Brianna Brink is a woman of God ready to step into the medical field

BY BETHANY KILPATRICK

Multimedia Journalist

Brianna Renee Brink, better known as Bri, will be graduating from Tarleton State University on May 16, 2025, at 9 a.m.  at the Tarleton Memorial Stadium, with a nursing degree and aspirations of becoming a labor and delivery nurse.

Brink is from San Antonio, Texas, and began her college journey in 2021. Since that point, she has worked as a facilities employee at the Tarleton Recreation Center, became involved in Paradigm College Ministry and recently became engaged to her fiancé, Michael Gonzalez.

Much in Brink’s life has changed in the last four years, including her decision to be saved, which means accepting the gift of salvation offered to all humanity by Jesus’ death on the cross.

The person who has stood beside her through every season and whom Brink credits as her biggest supporter is her best friend, Sofia Gonzalez.

Sofia and Brink attended the same school since middle school but did not develop a deeper friendship until their college days.

“It was our first few weeks here, and I texted her on Snapchat,” Brink said. “I was like, ‘My mom told me that your dad told her that you are here at Tarleton.’ And so literally after that, she came over to my dorm, met my roommate and we became a really big group of friends.”

Sofia’s faith in God inspired Brink and ultimately is what led to the deep connection they now share and cherish. Sofia was saved in the summer between her sophomore and junior year, and Brink remembers being confused by her decision at first.

“I was like, ‘Who is this weirdo?’” Brink said. “She was telling me what the Lord was doing in her life, and I did not really know how to react. I didn’t grow up in church, and I didn’t really know Jesus at all.”

Sofia began to invite Brink to Bible studies and her challenge group, which is a small group Bible study that is led through Paradigm.

“She planted that seed, and she reflected Jesus,” Brink said. “That is ultimately why I was like, ‘Okay, she has this overwhelming sense of peace, and I want to figure out what this is, too.’”

Brink was saved her junior year, and her relationship with God began to grow from that point and is what led to her further involvement and commitment to Paradigm.

“I thought the things of the world could fulfill me,” Brink said. “I was depressed, and there are photos of how I looked freshman and sophomore year, and I look different. I was carrying a lot. But God found me, and I finally met him there.”

Brink began to notice a change in her life for the better after her decision to follow Jesus, which led to an indescribable peace.

“Once I finally started putting my trust in Jesus, it was the only thing that ever stood,” Brink said. “It was the only thing that had that firm foundation. That is when I felt most set free. We are not held to the ways of this world.”

During her senior year, Brink has served as a challenge leader alongside Paradigm intern Braden Garcia, mentored and disciplined younger women on a weekly basis, regularly attended Paradigm’s Thursday night worship gatherings, attended Paradigm’s Sunday morning Bible study and attended Sunday morning service at First Baptist Church in Stephenville.

“Bri is not only my best friend but my sister in Christ,” Sofia said. “She pushed me to be a better person and to always put the Lord first. I have seen her grow so much in her faith and as a woman of God.”

In addition to her involvement with Paradigm, Brink has worked at the recreation center on campus since the beginning of her freshman year. Her boss, Christian Dollof, is a senior in graduate school at Tarleton and has personally known Brink since March of 2023.

“She is a manager and helps lead others and passes on her knowledge to them daily,” Dollof said. “Bri radiates positive energy and is kind to everyone. She just has a lasting effect that makes people’s days positive and better. It is something truly special.”

Dollof was a member of Brink’s challenge group this past year, creating a unique friendship between the two.

“I think it’s a really good dynamic because not only is he my boss and I’m his challenge leader, but that allows us to be friends in a way,” Brink said. “I go to him for a lot of advice, and he also comes to me for a lot of advice.”

Dollof thinks highly of Brink and considers her to be extremely encouraging.

“As a challenge leader, she is phenomenal,” Dollof said. “Bri is also a great friend of mine, because she’s one of the only ones who’s been on staff with me throughout my entire rec process and has always given me guidance and help when needed. She is just someone I can always count on and trust to give me an honest opinion.”

Brink credits her relationship with God and her friends with providing the motivation and determination she needed to excel in nursing school.

“Nursing school is not easy,” Brink said. “God has definitely guided me through school and has given me the heart to want to stay in it.”

Brink desires to become a labor and delivery nurse due to her passion to care for mothers.

“My sister let me be in her last delivery with her,” Brink said. “And I just saw how her nurse treated her, how her nurse really advocated for her and made sure she felt safe. That’s when I really took a step back, and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, like, this is exactly the type of nurse I want to be, a nurse who advocates for the mom.’”

As Brink prepares to begin her professional career, she is also planning a wedding. Brink and Michael have been in a relationship since 2022, and he proposed on April 4, 2025, while hanging out beside the lake with Brink.

“Michael was trying to throw me off,” Brink said. “He was like, ‘I want to graduate from school and get my life together.’ And he does not graduate until next year. So I am not expecting it at all, and so the fact that that happened was just amazing.”

Brink is excited to begin the next chapter of her life but is saddened about leaving the place that has morphed her into who she is today.

“I’m sad to leave everybody, especially at Paradigm,” Brink said. “Those are my people. And I’m very sad to leave Paradigm. I am excited to be done with school, but it is bittersweet.”

The joy that radiates from Brink is obvious to any of those who know her or have a relationship with her, and she wishes for all to know that her joy comes from God and the peace He provides.

“If there is one piece of advice that I can give, it is to trust God,” Brink said. “Know that you are here for a reason, and the things that happen in your life are not a coincidence; they always happen for a reason.”