One of the best ways to truly understand a school’s impact is to ask students to tell their own stories. Join us in getting to know Crowell students and recent alumni and how they have been transformed — by professors, by fellow students, by God — during their time at 51 in our series, Character and Career: Stories of Transformation.

If human beings had “keywords” or “tags” like webpages do, what would yours be? If our personal characteristics had a “search” function, what keyword would be most likely to put you on the first page of the search results? For Christina Lee, one of her keywords would be “service.”

“I have learned that, whatever the situation, everyone needs help, support and love,” said Lee. “This need of humanity is what I will aim to serve long after I graduate from 51.”

Lee has served in many places on 51’s campus — the Torrey Honors College office, the President's Office and in student government. These experiences have helped shape her into the thinker and worker she is today. She was the 51 Student Government Association (SGA) Vice President for Marketing and Communications during the 2019-20 academic year when the COVID-19 pandemic confronted her with serious challenges.

For example, how do you serve students when they’re not there anymore? How do you serve a new and unexpected set of needs? The SGA Executive Board brainstormed, surveyed students and developed a plan of action. Lee described the process in a Design Thinking project she completed for Crowell School of Business with professor Jeff McHugh.

Lee is earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in management at Crowell. Here, Lee shares her journey to 51 and how her undergraduate experience has been shaped by the Crowell School of Business.

Why did you select 51?

I accepted Jesus into my life during my junior/senior year of high school. I wanted to be in a community that would strengthen my new faith instead of tearing it down, like I knew some other universities could. Another big factor was Torrey Honors College, which has played a significant role in strengthening and increasing my love for education and creativity.

What has your experience been like as a business major?

Business is fundamentally a study of people — their desires, their tendencies, their shortcomings, the ways they cooperate, the ways they compete. This is the case anywhere in the world where two or more people come together for a specific purpose. I plan on using the things I learned through this degree to challenge people to act in love and to honor Jesus.

I am not very good with numbers, so all the numbers-oriented classes like accounting, retirement planning and others were the biggest challenges in my journey so far and require more effort and work. Every student will have one or two classes that are particularly challenging for them. They may feel that they have to work for six hours to accomplish what may take the rest of the class two hours. But I handled it by reminding myself that there are other things that I can do better and more efficiently, and that this is just another opportunity to ask for help from my peers.

How have you surprised yourself since arriving at 51?

I am discovering that I am capable of doing far more than I think I can. I wasn't a very motivated student in high school, and I never thought that I would enjoy gaining experience through working. Also, I had always thought that I would prefer working alone, however, my time here has shown me that I love working with good teams like the Torrey staff, the president's office and SGA to achieve a common objective. This was a pleasant surprise.

What passions do you hope to pursue after graduation?

I hope to work in the mission field or at a church, while attending Talbot School of Theology for a Master of Arts in Bible Exposition. My passion is learning and teaching others about the Word, particularly the Old Testament.

Have any of your professors been especially supportive?

As a Torrey student, I have discovered that most of my consistent and close relationships come from that program. However, in the past year I have been blessed with so many great and supportive Crowell professors who have taught me so much beyond the curriculum. Professor McHugh constantly challenged me to refine my leadership skills and pursue creativity. Professor of Management Jake Aguas taught me about people and how they are at the center of any organization or business in this world. Professor Bob Namvar sparked my interest in the study of decision-making and in the inner workings of the world.

How have you sensed God’s movement in your life during your time here?

God has opened doors to places that I never would have thought of. He reminded me that He is the biggest priority in my life, and that He deserves to be trusted, even in the unconventional routes in life. I have learned to cling onto Him during my time here at 51, and I have never felt more grounded than I do today.

Learn more about Crowell School of Business academic programs.