Mercy was built on a foundation of powerful, enduring faith. Though Sarah Hughes has only just arrived, she already embodies that principle. Hughes, a junior who transferred this year from Plymouth Christian Academy (PCA), has been on a journey that has strongly defined her convictions regarding religion. The next stage of her journey begins at Mercy.
“Mercy is going to help me grow,” said Hughes, seated sideways in a chair at the study cubicles near the north hallway. “It’s going to push me in ways that I wasn’t being pushed.”
Hughes was raised Catholic. Her mother was born in Hong Kong, and her father in Pennsylvania. They met in Oklahoma, and Hughes was born in Tulsa. Her family moved to Michigan after 18 months to be closer to her grandparents in New York and Pennsylvania. She grew up attending mass regularly, but last year, she decided to take a different path.
“My friend and I were both raised Catholic and were like, ‘We’re not getting the spiritual food that we need from this church,'” said Hughes. “I’m not against the Catholic Church. It’s just like, really ritualistic and reflective as a whole, and it’s hard for me to get the spiritual growth that I need.”
According to Hughes, she has found this religious sustenance at the Evangelical church she currently attends, Life Church.
“I’ve never experienced a better church family, and so much fellowship,” said Hughes. “There’s accountability that comes with the fellowship there, and different perspectives, and different ways of looking at things. It’s just so amazing, I can’t even tell you.”
Hughes applies the same devotion that she shows in her religious life to her academic pursuits. She hopes to attend Vanderbilt University after graduating from Mercy, and is thinking of studying biology or medicine. According to Hughes, she transferred to Mercy because of its exemplary academics, and has found the adventure of transferring enriching.
“It’s been good,” said Hughes. “The academics are exactly what I wanted. Socially, it hasn’t been the easiest time, just because it’s so different from my old school. And it’s junior year, and everyone has their friend groups and stuff. But other than that, it’s been fun. It’s been a growing experience that I needed.”
Hughes’ after-school life further reflects her religious devotion; she is a part of the youth group praise band at her church. She also plays clarinet and piano, and is planning on auditioning for the Ann Arbor Youth Chorale. She played basketball at PCA, but was sidelined this year by a torn ACL.
Despite her positive experience so far at Mercy, Hughes still misses her former school. However, she believes that Mercy will help her faith grow even stronger in her everyday life.
“God opened and closed doors,” said Hughes. “It was so clear that Mercy was the place he wanted me to go.”