Mrs. Andi Diaz (’06) graduated from ETBU with a degree in Elementary Education. After 9 years of experience, she felt led to a career outside the classroom with marketing and sales which has taken her to her current role as Senior Marketing Manager of Communication and Events for Integrity in Dallas, Tx, where she lives with her husband, Norberto.
Below are some of Andi’s favorite memories and reflections of her journey at ETBU.
Dr. Bob Utley impacted me in so many ways. I tried to take one of his classes every semester until I had maybe taken them all. To this day, I still listen to his free Bible commentary, and I have learned so much about studying the Bible from him. From his teachings, I learned and held close the importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and truly seeking time with the Lord. Studying the Bible in its full context is very important to understanding what scripture is saying to us.
Dr. John Sargent taught one of my education classes, and he pushed me to work hard and not take the easy way out. He asked questions that made me really consider how hard I was working. This was tough during my last semesters at ETBU when most students are ready to be done with school and studying.
Randy Pringle was my work-study supervisor on campus for most of my time at ETBU, maybe three and a half years. He became a close friend and the best boss ever. He showed me trust and encouraged me to always do the right thing. Shaping my character was important at the time and a lesson I couldn't have learned without his guidance.
I met new friends on the Hill who have changed my life, and when I visit the campus now, I am filled with such happiness and pride. About a decade after graduation 11 of my girlfriends and I met up again during homecoming weekend one October. It was so much fun to have dinner, laugh, and reconnect. We brought out old photos from our time on campus, introduced each other to our kids, and talked about what we were up to in life. As a college student, you grow up together, you learn things away from home that will equip you for the rest of your life. The friends I made at ETBU became my first network for the future.
I think of all the things I learned from the classrooms, chapel presentations, and conversations with friends. I truly believe I was at an impressionable time when I was soaking up knowledge to take with me as I went into the working world. I was listening and really seeking what I believed.
I didn't know it then, but the time I spent with the Lord while studying at ETBU helped me overcome one of the hardest challenges in my life. In early 2021 I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer and was devastated, to say the least. I turned to my family, church community, and prayer time with the Lord to get me through the battle I was facing. Once I had beat this awful disease, doctors discovered that I had a new Breast Cancer in a routine checkup, (not a reoccurring type). I felt as if the battle I had won had started all over again without a break to rest and recover. Though I may have felt defeated, I kept praying, crying out, and learning about myself. As I emerged from cancer for a second time, I felt peace and calm that I knew only God could give. I am cancer-free, and that is by God's grace that I can talk about the battle I faced today. I am learning to rely on my relationship with Christ as I continue to learn about what's in store for me.
I chose to attend ETBU because a lot of my classmates went there from Forney High School. It was close enough to home and the best part was I could formally learn about my faith and take religion classes that would help build the foundation of what I believe today. Even though my friendships with others may have brought me to ETBU, I know that is exactly where the Lord wanted me to be.