College time is a time of change. For many students these changes include a change of scenery or place you live, a change in schedule, and maybe even a change in responsibilities you have. One thing that changed for me when I got to college was my faith. Now you may be thinking, "oh no!" change to that can't be a good thing, but don't worry it changed for the better. Now, it didn't just appear to work out perfectly, but throughout my two years at Elmira I have grown more in my faith than I ever thought was possible in a lifetime. Here are some tips I have been told or learned along the way to keep your head looking up to Jesus rather than down at the ground.

Just like anything in life, if you care about something and want it to be an important part of your life, it has to have a special place in your schedule.

There will always be something that seems like a better idea then going to church, whether it be Netflix, a big exam, or the tempting thought of sleeping in or taking a nap. Now I am not saying that you should never miss a service no matter what, all I am saying is prioritize. Maybe start that paper on Saturday afternoon instead of watching Netflix so you can dedicate some time to church on Sunday. As my middle school principal used to say, “It’s all about choices”. You will have to make it a priority in your schedule if you want it to be a priority in your life.

Finding a church I loved and felt at home in was what I consider the most influential part of my growth in faith.

“Church Hopping” can be scary! It is always nerve wracking to walk into a place where you potentially know no one, but trust me, the right church won’t give you that scared feeling, it will feel like you’re at home. If that idea still scares you, ask some friends if they have a church they enjoy and if you can tag along. The first church I went to up at school wasn’t right for me, but the second church I went to has truly become my second family and home. It was so worth those butterflies walking in that first Sunday.

If someone else is there to push you, to make sure you’re doing OK, and to just hold you accountable to goals or plan you’ve made, you are more likely to be successful.

Now I cannot take ownership for making this next tip up myself, I learned it from other people who have mastered this beautifully. This is called having an accountability partner. This is the same concept as “work out buddies”. This person shouldn't be mean or restricting, but instead just keep you on track. You should feel comfortable with this person to be able to share with them your inner most thoughts, problems, and strides. And feel free to have more than one. It always put a smile on my face when people I partner with send me quick texts to remind me to do something or check in on me. Also, don't forget to act as an accountability partner for the other person too. Sometimes it's just nice to know you have someone on your side through the good and the bad.

For a long time, Jesus and I were only friends for an hour on Sundays and that was it, but I have learned that every day should be like Sundays with Him.

This is a hard one for me personally, and it goes day by day if I am successful at it or not. The best advice is to keep it natural. When you roll over in the morning, say a quick thank you to God for letting you wake up to another day, or tell someone about what you did at church on Sunday. Another important part is having personal time with Jesus as much as possible. Sit down, close the door, clear your mind and just talk to Him and let Him talk to you. Just like any other friend, you have to get to know someone to consider them a friend. Amazing things happen when you give Him time to partner with you daily, not just once a week.

Now all of these tips may make it seem like my faith journey is college has been a walk in the park, but trust me I get it, college can bring up questions and circumstances you’ve never experienced before, and that’s OK.

Questions and doubting don’t mean you don’t believe anymore. The important part is that these questions come from a place of wanting to learn more and grow deeper in your faith; find new answers to new questions you’ve never thought of. One of my favorite quotes is “A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there.” It is not going to be easy, but get with others who can build you up and encourage you until you can do that for yourself again.

My last bit of advice is if it's not fun, you aren't doing it right.

Your relationship with Jesus should not be something that is stressful or drag you down. I always look forward to seeing my friends and being able to be beside friends I love worshiping our Father. Part of it being fun comes with time. It will take time to get into a routine and find a church or service on campus, but keeps searching until you find a place you are excited to get up early to go to. I assure you, there is a place out there for you and He is waiting for you with open arms to either come back or move closer to him through some of these post important years of your life.