I came to college as a Christian, and a pretty strong one compared to many 18-year-olds I knew.
Now, three years later and nearly finished with college, I am still a Christian. In fact, transitioning into college life helped me become a more confident Christian. College strengthened my faith, and helped me find, enjoy, and secure something that helps me through many tough situations that result from college and, let's face it- growing up.
How exactly did my faith grow in college? College is a time for you to explore and expound upon who you are. College presents many situations that you simply aren't ready for, or don't even know exist (girl drama still exists in the college realm? What do I do if someone breaks into my car? How do I dismantle cultural barriers between my lab partner and myself? Who's going to bail me out if I forget to pay the minimum balance on my credit card? What do I do if I think I'm becoming depressed? How do I put bleach into the laundry machine?).
Perhaps most importantly, college gives you the opportunity to be uncomfortable, to be wrong- and through grace we are able to ask for forgiveness and use the strength from our faithful Father to continue climbing mountains.
One of the most important things I did to continue growing my faith in college was find a church "home away from home." It took a little exploring, but I eventually found a church community that not only accepts me exactly as I am, but has provided me with multiple opportunities to use my talents and energy to expand my faith and help others do the same. And while it's true I don't snooze my alarm clock three or four times on Sunday mornings and instead wake up at 8 AM (yes, on a Sunday!) to prepare myself for church, I find that I'm not missing anything from the "typical college kid experience" because I am confidently and joyfully making my own experience. I have found something that has acted a springboard for my faith to jump off of, leaping towards the heavens and helping me expand and trust in my faith. And for that I am forever grateful.
There's never a "right" or "wrong" time to start expanding- or beginning- your faith. There's simply time. Stay strong, be bold, and ask God for strength and confidence. Your path will be made clear, and your journey will continue despite your inability to see where you're going. God is there for you in all seasons, including college. Wake up, dress up, show up, and most importantly- never give up.
