Grad hopes to mix faith, science
Staff writer
Kyla Isaac loves God, science, and acts of service — and she dreams of harmonizing them into a mission that will help others and become her life’s work.
The Hillsboro valedictorian always has been good at science and math and doesn’t see them as competing with her faith.
“A lot of people think that religion and science are separate,” she said. “But I think they can be used together really well to serve people.”
She once toyed with the idea of becoming a physician, but has decided, for now, that 12 years in school might not be for her.
A medical mission would be a good fit for her future, she said.
For now, she has signed to play tennis at John Brown University, an interdenominational Christian university with about 2,500 students in Siloam Springs, Arkansas.
“I really loved my campus visit,” she said. “It’s a really good fit for me.”
At Hillsboro, she kept up a full slate of extracurricular activities that showed off a full range of interests and flair for community service.
Isaac served four years on student council and also was involved with Leo club.
She showed of her flair for problem solving by competing in dragster design and on-demand video as a part of the Technological Student Association.
She also has acted or danced in Hillsboro’s fall musical these past four years, landing roles in “Robin Hood” and “Pride and Prejudice.”
At John Brown, she will major in Bible and theology and intercultural studies — and, she hopes, minor in biology.
“It looks like nothing that really has anything to do with my extracurricular activities,” she said of her major.
Isaac chose it because she would like to serve as a missionary.
The craziness of the past year has been a lesson in coping with adversity, which probably will serve her well, she said.
Isaac admits she was “not a fan” of hybrid learning, which isolated her from friends and left her feeling she was not learning all she could from school.
Three or four cast members and the director of the fall musical were placed in quarantine and the show had to be postponed. The cast performed three separate one-act shows and wore clear masks so the audience could see their faces.
“Staying motivated and to learn was kind of difficult,” she said. “But I made it.”
Isaac decided to shake things up by trying something new and took a business class. Ultimately, she decided finance was not for her, but was glad to have the experience.
She is looking forward to college, which she hopes will offer her a change of scenery.