By Annika Meyer
It is crazy how fast four years go by in the blink of an eye. As my time at the University of Missouri comes to a close, I can’t help but reflect on all that the past four years has brought to me as a student. It seems like just yesterday I was leaving my freshman dorm to head to the Newman Center’s Welcome Week Taco Night in August 2017. It was on that day during my first week of college that I knew the Newman Center and the people I met there would become such a huge part of my faith journey throughout college.
Coming into college, I wanted to find a community of people who would help me to strive towards a life with Christ. But what I found at the Newman these past four years was so much more than that. This community is one of constant growth, encouragement and unconditional love. The friends I have met here are constantly raising me closer to heaven. The Newman Center is more than just the building that I spent Sunday nights at for Student Mass or Wednesday evenings for E3. It is where I began to claim my faith as my own.
As someone who was raised Catholic and attended Catholic schools from K-12, coming to college was the first time in my life I wasn’t completely immersed in my faith everyday. I knew this would require a lot of strength on my part to keep my faith at the forefront of my life. Meeting new people at Mizzou would require me to be vulnerable with myself and others and not be afraid to share that part of my life with those around me. I strive to live a life for Christ in everything I do and hope that others can see that through my actions.
I am so thankful for all of the Newman Center Staff for always believing in me and reminding me of my capacity to lead others in faith. This semester I felt a call to apply to be Rector of the Awakenings 41 Retreat. Even after I pressed submit on the application and was then selected to serve in that role, I did not feel adequate to stand up in front of an entire retreat and lead others in faith. Thanks to the immense support from my fellow Awakenings staff members and Campus Ministry staff, God showed me how he was using me through that position to open the hearts of others.
As I begin my transition to life after college, I am so thankful for the foundation that the Newman Center has helped build in my faith life. I am confident that I will be able to take my experience I had here as I begin my life after college. I look forward to living a life of Christ everyday and showing others the deep love of God through my actions.
While I am sad to leave this place that poured into my soul these past four years, I know that whenever I return to Columbia in the future, Newman will always be here with open arms to receive me.
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By Annika Meyer
It is crazy how fast four years go by in the blink of an eye. As my time at the University of Missouri comes to a close, I can’t help but reflect on all that the past four years has brought to me as a student. It seems like just yesterday I was leaving my freshman dorm to head to the Newman Center’s Welcome Week Taco Night in August 2017. It was on that day during my first week of college that I knew the Newman Center and the people I met there would become such a huge part of my faith journey throughout college.
Coming into college, I wanted to find a community of people who would help me to strive towards a life with Christ. But what I found at the Newman these past four years was so much more than that. This community is one of constant growth, encouragement and unconditional love. The friends I have met here are constantly raising me closer to heaven. The Newman Center is more than just the building that I spent Sunday nights at for Student Mass or Wednesday evenings for E3. It is where I began to claim my faith as my own.
As someone who was raised Catholic and attended Catholic schools from K-12, coming to college was the first time in my life I wasn’t completely immersed in my faith everyday. I knew this would require a lot of strength on my part to keep my faith at the forefront of my life. Meeting new people at Mizzou would require me to be vulnerable with myself and others and not be afraid to share that part of my life with those around me. I strive to live a life for Christ in everything I do and hope that others can see that through my actions.
I am so thankful for all of the Newman Center Staff for always believing in me and reminding me of my capacity to lead others in faith. This semester I felt a call to apply to be Rector of the Awakenings 41 Retreat. Even after I pressed submit on the application and was then selected to serve in that role, I did not feel adequate to stand up in front of an entire retreat and lead others in faith. Thanks to the immense support from my fellow Awakenings staff members and Campus Ministry staff, God showed me how he was using me through that position to open the hearts of others.
As I begin my transition to life after college, I am so thankful for the foundation that the Newman Center has helped build in my faith life. I am confident that I will be able to take my experience I had here as I begin my life after college. I look forward to living a life of Christ everyday and showing others the deep love of God through my actions.
While I am sad to leave this place that poured into my soul these past four years, I know that whenever I return to Columbia in the future, Newman will always be here with open arms to receive me.