Finding *Good* Friends

College is new. College is difficult. College…could be the best thing that could happen to you.

For most of us, it’s the first time we’ve ever been on our own. No parents, no siblings, just us. No one breathing down our necks making sure we do what they want. Like most things in life, this newfound freedom is a double-edged sword.

Want to go get food at 3 a.m. just because? No problem. Want to skip class the next morning because you didn’t get any sleep? Don’t worry, no one’s going to check in on you. In my experience, college is what you make of it. The decisions you make and the company you keep will define your experience.

"Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." // Proverbs 13:20

Friends are an integral part of the college experience, and one of my main goals my first semester was finding a solid group of friends. Don’t worry, finding friends in college can be quite easy. However, finding the wrong group of friends can be just as easy.

One thing I learned my freshman year was that the first group of people you meet does not have to be the only group you ever spend time with. Sure, if they are solid people that you think you could rely on when things get hard, that’s great! But if they are people who lead you down paths you don’t want to go down, find new friends. It’s better to put in a little work finding a new group of people to spend time with than to spend your time with the wrong people.

This verse is clear, both in positive and negative outcomes. The difference? You. Know your values and what God wants you to do, then stick to them. If someone can’t accept that, they aren’t worth your time. Have fun! This is the time to enjoy yourself, but don’t lose sight of your purpose and your prize: Christ.

Beyond just the people around you, you must devote yourself to God and His plan for you.

Sometimes His plan is not what you want or would have chosen. Sometimes it hurts. However, I guarantee through both what the Bible says and personal experience, the growth and development that comes through submitting yourself to God, whatever that may be, never comes back void.

I can’t wait to meet y’all this year! You’re cared for and prayed over.

Benjamin King // @benjaminking94

Junior // Electrical Engineering

Ridgecrest, CA