Place

A current class of 26 Bearkat and class of 23 Buccaneer, Carina is now a Disney College Program (DCP)participant. She went to Tokyo Disney and Disneyland and had never been to Disney World until after starting the DCP. She loves swimming and spending time with friends and family. She is also a certified Lifeguard Instructor and was the city of Bryan Water Safety Coordinator, meaning she was over the swimming instructors for the city of Bryan. She is not sure what she wants to be when she grows up but has many options open to her.

Carina is the daughter of Pastor Jerry and has always been involved in church and faith communities. She has participated in communities when sometimes she might not have felt the call to be there. “I went because my dad was the pastor,” Carina said about Treehouse, “but the people were cool, so I stayed.” Carina commented, “I wasn’t looking for anything from Treehouse, I went because my dad was the pastor.” She was trying to keep the family happy but in doing that she found a place to belong. “Everyone at Treehouse is so supportive in helping with life decisions and just being friends,” Carina articulated, “the people there made me feel like I had a place when I wasn’t sure what my place was.”

Treehouse is a place she belongs, not because she is the pastor’s kid, but because she is accepted as she is. “I will miss being with my Treehouse friends, to hear about their daily goings on, and being involved with them,” Carina expressed as she will be at Disney this semester, “but my Treehouse friends are friends I will have forever.”

Different

An exercise and sports nutrition-focused kinesiology doctoral student at Texas A&M, Jake is also an avid fan of the outdoors who enjoys camping and hiking. Originally from Green Bay, WI, he is also an avid Green Bay sports fan.

As a student originally from out of state, Jake was looking for a community to keep him connected to the faith he established as a youth. He was also looking for something outside of his academic bubble. “I was first introduced to Treehouse by Tammy at Peace Lutheran Church,” Jake said. “I also saw Pastor Jerry with a couple of Treehouse students speak at Peace. So I thought I would give it a try.”

“Treehouse was advertised as an everyone is welcome community,” Jake expounded. “And I came back when I found it was as advertised. Everyone was friendly and welcoming. A nice place to be and spend time with community. In an environment where you don’t feel like you’re trying to meet a deadline, we enjoy the time together.”

Jake continues to be a part of Treehouse, because we are not all alike. He is the only one of his major and loves that this is a group of different people, from different places in life. 

Treehouse is “a group of people who could care less what you look like, what you are wearing.” Jake said. “We are all happy to be who you are and it is fine to just come together and laugh about nonsense with fellow believers.”