New Relationships:

New relationships can be intimidating. I recently started my freshman year of college and one of the scariest things for me was the idea of having to make new friends. Although I was nervous, I had to put my trust in God. I realized that God puts people in your life who are meant to be there. Majority of my closest friends were put into my life randomly. With that mindset, I took on my first week of college. I put faith in God and just did everything I could to stick to my true self. This is the best advice I can give anyone who is going into a situation where they are going to form new relationships. Remain true to yourself, be open to new people, and trust that God puts people in your life for a reason.

Additionally, meeting these new people have opened my eyes to all the different types of people there are in this world. In high school I tended to hang around people who were like me. In college I am putting in the effort to meet people who I share little in common with. Becoming friends with those who are different than me has been a lot of fun and made me realize that God is in all types of people no matter our differences.

Faith has been one of the best things that has helped me form relationships in my life. I just recently attended my first mass on campus and met so many fellow students who shared the same faith as me. It was so enjoyable to connect over something I care so deeply about with others my age. This was the first time I have attended mass surrounded by people who were my age and who are currently facing so many of the life challenges that I am. I cannot wait to continue to grow these relationships I have started to form over this past week.

No matter what, keep your heart open to God and put all the effort you can into everyone you meet. Not all relationships work out, but without effort so many possible relationships will be missed throughout life.

Lauren Klare