A Leap “Into” Faith: How Rusul “Rosie” Alshujairi—Who Was Raised Muslim—Found Her Home at ORU
Tulsa, OK, January 18, 2024
Rusul “Rosie” Alshujairi
Field of Study: Nursing
“Leap of faith”—it’s a cliché that’s sometimes used to describe big decisions with
an unknown outcome. Choosing a college can be a “leap of faith”; it’s an important
life-decision that requires commitment and hard work for success. But for Rusul “Rosie”
Alshujairi, choosing a college was much more than just a “leap of faith.” Raised a
Muslim, Rosie’s decision to attend ORU was literally a “leap into faith.”
“When I walked onto the ORU campus,” Rosie said, “I didn’t know I had to open my Bible and read it. I didn’t know how to worship. I didn’t know how to pray. I was a new Christian, and no one ever judged me when I had questions about faith. Everyone’s been so kind, and people at ORU are always willing to help me understand a verse or devotion.”
Seeking Refuge and Finding Jesus
Raised in Washington, Rosie, as a teenager, found herself in an abusive situation. As a means of escape, she randomly applied to a list of colleges in Oklahoma. One of those colleges was ORU.
“I was still a practicing Muslim at that point,” Rosie said. “and I didn’t know ORU was a Spirit-empowered university. I was in survival mode, looking for a place that was far away from Washington. ORU awarded me the Whole Person Scholarship—it was the most scholarship money I received—and that's basically why I chose ORU.”
“When you surround yourself with negativity,” Rosie said, “you’re gonna absorb it like a sponge. But if you’re part of a healthy community, you’re more likely to have a healthy mindset."
The summer before freshman year, Rosie moved to Tulsa, where she was connected with a host family. That family convinced her to attend a church camp, though she admits it wasn’t something she wanted to do. However, this decision turned out be one of the most important decisions of Rosie’s life.
“That camp transformed me,” Rosie said. “I was hurting, and during one sermon, I found myself crying so hard that I couldn't get up from the floor. I was on my knees, and I suddenly saw two humongous hands that were bruised and pierced with nails. They were Jesus’ hands, and my hands were placed into his perfectly. He held on to me; He told me everything was going to be okay.”
A Future That’s More Than Normal
Today, Rosie finds herself in a supportive community at ORU, one that strengthens her newfound faith. The toxic world she left behind has been replaced by a university experience that’s transforming her as a person. As a nursing major, she’s thankful for her opportunity to earn a degree, an opportunity she once feared might never happen.
“As a young woman,” Rosie said, “a plan was made for me to get married, but it wasn’t my plan. I didn’t have any say in it. Instead, I wanted to go to college. I didn’t want normal. I didn’t want to sit back and do nothing. When I get to that day when life is finally over, what will I be known for? I want to be known for something unique and special and strong, not something that's weak and easy to break.”
The person Rosie wants to be—"unique and special and strong”—is the person she’s becoming. Since enrolling at ORU, Rosie says she’s become a more positive person. She points to the campus community as a big factor in who she is today.
“When you surround yourself with negativity,” Rosie said, “you’re gonna absorb it like a sponge. But if you’re part of a healthy community, you’re more likely to have a healthy mindset. You become stronger and more positive. The students at ORU are smart and intelligent, but it’s not just book smarts. They’re intelligent with God too. They know what's right. They know what's wrong, and they’ve been guiding me in a way that’s completely changed my life.”
ABOUT ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY
ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 15 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor’s level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 150 nations (from 2019 to 2023) to be whole leaders for the whole world.
The Wall Street Journal ranked ORU as the #8 university in the nation for student experience and one of America's Best Colleges (2024). This new category rates the best colleges in the U.S. to have
a great experience while attending. This ranking is powered by one of the largest ever independent surveys of verified college students and recent graduates in the United States. Niche recognizes ORU as one of the most diverse colleges in America, # 1 best Christian college in Oklahoma, and # 1 in Oklahoma for diversity. Princeton Review ranked ORU as the best regional college, and College Raptor ranked ORU as a Hidden Gem in the Southwest.
ORU has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as:
- #1 in Undergraduate Teaching
- #2 in Most International Students
- #3 in Best Value
- #6 in Best College for Veterans
- #7 in Best Regional Colleges in the West
For more information, visit www.oru.edu.