The university years are a time of discovering strengths, weaknesses, passions and even calling. Vocations are embraced and laid aside, and for Christian students, they are an opportunity to discover what it looks like to worship through work, friendship, and in community.
For Louise, a Dance graduate in London, university was certainly a time of discovering more of what God was calling her into…
“I was so excited when I got a place at Kingston University to study my passion for Dance. I got to study, develop my skills and use them in different contexts.
However, living for Jesus as a student came with its challenges, such as trying to settle into a new environment and make new friends whilst getting to know Jesus. Growing up, I had always attended the same church with my family, it was where I felt safe and included. However, within a few months of university I was struggling with my faith as I worked on weekends and hadn’t attended church since moving out. I had a Christian flatmate who is still one of my best friends but there weren’t many Christians on my course so I found it hard to speak about Jesus. My home church were amazing, though. Even though I was away at uni, they kept connected and continued to care and pray for me through those uni years.
Whilst Christian connections were challenging, at the same time, I was experiencing a growing heart for young people from work experience in schools and wanted to support the next generation in what came next for me. I also knew I wanted to use my degree in Dance when I graduated. If there could be an opportunity to find a role where I could connect and work alongside Christians, and to do what I love, that was where I wanted to be! It was a youth leader from my home church who got in contact with me about working for a Christian organisation with a vision to ‘Transform young lives with God’s love through sport and support’. The idea of having the chance to use my skill in dance, to follow my growing heart for young people and to do so in a faith-filled team sounded ideal!
I now work with KICK as a Dance Coach and mentor with young people in schools across the area. Getting to work with young people and sharing my passion and faith with them every day is an amazing feeling. Within my schools, I try to share my faith as much as I can even if it’s just leading by example. At KICK, we also have a different value we focus on each month. The values include the fruits of the spirits which we embed throughout our sessions. As a dance teacher, I also get the privilege of playing music in my sessions so I like to use gospel music as much as I can. It’s been amazing to be able to explore the different creative ways I can invite young people to engage with faith. And getting to be a Christian presence for these young people, which I struggled to have myself at university, is so important. I’m now five years in and am so grateful for the support and progression KICK has given me over the past five years and the opportunity I get to live out the callings that were growing back in those uni years.”
The uni years are a unique opportunity in faith and formation but they’re also a launchpad into full lives of faith and mission. As we are discipling and encouraging university students in our cities, what does it look like to encourage them in embracing the varied callings God may be placing on their hearts?
Connect further with Fusion to talk about how you can be welcoming and discipling university students.
For more on KICK and their opportunities to combine sport and mission amongst young people both as university students and graduates, see their website here.
