As I walked across the stage in May of 2014, I was a Christian. When I came to college in August, I was a Christian. However when the overload of trying to keep up with your schoolwork and your social life began my faith went for a turn, and not in the direction I was hoping. Not only was I not going to church, but I was forgetting all my life mottos just with a Friday night date party. Freshman year felt as if I was riding a roller coaster that just couldn't quite find the end. I was blessed with 200 sorority sisters, a great roommate, and an amazing family back home that knew I would be just fine ultimately having faith in me.
Winter break finally came and I took the much needed month off with arms wide open. I organized my thoughts and really analyzed what was important and what wasn't. Being in a relationship -- yes, fun, but I was not focusing on myself. Going out on the weekends was another fun social aspect, but I was missing church which is something that had always been a constant in my life. After a couple weeks of really telling myself that I know what I need to do, I did it.
I went back to University Christian church on campus, brought my Bible to school with me and really decided who needed to be part of my life and who didn't. I decided that I can hold on to friends for the year. I can hold on to grades until the final. But I can hold on to my faith for a lifetime. And not one night out could ever change that.
I will be honest -- sometimes it was hard; when my alarm went off on Sunday mornings sometimes I snoozed and went back to bed. However on the Sunday morning that I woke up and went to church I was welcomed with open arms by a group of people who didn't even know me that well. I participated in a service that physically gave me chills. And I went home feeling like I had a reason and purpose of life and it needed to be shared.
So, if I could give any advice to a college student it would be to have a little faith. Have faith in your friends that they can guide you to success. Have faith in your professors to tech you the best they know how to but ultimately have faith in yourself. You can tell yourself every day that you are going to change something but until that magical day comes that you do you will keep climbing and climbing to reach your goal. But the only way to reach that goal is with a little faith. A gleaming little hint of a never ending faith.
