One of the hardest parts of this transition into college was not having my friends who I grew through high school with by my side. In a span of 10 days, they were all over the country and doing their own thing while I stayed at home and attended a local community college. I didn't realize how hard it would be to have all my friends gone but still seeing their families at church and at the grocery store. I felt very alone the first month of school learning to adapt to the same living situation but without seeing my friends almost daily. But one month into my freshman year, I met the best group of people who loved and encouraged me the whole year; My friends in YAM.

YAM stands for Young Adult Ministry and is made up of people in college and their 20's just doing life together. I got invited to go to a bible study at my friends house and at first I was very excited about the idea of going to be with people and doing a bible study because I did that with my friends all throughout high school! But once I realized my friends wouldn't be there, I got extremely nervous. I am having to start all over and go to a bible study I know maybe 1 or 2 people. I almost didn't go that night but I felt the tug from God to go and so I did and it was amazing. We just watched a sermon and talked about it after and it was a good conversation. the YAM's I was with are so wise and it was awesome to be able to learn from them.

Because of that night, I kept coming and got more and more plugged in with the YAM's and made a lot of new friends. They really welcomed and accepted me from the beginning and made me feel valuable and important. As the year progressed, I got to know them more and develop some really real and personal relationships with some of them. A tear is falling as I write this because of how thankful I am God placed them in my life when he did.

Now I have (finally) finished the end of my freshman year and looking back, most of the best memories that came from this year was with them. Our trip to the North Shore, Yam Haus shows, great bible studies, awesome one-on-one conversation with them, and so many more memories that made me so genuinely happy this year. They have taught me so much this year and have helped me grow in my faith and as a person. Now my friends are coming home and I am so excited to be with all the people I love with all my heart. I hit some very low seasons this year that I wouldn't have made through with them pouring into me. I will always be so thankful for them and everything they have done for me this year.