Personal Narrative: Matters Of Faith

Matters of Faith offers an array of things such as music, messages/devotionals and sometimes even a guest speaker. It is a place for many people to come together and hear not only about their own religion but other religions, as well. As a matter of fact, those are some of the reasons that had me intrigued and wanting to see what Matters of Faith was really all about.
I chose to attend Matters of Faith for many reasons. One being that I was curious to know if it was a club, bible study or even something else entirely. Additionally, as a commuter I feel it is hard to find events that I am able to attend, and this happened to fit into my schedule perfectly. Not to mention, I consider myself a religious person and I really wanted to get involved with something on campus that pertained to my beliefs and that could potentially help me grow as a person. Before attending my first meeting of

Matters of Faith, I was hoping that it would be a place I could meet friends that held similar views as me. I thought it would be beneficial for me to have that support and have someone that I can relate to when it comes to my religion.
When I first attended the event, I honestly felt a little uncomfortable. There were only a few other people there and it made me feel a bit awkward. It did not help that going in I already felt nervous because did not knowing what to expect. However, once we got started the other students made me feel very welcomed. We began by listening to someone play the piano and sing Sam Smith’s “Stay with Me.” Then we discussed how we could relate the song to our own lives or God and our relationship with him. We then went on to read a devotional that dealt with depression and we again talked it over and related it back to people we know or ourselves who have struggled with depression. At the end of the meeting, we had a quick group prayer and then we were allowed to leave. The following week I decided to attend again. That meeting’s theme was domestic violence. We talked about how to get involved and where we can go if ourselves or someone we know is involved with domestic violence. These meetings gave me the opportunity to hear about the other students’ lives and about their views on various topics. Furthermore, I even got to get to know other people on campus.
After both of the events were over, I felt like I made an exceptional choice by attending because it encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone. Although, I did not attend with other people, I do feel I made a friend or two in the group. One person even offered to go with me to other Catholic events on campus if that was something I was interested in doing. In the future, I do feel I will return when my schedule permits. I also would like to attend the Catholic Newman club or other religious clubs on campus to see if they are something I would like to get involved with, as well.
I learned that it is good to step out of your comfort zone and try something new, even if it is just for a half hour.

Starting college, I was unsure of what I wanted to join and how or if I would even like the experience. After challenging myself to try something different, and it turns out that I actually don't mind it, it gives me the motivation to challenge myself more and try other opportunities out on campus. On slightly different note, I even learned that I would rather be a part of bigger groups over smaller ones. When there is a bigger group, you get a chance to listen to other people's opinions first before expressing your own views. It can also give you time to reflect on what others are saying. When it comes to Matters of Faith, I would of liked it to have a few more people.
In short, I am glad I was able to attend Matters of Faith. It helped me start to get involved on campus and it opened my eyes to what opportunities that are out there for me. I enjoyed the experience and I think it is very important for everyone to get involved in at least one group or

activity.