Angeles Shares How She Discovered Her Purpose in College

Here’s what African Christian College graduate Angeles Evans shared about her journey:

After graduating from African Christian College in 2020, I returned home to Zimbabwe. It was still the middle phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the world continued to battle uncertainty. I had earned my degree in Theology, majoring in Counselling, but I had not been fully exposed to the practical side of the field because of the interaction restraints at the time. I still had the desire to gain hands-on experience and see how it truly felt to be in the field.

So I applied at Mpilo Central Hospital, the largest hospital in Bulawayo and the second largest in the country. Thankfully, I was employed as a primary counsellor. I finally had the opportunity to do something I admired and was equipped for: helping people deal with psychological struggles. And there was no better place to do that than in a hospital setting, where lives are being saved every day.

When I look back on my time at African Christian College, I am filled with gratitude. I left with a purpose.

Angeles Evans, 2020 Graduate.

My work involved doing rounds in the medical wards attending to patients receiving test results who were trying to adjust to the news of battling illness.

I am grateful for the training and support I received, but the experience still came with many challenges. A hospital is not an easy place to be.

Some days were very tough. I often had to face the reality that someone I had spoken to in the morning had passed away by the time I returned for my afternoon rounds.

One day, I had a meaningful time with a patient. As I was wrapping up, she asked me to pray for her and help her look at the wall. I did so with excitement, grateful to have made an impact in her life. Yet less than five minutes later, the nurses informed me that she had passed away. I was deeply touched, but I found comfort in the fact that we prayed together.

Experiences like these became part of my daily work. Instead of running away, I came to see how necessary counselling is – especially in hospitals where people are facing severe emotional battles while also fighting physical illness. I also witnessed the crucial role that psychological wellness plays in the healing process.

In cases where patients found healing and the strength to accept their HIV/AIDS diagnosis, I experienced a peace that truly surpassed understanding. The sense of having contributed to someone’s renewed hope was indescribable, and it deepened my appreciation for the work I do.

These experiences encouraged me to further my studies so I could be better equipped to serve. I enrolled at Zimbabwe Open University for a Master of Science in Counselling, which I recently completed. I truly appreciate the strong academic foundation I received at African Christian College. The programme was not as difficult because I had already gone through similar academic rigour.

When I look back on my time at African Christian College, I am filled with gratitude. I left with purpose and fell in love with helping others.