Prior to going on the retreat, I was nervous. As a junior, I was afraid I would be the only upperclassman on a retreat typically dominated by freshmen. But throughout the weekend, I encountered students of all classes. I was also unsure about what would happen on the retreat, but even in the short three days that I was there, I felt my faith deepen.

Within the first week on campus, flyers promoting services and ministries will be scattered in the Student Union Building and various churches will table on Fountain Mall. With endless possibilities and opportunities, students may attend services and events at numerous churches. This routine is well known as ‘church shopping.’

In the realm of college life, where academics and extracurricular activities dominate, it is hard to think of hobbies that allow students to decompress. In a world that is perpetually on the go, shopping stands out as a sanctuary where one can simply just be.