I’ve been told college is a time to make mistakes, and while I’ve made many, college has proven to be as much a time of successes and victories as errors.

I’m from Birmingham, Alabama where I grew up in a loving Christian home. I was involved in the youth in my church community for as long as I can remember. From the Christmas children’s choir pageant (I was a sheep- a testament to my singing abilities), to G.A.’s, and into high school ministry, I enjoyed my church family. I was baptized in 2nd grade and went through courses beforehand in order to understand the decision I was making. I have to say, I believe at that time I wanted Jesus to be my Savior. However, I was completely unaware of what a personal relationship with my Savior could truly become. 

As I entered my freshman year at UGA, I was coming off 4 years of “spiritual highs” and also times of complacency. Mission trips, Disciple Now weekends, and Bible studies would pump me up for Christ but only for short periods of time. I would fall back into a routine and my passion for a relationship with Christ would dwindle. Freshman year at UGA I had a basic understanding of my faith, and I truly believed Christ died on the cross to save my sins, but my relationship with Him was about to reach a completely new level! I loved the Lord, but I was about to learn what it meant to fall IN LOVE with Jesus. 

My freshman year was busy and new, but I did make time to go to Athens Church on Sunday's with my roommate. I was in a small group and also occasionally attended our very new cheerleading Bible Study. The turning point in my life really began my sophomore year of college. The change in my life wasn’t an overnight thing. I was already saved, but the work the Lord would begin in my heart that year is still an ongoing process and one that I am amazed by everyday. 

A lot of things that year changed my life. Paige, the leader of our cheerleading Bible study, asked Allyson, another teammate, and myself to help lead our team study. We began meeting once a week in addition to our Thursday night Bible study in order to prepare. They both quickly became two of my very best friends and I began learning from them and with them. I also got plugged into a church I loved. We started going to Watkinsville First Baptist together and all three of us worked in the nursery. I helped teach three year olds, and I loved feeling like I knew the families, students, and children in our church. 

Sophomore year God began to reveal to me how much He truly loved me and how my relationship with Him was sufficient for all things. I began to see things differently. As I put my trust more and more in the Lord, He took away much of the worrying and stressing of my daily life. Practice and classes were more enjoyable, and the people surrounding me were so encouraging. 

Over my Junior and Senior years at Georgia, I became more involved with Team United. I also continued to lead Bible study with Paige, Allyson, and another teammate, Ashley. I dove deeper into scripture and began to learn more than I imagined there was to learn. Stories I had read a million times began to take on new meanings as I began to link them, with help, through the Bible. God’s word is truly AMAZING! His story for us is one filled with unending mercy, undeserved grace, and incredible love! I am still growing and know that the Lord has only just begun His work in me. 

So my advice to any incoming freshman would be a few things. Pray for the Lord to put a desire in your heart to know Him more. If you ask, He’ll answer! Also, get involved! Join your team Bible study. Find a church that you enjoy and start meeting everyone. Join a small group, attend a campus ministry, and make friends. That leads to my next big factor: fellowship. It is so important to spend time with believers who will challenge you and encourage you. It’s much easier to pour into others when people are pouring into you! Also, start a discipleship. Find someone you look up to and who can take some time to invest in you. Team United does a wonderful job meeting with students! And if you can, live with believers. I can’t tell you how much of blessing that has been in my life. Plus, you never have to be a DD!

Finally, what I know to be true about God is this: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14. I could write a novel about all that God has taught me over my college career. However, this verse I have used to remind myself that I serve an unrivaled God who loves me. Nothing is too big OR too small for Him. He desires my passion, my time, my heart, and my life. The more I trust in Him, the more He provides. It’s not just a religion; it’s like falling in love!!!