Hi. I’m xxxxxx, a Johnnie Sophomore from Nowthen, Minnesota, computer science major.
I am a Christian, computer loving goon who loves to laugh, loves to smile, and loves to make people have a great heckin time.
While I still identify as all of those things, college has been a time of growth and self-discovery unlike any other experience. I want to focus on that first one: I would say that I am a Christian. Previously, my definition of being a Christian was one that simply meant going to church, but not so much living out that church. I thought that church was THE MOST boring thing ever. I never really absorbed the information, I just let it pass right through me
In high school, I began exploring who I was on a deeper level, and I got involved with an on-campus group called CRU. I participated for a year, and then felt that I was called to lead this group. I realized more about who I was, and how I was being called to live, recognizing more about my Faith, and how I could help others find that.
That definition of church had started to change into a more active one, and it transformed me into who I am today. When I look back, I recognize that this longing showed me the Benedictine Value of Truthful Living. I had to break the norms of the past and define a new normal for me. I was able to apply Truthful Living through high school, helping myself and others express who I am, recognize our individualities, and figuring out that I was trying to fit the mold of a “regular” high school student, I actually was ignoring myself and what was actually important. As tempting as trying to fit the norm is, I was figuring out that wasn’t what I needed, I needed to keep figuring out who I am.
I was being called to be a voice for those people who might not realize the reckless love of God. I realized that we often discredit God when we try to fit Him into this norm, we might think that he’s so far up there that he could never be on the same level as us. We might think that we have done something so bad that God could never forgive us, but what we have to always remember how human we all are! We were made in His image, so to be the best version of ourselves, we simply must BE OURSELVES! If we are honest to ourselves, others, and God about who we are, we are able to realize that insane amount of love that He has for us! God only knows how many bungles we have had, but never forget, our enoughness IS ENOUGH for God. By loving ourselves, loving others, and loving God, we can share that Godly love that He freely gives to us, and live it out!
After high school, I came to these beautiful institutions. The first introduction to college life that I had was Collegebound. I honestly think that being thrown into college would have been next to impossible for me if I had not participated on this trip.
These relationships that I found on that trip were the first people that welcomed me into the community we have here! While we do tend to throw that word – community – around a lot at these schools, but it truly means so much, and is a HUGE part of why this school is so great. The relationships that we develop help us to discover more about who we are through the eyes of others. As I have lived nearly two and a half semesters here, this is still one of the major things that I see that sets these institutions apart. We are able to become who we are because of these relationships that we form with others. In Luke 14:23, Jesus tells a parable that ends with “So the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the country roads and lanes and make people come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you all that none of those who were invited will taste my dinner!’” How will you invite those people from the country roads and lanes to YOUR table?
So, how are YOU, a CSBSJU First Year going to take these values and ideas back into the “real world?” Well, first always remember to live your truth. In your actions and words, love others just as you love yourself. Maybe there’s somebody who you notice always sits alone at dinner, maybe it’s somebody who your friend group excludes. Reach out to those people, they’ve got a story to tell as well. And by doing that, you are bettering yourself and growing the community that we have here. If you make this a habit, it will be so easy!