Fall of 2016 is a time of change in every aspect of my life. College homework feels like it is never ending, my parents are moving from my childhood home, and I am creating a new life in Anderson, South Carolina, with new friendships and opportunities around every corner. While college is a definite time of change, it also allows students to discover who they are and who they want to be in the future. College allows you to create a new life, as you are setting the stage for who you are as an adult. College changes you, and it changes you fast

Every day we are all adapting to our environment, as we make decisions based on certain situations. These decisions shape and create our behaviors. I am an extremely different person than who I was even a year ago, and college is only progressing my maturity. I know who I am: my likes and dislikes, my strengths and weaknesses, and who I want to be in Christ. While being at college, I have discovered what is important to me and what is not.

I am not your typical girl. I have always disliked almost everything girly, such as dresses, skirts, and recently even makeup. I strive to be different from everyone else, whether that is portrayed in what I write about or what I wear. It’s not that I’m consciously trying to be different. I just honestly usually do not like societal trends. I cannot stand to be placed in a certain category of people, such as “hipster” or “common white girl.” Living on my own and learning how to become my own person, away from my parents, has only progressed my passion to be different.

Christians should also strive to be different as well. Have you ever heard the saying, “Live in the world, not of the world?” Christians need to be turning away from societal teachings. Unfortunately, American culture today promotes and even glorifies the sins God condemns, such as idolatry, same sex marriage, and even murder. God saves people so they can build a relationship with Him and spread His Word. We were literally created to be a light to the world. Society tells us to conform and become tolerant of progressive ideals, but we cannot be silent in a world that we were chosen to transform. I am not saying we should condemn people. We should love all people like God loves us, but I am suggesting that we should not be afraid to be different and show others our almighty God.

I am thankful and blessed to attend a school that encourages my individuality in Christ. Not only does Anderson University equip students to be in the working field, but it also teaches students how to defend their faith. Although I am changing, I know that I am transforming for the better with the guidance of people at Anderson. Since attending my college, I still strive to be different, and I have also immensely grown in my faith and drawn closer to Christ. I only hope that when people know me, they also know Christ. I strive to be different to bring glory to Christ, and I only pray that I transform into a stronger woman of God.