For many young Christians, high school and college are both huge struggles. If you are someone like me who grew up in a small, private, Catholic school, you know that talking about God and religion was a normal everyday conversation along with prayer. Now here you are in college where the concept of religion is taboo, and if it is talked about or mentioned, it's often mocked or made fun of.

Starting off in a new school, let alone a new college, is scary enough as it is. Walking into your first class as a college freshman and listening to your professor start talking about how they are an atheist and that “there is no such thing as God” and that “He is a myth” is a whole new level of scary. Growing up and always attending church on Sundays. Going to church school as a kid. Even learning about religion in school. The faith that has taken you your whole life up until now to form and now you are being told that your belief is wrong... That you should just forget everything you have learned and believe as a Christian.

For some reason, we are scared to come out and say, “Yes, I am a Christian, and I DO believe in God.” Maybe it’s the fear of being judged by our friends and our peers? Afraid of people talking about us? Or even thinking people won’t look or think of us as the same? Whatever that reason may be... We shouldn’t let that get in the way of our faith and our beliefs. This is when we should be clinging to our faith the most. Yeah, it’s easier said than done, but with the help from friends, family, your pastor or youth group, and mentors, it is definitely doable.

What I have found works the best is when all else fails, pray. Never underestimate the power of prayer. Many times, I have found myself confused on what the right thing to do is, ready to give up because I was so stressed out or because it was just a really bad day. I would find myself taking a minute to myself to just pray to God to give me the strength to go on and to help guide me to do the right thing. It may not have been instantly fixed, but in a timely manner, life just seemed to fall into place. My prayers were heard and had been answered.

Some people will judge and some people will respect your beliefs. If you let what other people think about you determine what you believe, you will never be truly happy. If you are a Christian, don’t be ashamed or keep it to yourself. Let the world know who you are because remember: “Everyone who denies me on earth, I will also deny in front of my father.” (Matthew 10:33). Things may be tough at the moment, but they will become easier as time passes by.