Woven into the hills of Lancaster is the shining gem that is Messiah University. Surrounded by fields and farmland, the modern college makes a statement and welcomes those from urban, rural, or suburban areas to attend. Having the goal of supporting students’ career choices while also keeping the Christian faith behind it all is their motivator. As one of my top choices for colleges to attend after high school, I wanted to get a feel for the daily life on campus and potential professors I would be encountering. I am happy to say it was a great experience from beginning to end and very educational and gave me a clever view of a potential future.

I made my first visit to campus for Multicultural Scholarship Day. Given a schedule immediately upon arrival made me feel very confident and assured of my day at the university. The most noticeable factor was its Christian foundation with a welcome gospel choir and an exuberant conductor. The group had all the visitors clapping and singing along, making a very uptempo start to the event. Alumni, current students, and professors discussed why we had all gathered here today. All of the students, myself included, were up for a possible full scholarship to the school and other benefits for students of different ethnic backgrounds. The tension in the room was palpable but ran a thrill through me. The goal to stand out was one all of us hoped to achieve.

After the Q&A session with past award recipients, I was escorted to the group interview with a few other students. This would be where our evaluation would take place upon which their decision would ultimately be based. I had been sent the prompt a week in advance and was roughly prepared, but much of the questioning involved thinking on my feet and leading with gut responses. My fellow students had many great answers, and we often built off each other’s ideas. Whether or not any of us got the scholarship, it was a very personal and honest discussion that ultimately set our day into motion. Next on the agenda was lunch. At which my mom got to join me. Messiah had a variety of foods to choose from, and we enjoyed the ability to select from a wide range of soups, salads, and sandwiches. Polite conversations filled the next hour as my mom and I were seated with the families of my new friends I had acquired in the interview. Afterward, we were offered dessert in Messiah’s gym, where the multicultural clubs would get to introduce themselves. Once rotating through the various clubs, it was time for the campus tour, an adventure I would take on solo.

The campus tour was thorough, and my guide was very friendly to the small group she had, myself and two other families. The last stop of my day was meeting with the English professor at Messiah. It was a very intimate discussion since it was solely myself and a mother accompanying her daughter. I explained that I would be pursuing a career in teaching, secondary education to be precise. Luckily we had much to talk about since many of the books on his shelf were familiar to me thanks to my current AP Lit English course.

The day ultimately came to a close after that small meeting. As I walked toward the car, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. I later was able to identify that it was a sense of belonging. I had arrived unknowing of the atmosphere Messiah might have. Yet, I ended with four new friends, a greater understanding of what college life for me might look like, and teachers who could share their greater knowledge with me. Messiah University is a true contender for what school I might attend in the coming fall. Who knows, as the leaves begin to fall in September, I might be walking through those wide glass doors as a Messiah Falcon.