Everyone has a story. And everyone's story is important and absolutely worth sharing.

In college, sharing your story is fundamental in connecting with others. Before college, you are surrounded with people who have been around to see your story unfold, but once you go to college you are no longer around the same people you have been for years. And it is hard to know someone well if you don't know what shaped them into who they are today.

For some people, sharing looks like getting together for coffee in a one on one setting. For others, it looks like sharing to a small group at Bible study, and for others, it looks like sharing to a large group. It can look like writing for the Odyssey, or even just writing on a personal blog that you only share with close friends. The point is, there's no wrong way to share your story, but you should absolutely share it.

We need each other. We cannot go through life on our own. Connecting with others makes us who we are. But if we don't know what we have in common it is quite hard to connect. That is why I believe wholeheartedly in being open with others. No matter how hard it may be it is always worth it.

It is hard to go first. It is hard to share vulnerable parts of yourself when you don't know how they'll be received. But I believe that vulnerability breeds vulnerability, and when you have the courage to go first others will follow. You will establish trust and comfort and people will want to share with you too.

Sharing your story is hard, especially when there are deep wounds and you don't know how your past will be received. As for me, I know I can share boldly because in Christ I am a new creation, the old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17). Jesus took all of my shame when He died on the cross and so I do not need to be afraid when I share my story. And Jesus did that for you too. You don't have to be ashamed of your past, and you can freely share your story in hopes of impacting someone else.