Brooke Upton
Classification: Senior
Major: Vocal Performance
Hometown: Hattiesburg, Mississippi

“There’s just no stopping those girls with guitars,” sang Wynonna Judd in a song recorded in 1993. Describing herself as honest, witty and artistic, Brooke Upton is a girl with a guitar plus a whole lot more.

As a senior anticipating to graduate in May, Brooke is making the most of her time at Lee by getting involved in different aspects of the campus life and taking on different types of responsibilities. Currently she is the chaplain for Livingston Hall, a member of Chorale, an assistant in the Vocal Department office and a teacher of voice lessons for Lee students.

Smiling and looking up at the ceiling for the right words to say about what she has gained from her campus involvement, Brooke said: “mmm…several things. I have learned so much about community and my personal leadership skills. Being a part of the residential life team of Livingston has taught me how to be part of a team. I always knew that I was a leader but never had the chance to use my ability; Lee has given me an outlet to test my wings and to daily improve my skills.”

Originally from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Brooke became familiar with the campus of Lee and community of Cleveland well before enrolling as a student. As a sophomore in high school she attended a student-life camp at Lee as a member of a non-denominational church youth group. “During the week of camp, I fell in love with the campus, and knew that I wanted to come here,” said Brooke. As a graduating high school senior and before the fall of her freshman year, she also attended Lee Day and participated in Summer Honors, a two-week program designed for outstanding high school juniors and seniors to receive a glimpse of student life as freshmen at Lee University. Lee Day and Summer Honors were the experiences that impacted her decision to enroll as a full-time student.

The main reason that Brooke chose Lee for her college education was because it was a Christ-centered university. “I went to a public high school and desired to go to a Christian school because I wanted to be in an environment in which I could grow spiritually,” she said. “I also wanted to go somewhere that had a good music program, so Lee could not have been a more perfect fit for me.”

Brooke’s expectations of Lee were exceeded when she received overwhelming support while going through a difficult and unexpected time in her life. In the fall of 2005, Brooke underwent a liver transplant. “While I was sick I learned how to be alone with just myself and my thoughts,” Brooke said. “It taught me how to really lean on the Lord and that the quiet times are not all that bad.” Brooke received much prayer, love and support from faculty and fellow students at Lee, some she did not even know. “I feel blessed to be a part of the school and family of Lee University; they are what gave me strength to fully recover and return to Cleveland”, she said.

The most popular question to ask a college senior is, “So what are your plans after you graduate?” To some, this question is scary and sometimes avoided. However, Brooke embraces the idea of the future and said, “In an ideal world, I would be traveling and leading worship all over the world.” Admitting that her ideal plans are a bit lofty for right now, she said her immediate plans after graduation are “teaching music somewhere, leading worship or working for an organ donation company. The main goal that I have for my career is to bring God into a secular job, so whatever that entails is what I want to do. I want to help people and impact them in a Christian way.”

This musically talented young lady can be found in her spare time doing several things other than playing the guitar or piano. Brooke enjoys White water rafting, reading, watching Greys’ Anatomy and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, sleeping and participating in yoga or Pilates. “My personal times get few and far between as I have progressed through school,” Brooke said, “so my hobbies are those that I greatly enjoy doing in my spare time.”

Another infamous question that seniors are always asked to answer is to give advice to freshmen. Like the majority of seniors at Lee, Brooke said that “getting involved is a key factor to making a life for yourself at Lee and enjoying it. Talk to everyone, find activities you like and find a way to plug in.”

Not only has Brooke’s life been characterized by the lessons she learned from the classroom, but also those that were learned outside the classroom. “The most important lessons I have learned from Lee that I will carry with me the rest of my life are: first, you don’t always have to talk, you can listen,” said Brooke, “and secondly, love everybody. People have been through many trials and faced many mountains that you might be unaware of, so love them in the image of God. And finally, always try things. Do not be scared, just reach out and go for it. One must take risks in order to move forward.”

Who knew that such wisdom and insight could be gained in four years of college?

Posted on - 1/15/08