Throughout his life, freshman biology major Caleb Leibee has embraced a variety of different cultures. He is one of 11 children in his family — six of whom are directly related to him and five who were adopted from Colombia, Florida and South Korea. He has also travelled extensively to places in Africa, England, Colombia and Mexico. And all of these diverse experiences have shaped what he intends to do with his degree.

From a young age, Caleb knew he wanted to be a doctor. His uncle, a prominent cardiologist, as well as other role models, highly influenced his interest in the medical field. During high school, he pursued biology and other sciences and confirmed that he enjoyed this area of study.

After high school, Caleb worked as an EMT for one year and then worked in the emergency room of a local hospital. These experiences confirmed that the medical field was a good fit for him, so he enrolled at Penn State Burks for biology/ pre-med. After a year at Penn State, however, he decided that he wanted to pursue his education in an environment that supported his Christian beliefs and values.

“I had the desire to make Christian friends who would appreciate my ways of life,” explains Caleb.

He chose to come to Geneva College to continue his education because of the strong Christian faith integration, rigorous academics and proximity to his home. Financial reasons were initially a concern as he switched from a public to a private institution, but he feels the benefits of coming to Geneva made the change worthwhile. He was amazed at how much a part of his life the professors became, and how they demonstrated their faith in the classroom. By far, his favorite thing about Geneva is the sense of community. He said he has made some incredible friendships since he got here, and enjoys all the Christ-centered events that the college puts together for students.

“They do a good job at reaching out to the student body as a whole and involving everyone,” says Caleb.

This past summer, Caleb visited his brother’s village in West Africa. His brother helped him fully experience the culture, introducing him to different foods and customs. In addition, he had perhaps his most profound medical experience yet.

“I won’t forget when the village’s doctor left,” says Caleb. “I ended up delivering most of the babies and inoculating them until the doctor returned several weeks later. Overall, my time in Africa, accepting and learning about different cultures, affected my growth as a young man.”

Following graduation, Caleb plans on attending medical school at either the University of Southern Florida or Baylor University. With his expertise in the medical field, he intends to serve those in Third World countries, helping to heal others and show them the love of Christ.

-Ben Butler '14

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