graduation to travel the world. Afterwards, Taylor will pursue a master’s degree in counseling.
Jade Taylor’s long term goal is to become a Christian counselor in a hospital setting. She wants to provide counsel to families that are going through tragedies through the name of Jesus Christ.
Jade Taylor is currently in Delta Chi Rho. She serves as the sorority’s historian. Taylor is also an employee for the Wellness Center on campus.
When inquired about what she would say to new students unfamiliar with HPU, she offered a key piece of advice.
“They should get involved in any way they can,” Taylor said. “If they join clubs, groups, or organizations, it will make their time at HPU enjoyable. It is a great way to make lifelong friends as well.”
Taylor’s favorite Bible verse is Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Taylor lives by this verse in her everyday life.
“Every day we are tempted,” she said. “Christ didn’t die for us to give into worldly desires. We should live like Christ and not as the world lives.”
Jade Taylor is an epitome of HPU because she sets an excellent Christian example for the university. It is students like her that make HPU a wonderful place to attend school.