As a teenage girl who didn’t really know where I wanted to go to college, I applied to several schools. Coming from a Hispanic country, I didn’t really know what to expect when coming to America and living in a dorm. As I started to hear back from the colleges I had applied to, I already had my mind made up on where I wanted to go. I got a good scholarship and from the pictures I saw, the campus looked nice. So, why not?
A few days later, I got an email from Liberty University, which was not on my list of options, and I read something about “College For A Weekend.” I read through the email and it captured my attention immediately. A weekend where I could basically be a student and experience everything they offered on campus. I convinced my father to let me go and I also told two more friends about it. I was happy because I was going to visit the university of my dreams, even though the possibility of actually being a student there seemed small.
My friends and I took two flights and we got to the beautiful and colorful little city of Lynchburg. I started to fall in love with the place as we were picking up our luggage at the airport and saw a lady waiting to drive us in a Liberty shuttle to campus. She was so nice that we already felt welcomed and loved. We toured the campus once we got there, and we could feel already the Christian atmosphere and the kindness of the people embracing us.
I was not afraid to show others that I was a CFAW. I was just so happy to be there that I didn’t care about walking around with the big map and the little pamphlet everywhere I went.
That same day, I made two friends who I hung out with for the rest of the weekend, and who I am proud to say that I am still friends with. I also loved the Circle (where I was staying) and the happiness of the people that lived there. My host and I clicked immediately since we found out that we had a lot in common. She was really nice, and made sure I was feeling comfortable and oriented on campus. She invited me to go to classes with her, which I’m glad I did because those classes were a strong reason why I am here now.
Convocation and the fellowship of the students were things that impacted my life so much that I did not want to leave. I called my parents after the second day and told them that I did not want to go anywhere else. I was convinced that Liberty was the place I had to be and I was determined to do everything I could to get in.
When I went back home, I started the hard and long process to get in. I will never forget the joy and excitement when I opened the email and read that I was accepted into Liberty University! Now that I am about to finish my second year of college, I look back and I will be forever grateful for that weekend and for the people that influenced me to convince me to come to the best university that God could ever choose for me.
Now as a student, I get to host CFAWs in my room. And though it can be sometimes a stressful weekend and maybe a little uncomfortable, I always try to remind myself that that weekend can influence one of their most important decisions in life.
