New beginnings: Independence, mentors and embracing what it means to be a Thresher
Editorial: As featured in volume 111, issue 2 of The Collegian.
It’s still crazy to me that I actually go to school in Kansas.
There was never a day that I woke up and said, “I’m going to go to school in Kansas one day.” Before I got out here, I didn’t know how I felt about it, but I honestly didn’t have a choice. Either I was going to come to Bethel or I would have been working back home in Delaware.
God works in mysterious ways and I can say that I am very grateful for where he has placed me on this journey we call life. Being so far away from home is definitely a struggle at times, but it has forced me to become more independent in certain areas.
While being in Kansas, I have built some important relationships with people that I know will last a lifetime. One of the most important relationships that I have at Bethel is the one I have with head football coach, A.B. Stokes. Coach Stokes has become my mentor at Bethel College over the past few months. I have honestly learned so much from him in such little time.
Being far away from home, it is always good to have someone that you can go to about anything and know that you will receive no judgment but rather the truth in every situation. I haven’t even known Coach Stokes a full year yet – but it feels like I’ve known him for years.
One of the most important lessons that I have learned while being at Bethel is to not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone, even if the opportunity may not look promising. Things may not always go as planned, but that’s life. If you spend all your time waiting for something to happen or being scared of an outcome, you may miss a blessing.
This school year, I made it a point to become more involved on campus. Yes, it can be very time-consuming, but I’d rather be busy doing activities on campus and for the institution than doing something that is not benefiting anyone but myself. That’s the main goal: do things for the greater good of others because you never know whose day you may make just from one simple action.