Christian colleges are awesome, but they're not without their hardships. Here are some common struggles about attending a college filled with Jesus-loving peers.
1. You wish you had an ENO hammock, too.
Back home, you never saw anyone hammock, but now that you're at a Christian college, they're somehow everywhere! Freshmen year, you're suddenly dying to get your hands on an ENO.
2. You find yourself wanting to dress like a Christian hipster.
Overalls, flowy, patterned tops, thick-framed glasses: You're finding that your wardrobe is nothing like it used to be. You might even go as far as getting a Jesus fish tattoo, or at least a longboard.
3. Everyone's eager to share their testimony, and you might be uncomfortable.
Where you came from, no one wanted to talk about their personal lives, but now all your Bible studies feature friends sharing their life stories. During your freshmen year, it makes you nervous because you don't know how you'll ever do it.
4. Talks about faith keep you from homework.
You and your friends may be pulling an all-nighter, but late nights are prime Jesus-talk time. You find yourself getting caught up in a conversation about faith instead of doing the work you're supposed to be doing, and you feel guilty for maybe regretting it the next morning because you got no sleep and nothing done.
5. You're jealous of all the people that have been on mission trips.
If you're like me, and you started college with no mission trips under your belt, it can be crazy realizing just how many places others have visited for Christ. Your dorm mates and classmates go into detail about their missions to Mexico, Haiti, Ukraine, and more, and you sit there like, "What the heck?!" You want to start a mission trip list, too, and experience what it's like.
6. You struggle between choosing Chapel services or homework.
It seems like every time there's a Chapel service, you have a paper to write and a test to study for. Not attending Chapel makes you feel guilty, but not doing homework means you won't do well academically. You're constantly put in these tough situations, and you think, "Maybe if I go to Chapel, God will reward me with an A on my paper." However, maybe the best way to worship is with your work.
7. Summers can be religious dry spots.
At your Christian college, you're surrounded by peers who share your faith. You go to a church with tons of people your age, and you're in tons of Bible studies. However, when you come home, all of that can go away, and you have to spend the summer making more of an effort to nurture your faith. The church your family attends is full of senior citizens, and although you love your friends at home, they may not be Christians. You leave your "Christian college bubble" and realize that faith is a little harder in the real world, but just remember to hold on to the belief that God is always with you.
Prayers to everyone in college! Thanks for reading!
