Sophomore Anna Peterson didn’t have any trouble getting involved with life at Simpson. Peterson is a Student Ambassador, Wesley Service Scholar, RLC President and plans on attending the Mississippi Spring Break Service Trip.

As the new president of RLC, Peterson’s goal is to inform students of the group’s purpose.

“Religious Life provides many different events on and off campus and we welcome any and every student no matter where they are in their faith journey.” Peterson said. “The RLC offers great opportunities for students to reach out and meet new people here on campus and create connections off campus as well.”

Growing up on a farm near small town Gowrie, Peterson graduated from Prairie Valley High School with a total of 42 students in her graduating class. With this small town background, Peterson had no trouble feeling comfortable here at Simpson.

“I knew for the first time I stepped on campus that I belonged at Simpson,” Peterson said. “The campus is beautiful and I felt automatically at home.”

Although Peterson has only been at Simpson for two years, she continues to grow from her experience.

“Simpson has taught me that life is what you make of it,” Peterson said. “There are so many opportunities available, it’s up to you whether you want to reach out and grab those opportunities or sit back and let them pass you by.”

Peterson continues to seize opportunities, not only to grow as an individual, but to serve others as well.

She has served on the Spring Break Trip to Mississippi in 2007, May Term Call of Service trip, Catholic Worker House and the Shalom Zone.

“All of these experiences have taught me a tremendous amount about myself and what I want to do with the rest of my life,” Peterson said.

Greatly influenced by her family and faith, Peterson realizes the importance of being true to herself. Her motto to live by gives an insight to her strength as an individual:

“Do not change who you are to please the people around you because people will come and go, but in the end, you have to live with who you are.”