Semester Abroad Experience - Johanna O'Hanlon

Joanna O’Hanlon was a semester abroad student from Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU). She is in currently in her junior year as a Journalism major and studied at EuNC for the Spring 2009 semester. In addition, she decided to come back for an additional semester in Autumn 2009. 

Joanna originally learned about EuNC in the summer after her high school graduation from a friend who went to on a trip to Malawi with her. However, even after learning about EuNC, Joanna was not planning on studying here, because he heart was drawn back to Africa. She had been planning on studying abroad at African Nazarene College in Kenya until she discovered that because of school policy she was not allowed to study in areas of civil unrest while enrolled at PLNU. As she puts it though, she was still stubbornly pursuing her desire to study in the Africa, and applied to various places of study throughout the continent, although simultaneously she applied to EuNC on a whim. 

“God had other plans,” she comments when looking back at the situation. “As almost all the other options began to fall through, it became more and more clear that the door to EuNC was opening, and all the others were closing. As everything fell into place, it became clear that this was an opportunity I was being given, and I’ve never felt more sure of the path I was supposed to take. So I decided to come.”

Although it might seem odd for Joanna to be studying at a school based in theology because she is a Journalism major, she has more than found a place of acceptance and purpose. While wrestling with a call to Church ministry, Joanna has been able to take Ministry classes and Bible classes which have assisted her in this journey of responding to a call to ministry. She also has been able to use her journalism skills to contribute to the school’s newsletter, yearbooks, and promotional materials.

Aside from the practical side of things, Joanna has most loved the chance she’s been given to form relationships with everyone in this community.

“I’m that person that has lived in the same house, and been in the same church since I was born,” she said. “I’m very much a home-body, and home is definitely my favorite place to be. I’ve come to love other places as I’ve moved through life, but nowhere else has ever felt like home… until now.”

Although this community is filled with diverse people from many different cultures and countries, there’s a unique blend that Joanna values, and ultimately, she realizes we’re all human, and we’re all family. 

“Within three days here, I felt like I was home and the people around me had already become a sort of family. I have so much peace within me that this is where I’m supposed to be for the time being, it’s incredible. I wouldn’t trade this time for anything.”