As an incoming college freshman, the changes that are about to happen to your life can be a bit daunting. College brings new freedom, new friendships, new opportunities to make "smart decisions," and so many other things. In addition to typically harder schoolwork, the new freedom comes with new responsibility. I remember going into freshman year and having it all planned out for how the year was going to go - but life happened. Things don't go as planned. Life has its ups and downs, and the adjustment to living on your own is likely to have a decent amount of downs. Hold on, though, because there's a way to discover a community to build you up in the 'downs' and celebrate you in the 'ups' - and it's waiting for you in College Station.

Most college freshmen know about the options for Fish Camp that their college may have, and the majority of people will recommend that its something you don’t want to miss. What you don’t hear too much about are the options for building a community of Christian friends to live alongside throughout freshman year, if not you’re entire college experience.

So, what is Impact? At Texas A&M and Blinn, it is an organization who's goal is to reach out to the freshmen coming to College Station in the fall. The counselors, co-chairs, and executive team are all students who were chosen to lead the incoming class (the Class of 2020!) at retreat and to follow up with them throughout the next year. Think of your counselor as a big sister or brother to walk beside you during your freshman year - they've been there and they will love you through all of the school breakdowns and homesickness. While at retreat, freshmen are split up camps, and then into B.A.S.I.C. Groups, aka BGs, with a ‘mom’ and a ‘dad,’ aka a girl and boy counselor. As a camper at retreat you’ll experience a variety of activities – games, sports, dance parties, discussions with your BGs, worship services, and much more. You’ll be exhausted after the four days at Lathum Springs, but it’s an exhaustion filled with memories.

One thing that’s exciting about going to Impact, and even after it's over, is all of the fun that awaits you upon moving to College Station. During Gig Em week, Impact camps plan hang outs for everyday or night, counselors will go with you to different campus events, pick you up for late night snacks, give you campus tours, and so much more! Moving up to College Station after going to Impact is so much fun because the entire first week there is jam packed with fun activities and new friends. The 2016 Impact staff wants to invite you to experience all of these things – retreat, follow up, college – but what we really want for you is to hear the invitation for you to experience the body of Christ in College Station.

So many new adventures are expectantly awaiting your arrival at Impact Retreat in August! And while so many adventures wait for you, the counselors of Impact and the teams who have been training us for a semester are even more pumped to have you join us! It’s been a long time waiting for you, Class of 2020, and there are lots of exciting things that will come your way. But I don’t want you to miss out on the chance to experience Christ in a brand new freedom – on a personal level that you get to choose to live out everyday, even in college.

So what do you do now? You go sign up!! Registration for Impact is open until August 8, but I encourage you to not wait. Don't sit at home and say, "I'll sign up tomorrow." Go sign up right now and get ready for four days that can tremendously affect the next four years.