I grew up in a Catholic family. So I have always been used to Sunday church and that feeling of community at my church and youth group. As a freshman in college the transition into a new environment has been, to say the least, scary. Nothing is like how my old life was at all.
It’s been about two months now and I still feel as if I haven’t found my “place” at this school, whatever that might mean.
In high school I knew what my “place” was. I was a cheerleader, yearbook editor in chief, and a Jesus loving girl. Alongside that I had my friends that shared the same “place” and values as myself. I knew coming into college that I would no longer have the same life as I did in high school. I wasn’t continuing cheer and was no longer going to be apart of any school publications. However, I still was interested in participating in some sort of religious involvement on campus.
Religion is a topic that can bring up lots of controversy, especially when it is brought up onto a college campus. Personally when deciding on what college I wanted to attend, religion was an important influence on my decision. My mother and my brother both attended Jesuit universities, so it was expected that I would do the same. Coincidentally as decision day approached and I was narrowing down my choices Loyola Marymount and University of San Diego, which are both Jesuit schools, were among my top choices. After a lot of contemplating and research I found that my heart was not calling me to either of these schools.
Chapman University had always been one of my top choices. One factor that reassured me about choosing Chapman is that although it is not a religious affiliated university it is a church-related university. I appreciated the fact that Chapman is open to various types of people and religions and while they do not make it mandatory to attend services or take religion courses.
I discussed this topic with my brother who is currently a senior at Santa Clara University, a Jesuit school. I was curious to see his opinion on if he thought going to a Jesuit school was enhancing his experience in any unique ways. He responded, “yes because they have more of an emphasis on building character than other schools, so that way you come out with more knowledge and morals”. I thought this was an interesting answer because even though I am not at a religious college I feel as if I am still getting some of the same benefits. He also believed that by attending a Jesuit school he was able to, “build more community between students because of the small class sizes and the ability to create stronger bonds with professors”.
Here at Chapman I have found that finding a community to belong to has been a bit of a struggle, so I found it interesting that he believed it was easier to do so at his school. Although these factors all seem beneficial I believe that going to a Jesuit school is not the only way to ensure these benefits.
One way I have seen religion on campus benefit myself is through the campus ministry, Delight.
The first time I attended Delight I walked into the room feeling a little nervous. They had already been three meetings and I was afraid that I wouldn’t have a place there. I was happily surprised when I was greeted with a warm welcome from everyone.
The environment was not how I expected it to be. The tables were covered in cute pink decor, snacks were laid out, fairy lights adorned the tables, and lots of blankets covered the floor. The overall feel of the environment was very inviting. They started off with a fun activity and then dove into the story of the week which was about identity. While the leader discussed the reading I felt as I really related to everything she was saying. We then broke off into small groups and I got to see how everyone was so supportive and kind to each other. As the meeting ended with worship and then announcements many of the girls and leaders came to me and introduced themselves with open arms.
I was not expecting to be so in love with a program so fast. All my nerves about not having a place in the club quickly disappeared. There was lots of diversity in the people and the topics discussed which I appreciated and felt very comfortable with. Going to this new place made me feel like less of an outsider. I have learned from this experience that simply going is the hardest part to the beginning of any journey.
Now as the new semester approaches I have been invited back to be a leader at Delight. I was surprised to say the least that they wanted me to be in this position, especially as a freshman. Delight encourages participants to also experience different events with other religious groups on campus which I found very beneficial. This helped me broaden my community here at Chapman. I can now see that being apart of this ministry has been my sense of community here at Chapman. Being apart of a religious group on campus has given me a sense of community and allows me to take a step back and look at the bigger picture which I often feel like I lose sight of while being at college. I feel as if it has also helped me academically because of the guidance I gain from the upperclassmen who participate in the club. One article I found stated that women had the “need for information, for arguments in support of their new ideas, and for ways to discuss ideas such as feminism and social justice within Christianity”. This shows that having religion can help many in their discoveries whether it be self or other.
Religion can be beneficial to all types of people on a college campus. However, a school does not need to be Jesuit to offer the benefits that come coincide it. Religion is helpful in aiding anyone who wants to be apart of it feel connected and grounded with their academics and lifestyles. Especially while transitioning into a new environment like college.
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