It's April. Which may mean a lot of things to you, but to me (and several of my peers), it means graduation is only a month away.

On May 13th, we'll dress in our blue cap and gown and walk across the stage. And with each step, we'll remember what Liberty University has taught up. Some of it may be academic, some of it may be spiritual, but I know that whatever it may be, I'm feeling more full as I exit Liberty than when I entered it.

As I reflect on my time at Liberty (yes, it took my five years, cut me some slack), here are some of the biggest lessons I've learned as a Liberty University student.

1. God may call you to move away from your comfort zone.

I was 17 when I packed up my room in Tampa, Florida and made the 12-hour journey to Liberty. My family piled in two cars as we filled the trunks with my belongings. My family helped me move my stuff to the second floor (well some of them did, if we're being 100% honest). And then, my family stood outside the dorm early a few mornings later to hug me goodbye as they drove back to Florida.

You have to understand, I had never really been away from home except for an overseas mission trip. This was terrifying. I grew up in the same town all my life, went to the same church the majority of my life, had the same friends growing up, and suddenly, I felt as though the place I called home was being ripped from my hands, and I had never felt more uncomfortable in my life.

But God doesn't call us to a life of comfort, but a life of obedience. In fact, we're not promised that the world will be a comfortable place at all! We're promised that the Lord takes care of us.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

So you may be called to pack up your room and move, leaving behind a life you've established to start a new one. And that's okay. The Lord is comforting and faithful.

2. People will oppose you.

You see Liberty University a lot in the news. It's always being broadcasted across news stations. What is Liberty's stance on this? Who is speaking at Liberty this week? And usually, people are angry. People are frustrated with the way we think, the people we bring in, the things we believe. We're constantly opposed.

But God is on our side.

God is faithful to those who stick with Him, claiming and declaring truth, loving others, displaying grace and patience. But not everyone is on board with that. And in the face of opposition, we know God still cares for us.

3. The Lord will open doors at the right time.

My fourth year at Liberty, I needed a job. I couldn't find anything. I applied to work study positions all over campus, and didn't hear anything. Then one day, I got an email from Liberty University Online, asking if I was interested in interviewing for a front desk position. And while interviewing, the woman who would soon become my supervisor (and friend honestly, she was amazing), told me my availability was a perfect fit for the position.

So I began at LUO, working a student worker position, and here I am, about to graduate with a job already lined up after college at Liberty University Online Academy. Doors opened, and with each door opening, the Lord was preparing me to move to the next one. Without this beginning job, I probably wouldn't have the connections to land an interview for LUOA.

God isn't going to lead you into destruction, but if you're willing to walk with Him, He's going to lead you to amazing opportunities, and He'll focus on the details.

4. Moving away from home might be the best thing for you.

I have an amazing home life. I come from a great family who loves the Lord, brings me joy, and encourages me. But I have to say: moving away from them was the best thing for me.

Moving away, starting my own life, discovering who I really was (wow, that sounded cheesy), and having to learn independence was the hardest thing I've ever done. But it was the best thing I've ever done.

This gave me a chance to have a clean slate. I was no longer the pastor's kid that everyone knew, or the kid in high school that no one really knew (I was a total loser guys). I was Carrie. I was a Liberty student. I was transitioning into a new part of my life.

And doing this away from home taught me about dependency on the Lord. Dependency to make new friends, to find a new church, to focus on my studies, to get involved, and to learn.

Overall, I'm so thankful for my time at Liberty University. Regardless of anything anyone says, the Lord is moving on this campus.