Baylor University is known as a Christian institution. I have always been very religious, but the Christian atmosphere at Baylor was not one of the main reasons I chose to attend. When I first visited campus, I fell in love with the academic prestige, the incredible school spirit, and the feeling of home that the campus provides. I was actually initially a little nervous about the Baptist environment since I was accustomed to going to non-denominational church back home.
From the first week of the first semester, the importance of Christianity was evident. Baylor made it clear that they believed every new student was there because of God’s plan, which was comforting, since that is exactly what I believed. Almost every gathering for new students included prayer and worship, and there was a true sense of love in the air. This was certainly a culture shock because I had attended a public high school where open prayer was unheard of and a little uncomfortable. It was such a different experience, but I absolutely loved it. It made the huge transition into college much more reassuring because I knew that the faculty and staff were praying for our success.
Finding a church in Waco was not a pressing matter at first because I was honestly more concerned with finding friends and my footing in my classes. However, God works in mysterious ways. My first group of friends at Baylor invited me to Antioch Community Church, and I immediately fell in love. I admit, I never consistently went to church every Sunday in high school, so it was nice having friends in college to hold me accountable.
My best friends from high school are so amazing, and I still love them to death, but most of the people I hung out with did not openly talk about God. It is such a good feeling that the majority of my friends at Baylor are passionate about Jesus and want to spread the Word. It’s comforting knowing that I can express my beliefs to the people I hang out with every day.
I absolutely believe that God places people in your life for a reason. When I was accepted to join Baylor’s Women’s Lacrosse team during the beginning of the school year, I initially thought that my prayers were answered to simply fulfill my love for the sport. However, I met a group of fantastic girls who invited me to join their Lifegroup at Antioch. I was never a member of a youth group when I was younger, and I truly had no idea what to expect. Now, I can confidently say that joining a Lifegroup was one of the best decisions I’ve made in college.
With my Lifegroup, I meet once a week to talk about Jesus. Openly and freely, we trust each other. There is no judgment, there is no forceful nature, and there are no lies. We meet to discuss the Bible and talk and play games and really get to know each other. Whenever I’m having a rough week because school is kicking my butt, I look forward to Tuesday nights because I know I can worship and call out to Jesus with my group of friends. Members of my Lifegroup play volleyball with me on Friday afternoons or come support me at my lacrosse games. We are always there for each other. I like having friends who can pray for me when I’m feeling down, but I love being the person who can pray for others in need as well.
Having Baylor’s spiritual environment, loyal friends, and a supportive Lifegroup has drawn me closer to God. I know in my heart that I wouldn’t be here without Him, and I am so thankful for the blessings that He grants me daily. This does not mean that I am a perfect person at all. I make silly mistakes, I sin, and I do the crazy things that most college students do. But, what makes me a strong Christian is that I know that Jesus loves every part of me, despite my countless flaws. College has taught me that life sometimes gets too difficult for me to stand, so the best thing to do is kneel and pray.
Deciding to attend Baylor is something I could never regret. My personal relationship with Jesus grows every single day, and I am so glad that my confidence in prayer and worship has grown as well. I highly encourage everyone to get plugged into a church and especially a Lifegroup. You will meet people who will change your life, and more importantly, you get to truly know God.
