By the beginning of October, Shane Ross (Jr., NY) has settled into a routine of classes, Christian service, church, and work. As a residence manager assistant for Young Tower, he knows dozens of students, but he considers the position more than just a job—it’s a ministry for him. Around campus, he pauses to say hi to people he knows, and he often checks in on students that may be taking time to adjust or need a little extra encouragement. He hopes, as others have hoped for him, that these students will not only succeed at Pensacola Christian College, but that they will thrive.
Find the Right Mentors
Looking back to his freshman year, Shane considers that time to be one of learning, from identifying his real priorities to developing time management skills. One upperclassman from his floor helped Shane build habits to succeed academically. “Someone my freshman year would take me off campus to Starbucks. He’d say, ‘We’re going there to do schoolwork,’” Shane shared. “Going off campus forced me to work. Find an area you’re not comfortable in that forces you to get stuff done.”
“Find an area you’re not comfortable in that forces you to get stuff done.”
This upperclassman wasn’t the only person who helped that first year. Noticing that Shane was struggling, his residence assistant (RA) Chris Carlson encouraged him to go to PCC Care, where Pastor Dale Adkins served at the time. Shane explained that Dr. Adkins challenged him “to do a Bible study once a week, and I would get coffee up in the Common Grounds and would meet up with him.”
Through the investment of others and his determination to get involved, Shane found his footing and a sense of belonging at PCC. He began attending Good News Bible Club, one of PCC’s many student-led Christian services, and he now serves as a leader for Creatives for Christ, which assists other Christian services with media needs such as photography and flyers. He made friends, succeeded academically, and grew in his walk with Christ. “I think most of my growth . . . has come from my service here at college,” Shane said. “It forced me to see things differently, and it forced me to interact with people more.”
Be a Good Friend
LJ Lopez (Sr., AL), PCC student body president, also met some of his best friends while serving. “After my freshman year, I stayed on campus to work at Teen Extreme. I was put in a room with two guys that I had no interaction with before, but we began to grow together through ministry and service,” LJ said. “There is no greater way to form any friendship than to serve together. Looking forward, I will be a groomsman in a wedding for one of those friends.”
“There is no greater way to form any friendship than to serve together.”
Not only did LJ serve at Teen Extreme, but he also volunteered at Campus Church. He worked at the Men’s Steak Out, helped in a Junior Bible study group, and set up and took down signs before and after services in the MacKenzie building. It was through this decision to serve at Campus Church that LJ discovered one of his biggest surprises of PCC. “The most meaningful aspect of college that I did not expect was having a home church away from home,” he said. “There is something unique and special about a church that welcomes you to become a part of it through participation in services as well as involvement within the community of Pensacola.”
In addition to service, some students such as Joshua Galati (Sr., KS) have made friends through their collegians or prayer groups. “Choose to be involved with whatever you are serving in and make it a point to get to know people, even if that’s not comfortable. It will be so worth it!”
Do Your Best Academically
For Mikayla Klavohn (Sr., IN), her sense of belonging grew organically through classes themselves. “I have met some of my closest friends from my classes’ seating chart arrangements and from studying in the hall before class,” she said. “If you are friendly to others, you may discover a true friend was sitting right beside you the whole time. While I’ve been here at PCC, God has shown me that friends can unexpectedly arrive in your life and make you wonder how you’ve ever lived without them.”
“Placing God in the center of your academics will result in your thriving because you will be focused on doing your best for Him.”
In order to thrive academically, Mikayla found that “studying, taking good notes, and being attentive in class” all helped her do her best. She also tries to pray before taking a quiz or test. “Placing God in the center of your academics will result in your thriving because you will be focused on doing your best for Him.”
Ultimately, though, thriving in college connects back to being joyful, whether in times of great accomplishment or during challenging times.
“There is joy in every aspect of college. There is joy in learning and there is joy in growth,” LJ said. “This does not mean it is not difficult, but you have the choice to do it with joy or to do it with anxiety. If you choose joy, then you are on your way to a life beyond college that is full of joy.”