“Wait, isn’t college already a community?” This is a question that I’ve been asked quite sometime now. However, as a college student, I’ve learned that it is important to regularly fellowship and commune with a community on campus that will allow you to be vulnerable and transparent.
Community is defined as a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals. This college journey is not a walk in the park, but when you are connected with your community, it makes this difficult journey become somewhat easier because you have others in your corner motivating you. While finding or developing your community, I would like you to consider the three P’s: push, protect, and pray.
It is vital to find a community that will push you. In college, it is very easy to get distracted and veer off, but those within your community will push you and hold you accountable. I found this to be very beneficial to me. Please, push me to my goals, please push me to my purpose, and please, please, please, push me to my full potential!
I know, you may be wondering, “what does my community have to do with protecting me?” Well, I’m glad you asked…you will always need someone to be that sense of protection for you. Growing up, it is common for our parents or siblings to protect us, but how can they do that from a far? In this case, to me, protection simply means, “a safe place.” You want to surround yourself with people that will protect you in the hard times; even in the good times. Remember I mentioned you are supposed to have a sense of vulnerability and transparency within your community? Well, this is why protection is important. When I am vulnerable and transparent, I know that my community will protect me and help me get through whatever I am facing.
Lastly, pray. This one needs very little explanation, for it is simple. One of the most vital ingredients for my community is prayer. During this college journey with God, I am very aware that prayer is so important. I understand that prayer is communication with God, the greatest medicine for healing, and IT WORKS! Having a community for friends to pray for you during the good and the bad times is the best feeling ever! I went through a really hard season just a few weeks ago, and I could barely pray for myself. So, what did I do? I called my community. My friends prayed for me. Sometimes I did not need to have a physical prayer moment because I felt their prayers from a distance.
Overall, find a community on campus that you can be vulnerable and transparent with. When finding this community, make sure you see signs of the 3 P’s: push, protect, and pray. As always, I am praying for ya!
