As I get close to the end of my time at Cedarville, I can’t help but look back and reflect on the beauty of the life transformation I’ve gone through here. I also can’t ignore the lessons tucked away inside each experience. Here, I’ll tell you about what I learned, what I wish I knew earlier, and how I grew at Cedarville.
God, Others, Yourself: Relationships
One of the most important factors in developing yourself in your twenties is prioritizing relationships with God, others, and yourself. We as humans were designed for relationships, and anything that functions outside of its God-given design won’t prosper. For that reason, as I reflect on my time at Cedarville, I have no regrets about the time I spent in fellowship with others. Of course, it’s wise to be discerning about how often you make sacrifices and to what extent those sacrifices affect your academics, but ultimately, I developed lifelong friendships that wouldn’t exist without that intentionality.
In those moments, I sometimes felt guilty about “wasting time.” But I realized that not everything you do has to be logical, productive, or materially beneficial to be meaningful. Spending time with people may add nothing to your bank account or GPA, but the value inherently present in that person makes time spent with them so undeniably worth every second of lost work or study time.
Even more important is maintaining a healthy relationship with God. Be intentional about spending quality time with Him every day through prayer and reading His Word. Yes, I’ve been late to class because I spent a few extra minutes in prayer. Yes, I’ve stayed up late to finish assignments because Bible study lasted an extra hour. Not a single time did I regret that or feel any added stress; the Lord provided the peace and refreshment my soul was so desperately in need of. I say these things not to say your schedule must look like that as well but because creating intentional time with God opened my heart up to receiving His blessings. Be active in your relationship with Him and watch Him change your life.
Your relationship with God is supremely important, and connection to others is part of your calling. However, we often forget about our relationships with ourselves. Maintaining a healthy relationship with oneself looks different for every person because we are all different and have unique needs. Throughout college, I learned about who I was apart from my friends. I analyzed my habits and how I can create better routines. I developed my hobbies and interests. These are just a few ways I utilized my time in school to have a healthy relationship with myself.
Get Involved
As soon as possible, find a church! I didn’t prioritize it for a long time, and I regret that. If I could go back in time, I would have committed to finding a church from that very first weekend in August as a new freshman. Building relationships at church and jumping into the community transformed my time at Cedarville. Once I finally did, I also gained confidence in my ability to find a church in whatever city I move to post-graduation.
Don’t hold back from going to the Cedarville events that interest you! You will likely not experience another time in your life where there are so many free community events and opportunities for connection. Take advantage of the sporting events, ALT nights, holiday celebrations and more that Cedarville hosts for your enjoyment.
Involvement doesn’t just look like how you spend your weekends. It includes your commitment to your classes. I find myself wishing I paid more attention in certain classes or kept my notes from others. Education is a gift, and if you have the privilege of obtaining it and the wisdom to receive it, take full advantage of it.
The fact that I’m an education major did not influence this message (much).
Keep a Future Focus
One of the most difficult things to do as a freshman is to prepare for post-grad life. No matter what age you start college, it can seem like those four years ahead of you are stretched far into the future. But you don’t want to arrive at your senior year and realize you have nothing to build from. One way to begin this process is to build a job network beginning freshman year. You might think you have so much time, and in ways you do, but “a lot of time” looks different in the job world. There is a lot to think about as a senior, and navigating the job industry for the first time is not something you want to add to your plate. Set yourself up for success — trust me, I’m a senior!
Another thing you don’t want to hear but need to: Save your money! Looking back, that’s one of the most important pieces of advice I can give to you. Post-graduation, there are a lot of things you will be navigating for the first time financially. You want to be prepared for as much as possible so that you can save yourself from unneeded stress.
Reflecting on my time at Cedarville feels like the end of an era. I am walking out a different woman than I walked in. Use some of these tips to help you navigate the beginning of your time at Cedarville! Use every opportunity to grow faithfully in the One who called you according to His purpose.
Name: Marcela Brower
Major and Year of Graduation: Elementary Education, class of 2025.
Favorite Study Spot: Centennial Library
Favorite Music Artist: CeJae.
Favorite Quote: “Fear is an invitation to evolve.”
What do You Like to do in Your Free Time? Read.
Favorite Bible Verse: Matthew 6:25-34
Tags: #cedarville, #college, #experiences, #guide, #helpful, #memories, #personal, #student, #studentlife
Posted in: College Life, Experience, Student Life