A HOME-Y COMMUNITY

My time with the members of Christians on Campus (CoC) has been so refreshing and so home-y. As an out-of-state student with little to no experience of being away from home, I was eager to find something that felt familiar. From the very first moment that I introduced myself to the community members and students, I was welcomed into the ranks. All of the community members care for the students like we’re their own children, and home gatherings are some of the most wholesome Thanksgiving-like get-togethers I’ve ever seen. The young children run around without a care in the world, each family brings their best dish, and everyone enjoys each other’s company in the presence of God.

Not only has CoC helped me build great relationships among students and community members, but it has also helped me strengthen my relationship with God. The CoC meetings are encouraging and safe environments to learn about who God is, what He’s done, and what He means to you. It is very easy to feel alone on a college campus, but whether it was an on-campus Bible study or just waving to fellow club members as they walked by, CoC helped me find my place at UNC. I now have loyal study buddies that trek with me to cafés on Franklin Street, that make the long hike with me to the Health Sciences Library, and even come to support my performances as a music (and biology) major. Some of the community members are graduate students in various fields, from medicine to math, and provide great academic and emotional advice.

It’s a testament to how much the community members and club members care for us when one of us gets sick. When I was bedridden with a bout of the stomach flu, the CoC members walked me to Campus Health and bought me enough applesauce and chicken broth to feed a family. What I’ve learned the most during my time at UNC is that even if I am 500 miles away from my family, I have another one right here in Chapel Hill – God’s family.

-S.T., Biology and Music, UNC Chapel Hill Class of 2022