Let’s Grow: What SA Has Taught Me

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December 2, 2021

What have I learned at Student Activities? When I think about this question, my mind is filled with so many thoughts and feelings. Student Activities is an answered prayer. The job itself was not the prayer, although I do love my job. While I thought I had gotten a job that would help fill my time, give me a little extra money, and some experience, what I really got was an everyday reminder that God is good and kind to His children. I got coworkers who feel a lot more like family.

When I first came to Liberty, I struggled to find true community. I came from across the country and constantly felt out of place, everything was unfamiliar. There were so many people to meet, I didn’t even know where to start to have genuine community. I was looking for people who looked, sounded, and thought just like I did, because I had never known any different. We gravitate so quickly towards people who have similar interests, taste in music or style, or come from the same place as us. When we do this, we so quickly overlook the opportunity to find community and unity through our differences. We tend to think that community is defined by having something in common. But really, being in a community with others is the conscious choice to walk with others through good and bad, despite your similarities and differences.

I wanted to work at Student Activities so that I could be a part of events where people could come and find community in a fun and comfortable place. What I didn’t expect was that I would find my own community and sense of belonging within my job. What surprised me most when I started working at SA was how different all my coworkers were, yet how much we had in common. Attending events and coffee promos, the staff seemed to all be very similar – bright, outgoing, and friendly. This is certainly true; I work with some of the kindest people I’ve met. While the SA staff have many similar characteristics, each person is unique in many ways as well. We have very different majors and dreams for our future, have different music tastes, and come from all over the country. While I was surrounded by coworkers who were all unique, we had one thing in common, the goal of making people feel welcomed and cared for when they were at our events. I was quickly amazed by every one of the people that I was surrounded by and in awe of the way that God had given each of us unique passions, gifts, experiences, and dreams. Each time we are together, I am continually encouraged and strengthened by the gifts and wisdom of my coworkers. The community that we have as coworkers is stronger because each of bring something different to the table. We are all different, yet somehow, by God’s grace, where I didn’t expect to find it – I found lifelong friends and great joy.

As I said at the beginning, I love my job at Student Activities, a lot. Working at Student Activities is a lot of fun, we get to be at a lot of fun events and talk with students, but not every part of the job is glamorous though. We also stack a lot of chairs, fold tables, build sets for Coffeehouse, and clean. While these things are not inherently fun, I cannot help but find so much in doing these mundane tasks. Why? It is because of the people that I am doing it with. I know it sounds cheesy. But in the last few years at Liberty, I have learned that we all must do things in life that we would rather not. Instead of wasting those moments of my life and looking back on them with dread, I would rather appreciate the gift that God has given me to know these people at all. Every moment is an opportunity for growth. Psalm 118:24 says, “Today is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Our rejoicing does not come from the fact that our circumstances are good, but from the fact that God Himself is good. I encourage you to rejoice in where God has you today because He has put you there. Life is a gift, and the Giver is good.

Whether your circumstances are what you always dreamed they would be, or you find yourself wishing for more, there is purpose in where you are. I have learned so much about the Lord, myself, and the world because of the strengths and gifts of the people that God has allowed me to work alongside. If you find yourself struggling right now to be content and build community, look to the people around you. Look for people who have a different perspective, strengths, and passions, who you can encourage while they encourage you. I found myself in that very place not too long ago, and God did immeasurably more than I could have asked or imagined. I know that He can do it for you to.

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