that other students call her on the phone just to have her pray for them .”
As Staffin longed for a deeper , more intimate walk with the Lord , she looked to the Word of God and sought to emulate Jesus Christ .
“ If I really wanted to understand how to be a child of God , then the first place I needed to look was to God ’ s most perfect child : His Son Jesus , who came to earth to be an example for us all ,” she wrote . “ Setting aside daily devotional time to read the Bible allowed me not only to learn Christ ’ s leadership skills , but to see how they transformed those whom He led .”
Staffin ’ s essay included ten “ Biblical Leadership Principles ,” including : You do not need to be given a
“ A year ago , I would have been too afraid even to speak about Christ in a public environment , but after experiencing God ’ s transforming grace in my life , I am genuinely excited to share the model for leadership that inspires me .”
— Alanna Staffin , Cornell ’ 19
position of power to be a leader ; The most effective leaders are those who willingly serve others before themselves ; and Your success is not your own .
“ As a leader trying to imitate Christ , you can expect that I answer to Him first ,” she wrote . “ That means I will not put money , fame , or reputation above His priorities , and I will look for opportunities to serve you before being served myself . I will ask for His guidance to do what is right and what is best for everyone in all that I do . I will seek His and your forgiveness in every area in which I fall short …”
Being an ambassador for Christ is paramount . In the winter , she and her sister Rachel ( two of the Staffin sister triplets ) attended tryout camps for various bugle corps and marching bands . During the stressful , rigorous auditions , the sisters would read the Bible and pray together during down times , and were able to share their faith with curious peers .
“ Before we set out on the audition process , we prayed together and gave our musical and athletic talents up to God and dedicated our work for His glory ,” she wrote .
In the essay , she also noted the power of serving others in her co-ed fraternity at Cornell , whether it was going the extra mile by cleaning at the house , volunteering for events , motivating others to study , or being a friend with a listening ear .
“ I am frequently reminded that we are stronger as brothers and sisters when we work together ,” Staffin wrote . “ One of our new fraternity members told me that she would have dropped out of Cornell if not for the supportive community that our house provided her , and I thank God every day that our house is one that makes a difference in the lives of its members and the community .”
This fall , she will oversee a student-led Bible course for Christian Union at Cornell . It should be a promising senior year , as Staffin — as she did in her essay and one-credit course — continues to speak volumes about Christian leadership . | cu s u m m e r 2 0 1 7 : : c h r i s t i a n u n i o n . o r g
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