The Elliotts: Changes In Familiar Places

The sparklers flickered, lighting up the car with the words “just married” and “The Elliotts” chalked on the windows. The wedding guests created two lines across from each other for the newlyweds to walk through in their grand exit. This exit signified the end of the wedding, and for many of the recent college graduates who were attending, yet another sign of the end of an era. It was the week after graduation and another friend was getting married.

However, this happy couple would not be leaving Jackson—in fact, they wouldn’t be leaving Union University at all. Isaac and Brooke Elliott would soon be back to live on campus, the place where they both received their undergraduate degrees. Isaac is the new graduate assistant resident director and Brooke is continuing her job as an enrollment counselor in the office of undergraduate admissions, in addition to her new position of volunteer assistant coach for the women’s soccer team.

Isaac learned about the resident director position during his junior year at Union and knew it was something that he wanted to do. He served as a Resident Assistant (RA) during his junior and senior years. Working with the residence life team his senior year confirmed that this was the job for him not only because he loved being an RA, but also because it gave him the opportunity to continue working with those same people he already loved.

“When I heard about this job I was like, ‘Jesus, I want this job so bad. If it’s not your will that is fine, but I just feel like this was where I was supposed to be,’” he said.

Brooke couldn’t agree more that this is exactly where God was calling them. “It has been the biggest blessing for us. He (Isaac) has the promise of getting his master’s in Christian studies. He is also able to continue his ministry and growth he started as an RA, all while cultivating those relationships he started as an RA,” she said.

Both Isaac and Brooke view their jobs at Union as their ministries. Brooke, who works with incoming students, says that sometimes her students will open up to her and she is able to become a confidant for them. She is able to guide them and show how Union can be a possibility for them. Isaac is able to work with the RAs by pouring into them and being someone who can relate to what they might be dealing with. 

The transition from student to staff member has been easier for the couple than they thought it would be. Being an RA for the past two years, Isaac feels like he was eased into the job. Brooke graduated a year before Isaac, giving her a year of working full time to become accustomed to life after college.

“I told my parents I thought it would be so weird being married, working and living on a college campus, but really it’s not weird at all. The only thing that is different is getting used to each other’s schedules,” Brooke said, laughing.

While Brooke has a very regimented schedule of going to work and soccer practices, Isaac’s job tends to be more irregular. “When I wake up I never really know exactly what I am going to be doing that day,” Isaac said. He could be answering RA’s questions, working the desk if someone has been quarantined, or helping the RAs with any difficult conversations they might need to have with a resident.

“Some days I don’t see him until 8 at night,” said Brooke. 

Travel season for the enrollment counselors begins soon, and she will be traveling to other parts of Tennessee and other states in her territory. On top of travel for her job as an enrollment counselor, she is in the middle of soccer season. 

“The fall is insane. It’s a lot, but it’s really fun. I love my job,” she said.

The couple has discovered that finding the time and going out of their way to see each other is very important. Isaac strives to stop by Brooke’s office during the day, and the couple often meets up for lunch in Cobo.

“Marriage is fun if you put in the work,” Isaac said.

Having grown up playing a multitude of sports, it was easy for the couple to find the similarities between the sports they love and their marriage.

“When you have worked hard on the fundamentals of your sport and put in the work until it becomes second nature, you are going to have fun playing that sport. The same goes for marriage,” said Isaac.

Instead of honing basketball or soccer skills, the couple has worked on honing their communication and service skills. It has served them well in their first several months as newlyweds, as well as in their jobs.

“It’s really cool because my job is getting students through the process to get here, then his job is working with them once they are here,” Brooke said.

Isaac grew so much during his time as a RA and discovered a new passion. “I wanted to make sure first years didn’t make the same mistakes that I did,” said Isaac. “I wanted to give them a cheat sheet, cut out the crud, and get them straight to the job.”

He plans to continue these mentorships over his remaining two years at Union and hopes to continue to grow and learn himself.

“I can see growth in students, myself and Union as a whole. God has placed me here for such a time as this. I want to take advantage of that so I am glorifying him and not myself through my time here.”

Photo by Laila Al-Hagal