These past couple weeks have been a blur. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat in a circle or at a desk and waited patiently before I could introduce myself with the typical, “Hi, I’m Ally. I’m a first-year student and my major is Journalism.” Everyone would look back at me and smile and the person at the head of the group would tell me how interesting that is and then we would move on to the next person. It’s kind of reminiscent of high school when, during the first week, our teachers would have us go around the room and say our names and something interesting about ourselves. In many ways college feels just like high school for me – Aside from the fact that I live here…oh and we talk about our faith. A lot.

I went to a public high school, surrounded by teachers and peers of many different religions and beliefs. No matter how open someone was about their beliefs, it was always still a taboo subject; at most you would see someone maybe praying before lunch, but even that was extrememly rare. So, imagine my surprise during my first ever college class when the professor opens up with a prayer. The next day I walk in Philosophy and my professor asks general questions such as, “Do you believe that God is all-knowing?” and the entire class nods.

What really made it clear to me though was this: the professor of my first year seminar gave us his home phone number – he will forever refuse to get a cell phone – and gave us a few guidelines, mainly not to call him after a certain point in the night unless it’s an emergency. In my professor’s eyes, an emergency is one of two things: 1. Something had happened in which you should really have called 911 for or 2. You believe that you are losing your faith. Wow.

I’m not going to say that public schools suck. They don’t. I wouldn’t change a single moment of my elementary, middle or high school experience. (Okay, maybe I’d change how awakward I was in middle school, but wouldn’t we all?) I learned so much from other people about different beliefs and that helped me to solidify my own. On the other hand, I am so excited to be able to experience the integration between faith and education.

But here’s my warning: Don’t get too comfortable! There’s definitely evidence of faith in the classroom and on campus, but going to a Christian college doesn’t automatically mean that you’re living a Christian lifestyle. It’s not like you’re going to graduate with a degree in being a Christian. You need to get involved with groups that will challenge your faith. You need to ask the hard questions. Public schools definitely challenge your faith, keeping you on your toes everyday as you decide what you believe and what you don’t. However, a Christian college is going to give you endless tools to strengthen your relationship with God. Use them! Don’t let yourself fall into the trap of assuming that your faith is strong because of where the college or university that you’re attending. God is at work on your campus; let him do that work.