freshies

Just thinking back to my freshman year of college reminds me of the wide array of emotions that I experienced in those first few weeks...fear, joy, sadness, anxiety, excitement, stress.  How in the world was I supposed to balance 18 units of classes, being a new member of a sorority, working on campus and a whole new world of possibilities that comes along with the freedom of being away from parents?  Well, let's just say that I didn't quite figure that balance out until...second semester senior year? 

As I spent my first few weeks on campus at the end of August and beginning of September meeting and building relationships with freshmen girls, I was thrown back into the chaos of freshmen year.  Within one week, I met with over 25 freshmen girls in one-on-one settings.  After hearing about classes, roommates and bad cafeteria food, I began to also hear about their fears, their anxieties and their desires for their time in college.  Already, they were experiencing the influence of peers, professors, advisors and roommates that would all be vying for their attention.  Each source of influence would tug them in a different direction until they would decide who to follow.  As I sat across from each of these girls, my prayer was that they would choose to follow Jesus. 

What a privilege to be a part of one of the most influential times of these girls' lives.  At a time of decision-making, self-discovery and exploration, my prayer is that they would truly experience Jesus at USC.  And I have already had the opportunity to witness God answer this prayer.  Over twenty freshmen girls attended our Fall Retreat in September and are involved in Community Groups within their dorms or sororities.  One freshman girl prayed to commit their life to Christ just a few weeks into the semester.

This is just a brief glimpse of how God is at work in the lives of freshmen girls at USC.