I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Trinitas alumna Mekenzie Petersen ('20) to discuss her recent academic accomplishments. By the end of our conversation, I clearly understood that she has her sights set on something greater than attending medical school this fall. A transcription of our conversation is below so you can decide for yourself.

James Cowart: Good morning.  I want to start our conversation with some good news I recently heard about you—your mother was bragging a little. Can you tell us about what’s been happening in your life lately?

Mekenzie: Yes, absolutely. I was just accepted into the Florida State University College of Medicine. I’ll be starting medical school in late May.

James Cowart: They don’t let just anyone into medical school, so this achievement reflects a lot of hard work. I’d love for you to take us back to the beginning of your Trinitas story. When did you first come to Trinitas?

Mekenzie: I started at Trinitas in first grade and stayed all the way through twelfth grade. We were introduced to the school through Robert and Connie Barnes. They had three sons at Trinitas, and after touring the school, my family decided it was the right place for me, too.

James Cowart: We love the Barnes—and Chick-fil-A on Nine Mile! Looking back on your early years at Trinitas, what memories stand out to you?

Mekenzie: So many. My classmates were very talkative—whether that was a good thing or not, I’ll leave up to the teachers. We had a lot of fun, so many inside jokes. Winning the volleyball championship was memorable, and I loved being involved in the plays and extracurriculars. As for teachers, I truly loved them all. Dr. Hadley, Mr. Johnson—everyone. My first-grade teacher was Kristie Johnson; I was really blessed to start with such a great teacher.

James Cowart: Those early years are such an important foundation. Although I met you when you entered upper school, you always had a reputation as a hardworking, academically gifted student. Walk us through what happened after graduation.

Mekenzie: After graduating from Trinitas, I knew I wanted to pursue something in medicine. To save money, I stayed home and attended the University of West Florida. I graduated in December 2023 with a degree in biomedical sciences. I also did a significant amount of research while I was there.

James Cowart: Do you see your classical Christian education at Trinitas connecting to your work in biomedical sciences at all?

Mekenzie: Absolutely. The biggest connection is critical thinking. I was set apart from many of my classmates—my professors would comment on how clearly I could explain my reasoning. I even won a research presentation competition in Atlanta. When I took the MCAT, my strongest section was critical reasoning skills. That ability to ask good questions really comes from Trinitas.

Beyond that, Trinitas gave me a love of learning. A classical Christian education teaches that God is the foundation of every subject. In math, I saw God’s order. In science and anatomy, I saw God’s design and His image reflected in humanity. That perspective made learning meaningful and lifelong for me.

James Cowart: That’s encouraging to hear, especially for parents who want their children prepared not just for college, but for life and ministry. When did you first realize you wanted to pursue medicine?

Mekenzie: Global missions have always been a passion of mine. My dad is a pastor, and my parents went on mission trips from the time I was very young. I remember being upset that I couldn’t go with them. When I was thirteen, I finally went on my first mission trip, and I was so excited.

Since then, I’ve been on five mission trips to Guatemala and two to Uganda. Seeing physical starvation, malnutrition, and lack of medical care deeply impacted me. I realized I wanted to help people not only spiritually and emotionally, but physically. That’s what ultimately drew me toward medicine.

James Cowart: Looking ahead, dream big—what do you hope for on the other side of medical school?

Mekenzie: My dream is to work among unreached people groups—preaching the gospel while also helping tangibly through medicine. I’m especially drawn to fields like general surgery or OB-GYN because every community needs that kind of care, and it’s often a way to reach women who might otherwise be overlooked.

When I look at Jesus’ ministry, He preached the gospel and healed people. There’s something powerful about reaching people in moments of physical vulnerability. Being able to serve and share the gospel in that way would be my ultimate goal.

James Cowart: That’s incredibly inspiring. As we wrap up, do you have any words of encouragement you’d like to leave with them or their children?

Mekenzie: The best advice I can give isn’t my own—it’s God’s Word. The first verse my parents ever had me memorize was Philippians 1:21: “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” That verse has shaped my life.

To live is Christ—not just to live for Him or with Him. My encouragement would be to saturate yourself in the gospel. Love God’s Word, meditate on it, and let it shape every part of your life—your relationships, your work, your studies. Any accomplishments I’ve had, including medical school, were not by my own doing but by God’s grace. Give Him the glory in all things.

James Cowart: Amen! Thank you, Mekenzie, for sharing your story with us.