By Amy Robertson

T ravelling the world isn't part of the typical undergrad program—but Johannah Bird made it part of hers.

Bird, who is from Portage La Prairie, Man., signed up for a simple two-year degree in humanities at Briercrest College and Seminary in Caronport, Sask., in 2006.

Four years and a BA in Humanities and an AA in Biblical Studies later, her studies have been anything but simple: they’ve taken her to Israel and Russia, and into The Association of Biblical Higher Education’s Delta Epsilon Chi Honor Society.

Bird had always wanted to travel, and so when the opportunity arose to join a study tour of the Holy Land with a contingent of other Briercrest students and professors in May 2009, she took it enthusiastically. Less than four months later, she left for St. Petersburg, Russia, with six other Briercrest students to spend a semester studying Russian language, history, art, and literature at St. Petersburg Christian University.

Her time there, she says, was “beautiful—it was perfect.”

“To be able to see this piece of art and not just a copy—it was amazing,” she says.

Bird has had many other opportunities to learn and give over last four years: She has performed in Briercrest College and Seminary’s annual Christmas Musical production and two different choirs, served as a residence assistant, and worked as a faculty assistant, leading English literature tutorials and grading papers.

Bird hopes to pursue graduate studies in the humanities or English literature after graduation April 24. Her GPA of 3.80 places her fifth in her class.