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Ellie Wyse, a senior psychology major at Cedarville University, didn’t always know she wanted to pursue a career in mental healthcare. But two life-changing events during her high school years set her course for a future of providing others with the same compassionate care that helped her heal. 

What started as a normal school day on May 7, 2019, turned into a nightmare for Wyse and many other classmates. Two students from Wyse’s school started a mass shooting that killed one student and seriously injured eight others.  

Although Wyse was not physically injured from the attack, she has struggled mentally with anxiety and depression ever since.  

Being a friend with the student who was killed and one of the gunmen has only compounded her struggles. Wyse would become greatly dependent upon the community around her as she learned to cope with this tragedy.    

Shortly after, Wyse witnessed the world crumbling around her as COVID turned her life upside down at the start of 2020. Like everyone else, she was quarantined for months, leaving Wyse without help from her community and support groups.  

Isolation caused Wyse’s anxiety and depression to worsen, and she again sought mental therapy. With her therapist on maternity leave, she reluctantly opted for biblical counseling at her church.  

These sessions at her church helped Wyse restore her relationship with God and improve her mental health. Slowly, she started to put the pieces of her life back together. 

Today, Wyse is studying psychology at Cedarville, largely due to the trauma she experienced from the mass shooting.   

“God works in funny and mysterious ways,” said Wyse. “I hadn’t originally wanted to attend a Christian college because I didn’t want to live in a ‘religious’ bubble. But the second I arrived on Cedarville’s campus, I felt so much peace. It was nearly identical to the peace I had experienced a few months prior when I landed on psychology. I knew it was the Lord giving me a sign to trust Him. So I did.”  

Cedarville continues to be a blessing in Wyse’s life. Not only has Cedarville University become a safe place for her to continue healing, but it has also given Wyse all the tools that she will need in her field.  

“I went through my own share of trauma, and I want to help people in the same way I was helped,” said Wyse.  

Wyse wants to make mental health services easier to receive while also showing Jesus’ love to others. Cedarville University has helped Wyse on this journey as she clearly lives out Cedarville’s core values: “Love for God. Love for Others. Integrity in Conduct. Excellence in Effort.” at the heart of everything she does.  

Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences, and professional fields. With 6,384 students, it ranks among Ohio's largest private universities and is recognized by The Wall Street Journal as being among the nation’s top three evangelical universities. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics, and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu. &�Բ�����;