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Cody Killian

3,305

Bold Points

1x

Finalist

1x

Winner

Bio

I am a Husband, a Father, and a Pastor. My hope is to return to school to complete a Master's Degree for Clinical Mental Health. Born and raised in the Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina, I graduated from Murphy High School and went on to complete a Bachelor's Degree in Christian Ministries at Lee University. I spent a few years at Western Carolina University, but through a series of experiences and events that led me to my faith in Jesus Christ and a personal calling into the ministry, I completed my Bachelor's Degree at Lee University. For 10 years, my family has navigated leading from a position of ministry within the Church of God (Cleveland, TN) in capacities of Student Pastor and Lead Pastor. We are currently serving the next generation, having been a Lead Pastor for the last 6 years, now serving in Hamilton, OH (30 minutes north of Cincinnati, OH) as the Student Pastors of the Princeton Pike Church of God. We witness mental health challenges on a daily basis as we work with students and parents alike and I have a passion to be a help to those within the context of this need, both spiritually and mentally.

Education

Liberty University

Master's degree program
2022 - 2024
  • Majors:
    • Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology

Lee University

Bachelor's degree program
2011 - 2014
  • Majors:
    • Theology and Religious Vocations, Other

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Master's degree program

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Mental Health Care

    • Dream career goals:

      Licensed Professional Counselor, Marriage and Family Therapist, Psychiatrist

    • Student Pastor

      Church of God
      2011 – 20143 years
    • Student Pastor

      Church of God
      2020 – 20222 years
    • Lead Pastor

      Church of God
      2016 – 20204 years

    Sports

    Football

    Varsity
    2004 – 20084 years

    Future Interests

    Entrepreneurship

    I Am Third Scholarship
    In 2016, my wife and I had our second child - a beautiful, baby girl. The months to follow incorporated many days and nights of struggle and disagreement between me and my wife. Nothing seemed to help our relationship. I felt so discouraged during that season of our life. It wasn't until she began speaking with her primary care physician that we realized that she was struggling with postpartum depression, which was compounded by challenges with anxiety pertaining to the fear of illness. The times of these challenges in our marriage helped me become a more patient and understanding person. This woman that I loved so much was struggling with changes and challenges that neither of us understood. We are people of faith and there are so many stigmas that are associated with mental health challenges in relation to being a Christian. We began to be totally aware of our own predispositions and biases toward those that struggled with mental health issues because it had now come to our home. In the present, we are able to see the world around us through the lens of love, grace, and patience because we are certain that we cannot possibly know what any individual may be dealing with internally or externally. We hope to continue making our personal sphere of influence aware of the patience that we all need with each other as we continue to develop, grow, and become who we are all aiming to be in our own ways. In the future, my hopes are tied to a career and dream where I can help those that are struggling with these sorts of issues. Being able to complete a Master's Degree and pursue a licensure to provide professional counseling services will allow me to be hands on with a dream to be a help to those in need. In addition, completion of this degree program will provide a means for the vision of my life in the future, both professionally and personally, to become a reality as we care for those who are in need of a soul that is familiar with their struggle, an ear that is willing to listen, and a voice that is determined to encourage.
    REVIVAL Scholarship
    The greatest journey that I've ever ventured to go on began on July 5th, 2014. My wife gave birth to our first born, a son - Elijah. At that time, I had just graduated from Lee University with a Bachelor's Degree in Christian Ministries with an emphasis in Counseling. Shortly after the birth of my son, I enrolled in a Master's Degree program through the Seminary that is affiliated with the denomination we are members of. A quick two years after the birth of our son, our daughter was born. Still in pursuit of my Master's Degree, I found myself working at a hospital on night shift (along with my wife, in the same position as a Registered Nurse), Pastoring a small church (with little to no compensation) and attempting to complete a heavy course load in my education. As with so many, I came to a crossroads in my life, ministry, and education where I needed to prioritize what was important. I chose to lay down the pursuit of my education at that time to be able to fully focus on providing for my family, caring for them, and fulfilling my life's calling in ministry. Now, as the Student Pastor of a large church, still an ambitious husband and father of two, I hope to continue my pursuit of a higher degree with the end goal of helping those who struggle with their mental health as a Licensed Professional Counselor. The completion of a degree program and being the owner of my own mental health practice is a vision that will allow me to take another step toward modeling a life of ambition, pursuing growth and passion, while teaching my kids the most meaningful lesson: never give up on your dreams.
    Bold Mental Health Awareness Scholarship
    In 2016, my wife and I had our second child - a beautiful, baby girl. The months to follow incorporated many days and nights of struggle and disagreement between me and my wife. Nothing seemed to help our relationship. I felt so discouraged during that season of our life. It wasn't until she began speaking with her primary care physician that we realized that she was struggling with postpartum depression, which was compounded by challenges with anxiety pertaining to the fear of illness. The times of these challenges in our marriage helped me become a more patient and understanding person. This woman that I loved so much was struggling with changes and challenges that neither of us understood. We are people of faith and there are so many stigmas that are associated with mental health challenges in relation to being a Christian. We began to be totally aware of our own predispositions and biases toward those that struggled with mental health issues because it had now come to our home. In the present, we are able to see the world around us through the lens of love, grace, and patience because we are certain that we cannot possibly know what any individual may be dealing with internally or externally. We hope to continue making our personal sphere of influence aware of the patience that we all need with each other as we continue to develop, grow, and become who we are all aiming to be in our own ways. In the future, my hopes are tied to a career and dream where I can help those that are struggling with these sorts of issues.
