Rena Spivey Has a Vision for the Future
MOUNT OLIVE – Fremont Resident Rena Spivey has a powerful testimony to share. When she was 9 years old, she was told that she would be blind by the age of 26. On August 18, 2012 at the age of 55 she will walk down the aisle at University of Mount Olive to receive her diploma with her vision intact. “I was born with Congenital Nystagmus, which is a visual impairment. The nerves in my brain that control the movement of the eyes did not fully develop properly. At the age of nine, I gave my life to Jesus Christ, and He has protected my eyes ever since that day.”
Spivey has become a well-known volunteer in her community. “I am very active with church activities where I assist my husband. I lead praise and worship, and we are very involved with the Goldsboro Community Soup Kitchen. I enjoy helping people and giving back to the community, for the support they gave my husband while he served for 25 years in the military.” Spivey chose University of Mount Olive because it is an institution dedicated to defining Christian values. “When my daughter told me about University of Mount Olive being one of the best colleges in this area, I decided to check into it. I found out that the College was a Christian school and fit well with my background.”
Spivey initially faced difficulties coming back to college as a married woman with two grown children; “After being out of school for 31 years, I was literally afraid to sit in the classroom. I had a fear of failing at 51 years old.” Spivey quickly found her fears to be misplaced. “I have learned invaluable lessons interacting with other students, some that are older than me, some the same age as me and some much younger than me.”
Spivey credits University of Mount Olive and its impressive business administration program with transforming her life forever. “University of Mount Olive has given me the education of a lifetime by teaching and equipping me to gain knowledge and understanding of the business world. It has taught me to continue to be diligent and hard working to accomplish my dreams and goals. My life was transformed by MOC from learning to trust the information, knowledge, and professionalism of my professors.”
Taking courses through University of Mount Olive at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Spivey double majored in human resources and business administration. “My main focus once I graduate will be to learn all I can by experience in the personnel field. My dream and goal is to have my own personnel staffing firm along with several other businesses that my husband and I have in mind.”
To celebrate this momentous milestone in her life, Spivey plans to visit her son in Japan after graduation. She thanks the Lord, first and foremost, for helping her accomplish her dreams. “This goes to show that it doesn’t matter how old you are, it doesn’t matter what report you get from the doctor, if you believe God can and will do something, it will happen, because nothing is impossible for Him.”
Spivey will be one of approximately 320 students to graduate from University of Mount Olive on Saturday, August 18 at 2:00 PM in Kornegay Arena.
University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The College, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Goldsboro, Research Triangle Park, Washington and Jacksonville. For more information, visit www.moc.edu.