Jessee Sandlin
Marketing and Communication Specialist
Former Associate Director of Admission
When seeking out opportunities for growth in college—spiritually, professionally, intellectually, or otherwise—don’t rely solely on others to create an environment for development. Yes, it’s incredibly beneficial to find a school where resources are already in place to assist you; however, don’t expect to find situations where others will do all the work for you. I equate finding the right place for spiritual growth to finding a college that will help you land a coveted internship. Let’s say you really want an internship at ESPN. You go from school to school in your college search process and ask, “Do you have a partnership with ESPN for internships?” You’ll immediately mark each school that says no off your list until, finally, you come across a school that says yes—but that doesn’t mean you’ll be guaranteed to land the job. You’ll still have to come to campus, be a quality student, choose a Communications major, and get picked as one of the top individuals for that internship spot. It’s not a guarantee—and the same goes for faith development on campus.
You’ll have to take a certain amount of responsibility for finding growth opportunities. By asking the right questions, getting connected with student leaders or staff who are involved in Christian organizations on campus, and showing a desire to put your words into action, you’ll ensure yourself a great environment for spiritual growth. Volunteer for activities that will stretch your faith in ways you’ve not previously experienced. Seek out individuals in the surrounding community who can also help nurture your faith. Ingrain yourself within the day-to-day opportunities that will surround you both on and off campus. You can find a campus with all of the spiritual resources you could ever dream of, but if you never take the initiative to utilize them, they’re all for naught.
Finding the right college for you and your faith is all about using the right resources! Here are 3 Great College Search Resources for Christian Students to kick off the process.