Words of Warriors

When you first get to Westmont, there are lots of people to meet and plenty of small talk to be had. You know the drill: “Oh, hi! What’s your name? Where are you from? What’s your major?” If you’re a first-year student (or just live under a rock), you were probably caught off guard the first time you heard this one: “What’s your Enneagram number?” For those of you still perplexed, here is a quick Enneagram 101 lesson.

Is this semester your first time having a roommate? Or did you forget how to live with people after being alone so long in quarantine? If so, here are 10 rules to step up your roommate game!

Deciding to go to a Christian liberal arts college definitely had some perks. I knew I would be learning from professors who loved God. I would be uniting my mind and spirit. I would have to (sorry, get to) attend chapel three times a week with my friends and classmates. One of the first things that crossed my mind, though, when I committed to Westmont was, “Wow, there will be a lot of godly guys!” I was excited by the prospect of meeting great Christian guys —maybe even my future husband.

After Dr. Beebe's announcement that we won't have in-person classes for the first month of school, many of us are missing Westmont more than usual.

I’ve got great news: you no longer have to wait until September 28 for the Westmont experience—you can recreate it from the comfort of your own home! Here are three ways you can really get into the Westmont spirit, no matter where you are.

Do you remember the meme that said, “I don’t know what will happen in [x] years. I don’t have 2020 vision,” where x was the number of years until 2020?

How right we all were: No one saw this year coming. A pandemic threw the entire world into chaos and disrupted all our plans. As Westmont struggled with the legacy of racism in our institution and in our community, despicable violence by police officers against black civilians displayed the evil of racism on a national scale.

In the face of a pandemic, or a crisis, my story takes a new turn. How do I thrive in this new environment? I need to redefine my structures of purpose and relationships in the context of God’s greater story, our local communities, and the church. Through a series of experiences with Urban Initiative (UI), I was once again reminded that prayer changes things and I can trust in God’s daily redemption.