Away From Home: Where to Turn

I grew up in church. Three times in a week just like clockwork: Sunday morning - go to service and Sunday school. Sunday evening - back to another service. Wednesday afternoon - go to the church meal and then the evening service. When I moved to Jefferson City my junior year of high school I was faced with starting completely over, and I had never been anywhere but church.

There are many things that people don’t know about me. The most surprising to most is how much I love my family. Almost as shocking is the fact that I don’t party… ever. In high school I went to one party only to have someone take me straight home, but it wasn’t because I didn’t like the people. They were some of my best friends, yet something kept me away. I spent a lot of time searching for the reason for my “anti-social” tendencies, and for a long time I just couldn’t place it.

I was talking to my mom last year, and she asked me why I never went out with friends. I told her that I just didn’t want to be a part of the same things that they did, but when she asked me why, I still didn’t have an answer for her. I didn’t even have an answer for myself. As we talked about the reasons why I liked to listen to music instead of go to dances and read instead of party, my mom found the answer. It was there all along. The reason that I didn’t do any of the things that my classmates were involved in was my faith.

I now realize that my faith keeps me grounded. In 1 Corinthians 3:16 the Bible says, “You are the temple of God and that the Spirit dwells in you” and I truly believe that. My morals are based on the faith that I have in Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior, and even though I might get ridiculed for it, sticking to my beliefs is very important to me.

Now that I am in college I understand what it is to truly feel alone. The first night I was here I truly lost it, but when I called my dad he reminded me of my faith and told me to read my Bible. He then prayed with me and I went right to sleep. The peace that comes over me when I pray is an awing experience. I already love this campus and feel like I have really found my calling in the communication’s field. I know I am in the right college: Lindenwood.

When I was asked to write about something that I was passionate about, I was clueless. Then I remembered the first day on campus and I realized that there is nothing that I am more passionate about than my faith. It defines me. If you ask any one of my friends they will tell you that I read my Bible regularly and constantly am looking for someone to discuss ways to apply it. Without my faith, I wouldn’t be the person that I am today.

I am truly blessed. How many kids get to follow all of their childhood dreams? Honestly, I am just glad to be here and I, along with all of my peers, need to cherish every moment because not everyone gets an opportunity to get the education that they want and they certainly don’t get all of the job opportunities that we will be receiving when we get our degrees. What we do with our lives now determines what we can accomplish later, and I believe that through my faith I will do whatever I set my mind to.