Dear Mississippi College,

I’m a freshman, brand new on the campus, and just now wrapped up my first semester and there are a few things that I feel I should share with you. My time leading up to college was incredibly scary, as would be expected. I had no idea how everything would be different and with each passing day I grew more and more anxious with what the future held. Until move in day finally came, it was “goodbye old life” and “hello college life." It was terrifying and overwhelming to say the least but luckily for me I had old friends to help me work through it, specifically my roommate and several old friends from high school. Soon, my fears turned into excitement as we started to make plans about what we would do for the next few years and who we would become.

After that, college didn’t seem so scary. I found myself growing closer to my old friends and making some wonderful new ones. I found myself enjoying this new life and grew excited to try so many new things. This led me to applying to Campus Activities Board and joining the MCTV News Team, two groups I’m absolutely proud to be a member of. I also found a great church home at Morrison Heights Baptist and an awesome Bible study group. All that was left were my plans to rush and man, was I pumped.

Rush began and it led me to so many great people and I finally felt like I knew the campus and what its people were really about. However, something terrible happened. I found out during rush that my parents were dealing with some serious medical issues, issues that I had thought were gone. It was absolutely devastating, I had no idea what to do with myself. I was unfocused and distraught pretty much wherever I went and in whatever I did. I let the members of the club I rushed know, as well as my brothers in the rush process what was going on. I also told my friends and other people that I looked up to, they all listened and were all very supportive. In light of all this news, I decided to end my rush process and focus on getting a job to support my family from afar.

This is when something unbelievable happened.

The people that I had told about my situation as well as countless others began praying and helping in ways I couldn’t imagine. People who I barely knew were asking me how my parents were doing and how they could help. People who my parents will never even meet were on their knees sincerely praying for them. An anonymous donor left a note containing an incredibly generous donation for my family and I still have no clue as to who it was. I couldn’t fathom how so many people, who either just met me or haven’t even done so, would care that much. My family not only felt the love of these people but the love of Christ as well and it was the most wonderful of feelings.

So Mississippi College, the real reason I’m writing is to express my unwavering gratitude. I love my campus and everyone on it. Thank you, all of you, for everything that your kindness has shown me this semester. I know that coming to MC was the right decision and I eagerly await the next seven semesters and what they will show me. Once again thank you MC, for everything.

Sincerely,