    Shine Your Light College Scholarship
    In 2016, my wife and I had our second child - a beautiful, baby girl. The months to follow incorporated many days and nights of struggle and disagreement between me and my wife. Nothing seemed to help our relationship. I felt so discouraged during that season of our life. It wasn't until she began speaking with her primary care physician that we realized that she was struggling with postpartum depression, which was compounded by challenges with anxiety pertaining to the fear of illness. The times of these challenges in our marriage helped me become a more patient and understanding person. This woman that I loved so much was struggling with changes and challenges that neither of us understood. We are people of faith and there are so many stigmas that are associated with mental health challenges in relation to being a Christian. We began to be totally aware of our own predispositions and biases toward those that struggled with mental health issues because it had now come to our home. In the present, we are able to see the world around us through the lens of love, grace, and patience because we are certain that we cannot possibly know what any individual may be dealing with internally or externally. We hope to continue making our personal sphere of influence aware of the patience that we all need with each other as we continue to develop, grow, and become who we are all aiming to be in our own ways. In the future, my hopes are tied to a career and dream where I can help those that are struggling with these sorts of issues. Being able to complete a Master's Degree and pursue a licensure to provide professional counseling services will allow me to be hands on with a dream to be a help to those in need. In addition, completion of this degree program will provide a means for the vision of my life in the future, both professionally and personally, to become a reality as we care for those who are in need of a soul that is familiar with their struggle, an ear that is willing to listen, and a voice that is determined to encourage.
    Elevate Mental Health Awareness Scholarship
    In 2016, my wife and I had our second child - a beautiful, baby girl. The months to follow incorporated many days and nights of struggle and disagreement between me and my wife. Nothing seemed to help our relationship. I felt so discouraged during that season of our life. It wasn't until she began speaking with her primary care physician that we realized that she was struggling with postpartum depression, which was compounded by challenges with anxiety pertaining to the fear of illness. The times of these challenges in our marriage helped me become a more patient and understanding person. This woman that I loved so much was struggling with changes and challenges that neither of us understood. We are people of faith and there are so many stigmas that are associated with mental health challenges in relation to being a Christian. We began to be totally aware of our own predispositions and biases toward those that struggled with mental health issues because it had now come to our home. In the present, we are able to see the world around us through the lens of love, grace, and patience because we are certain that we cannot possibly know what any individual may be dealing with internally or externally. We hope to continue making our personal sphere of influence aware of the patience that we all need with each other as we continue to develop, grow, and become who we are all aiming to be in our own ways. In the future, my hopes are tied to a career and dream where I can help those that are struggling with these sorts of issues. Being able to complete a Master's Degree and pursue a licensure to provide professional counseling services will allow me to be hands on with a dream to be a help to those in need. In addition, completion of this degree program will provide a means for the vision of my life in the future, both professionally and personally, to become a reality as we care for those who are in need of a soul that is familiar with their struggle, an ear that is willing to listen, and a voice that is determined to encourage.
    Ethel Hayes Destigmatization of Mental Health Scholarship
    Winner
    In 2016, my wife and I had our second child - a beautiful, baby girl. The months to follow incorporated many days and nights of struggle and disagreement between me and my wife. Nothing seemed to help our relationship. I felt so discouraged during that season of our life. It wasn't until she began speaking with her primary care physician that we realized that she was struggling with postpartum depression, which was compounded by challenges with anxiety pertaining to the fear of illness. The times of these challenges in our marriage helped me become a more patient and understanding person. This woman that I loved so much was struggling with changes and challenges that neither of us understood. We are people of faith and there are so many stigmas that are associated with mental health challenges in relation to being a Christian. We began to be totally aware of our own predispositions and biases toward those that struggled with mental health issues because it had now come to our home. In the present, we are able to see the world around us through the lens of love, grace, and patience because we are certain that we cannot possibly know what any individual may be dealing with internally or externally. We hope to continue making our personal sphere of influence aware of the patience that we all need with each other as we continue to develop, grow, and become who we are all aiming to be in our own ways. In the future, my hopes are tied to a career and dream where I can help those that are struggling with these sorts of issues. Being able to complete a Master's Degree and pursue a licensure to provide professional counseling services will allow me to be hands on with a dream to be a help to those in need. In addition, completion of this degree program will provide a means for the vision of my life in the future, both professionally and personally, to become a reality as we care for those who are in need of a soul that is familiar with their struggle, an ear that is willing to listen, and a voice that is determined to encourage.