As students we usually go to university to gain knowledge from experienced and highly educated professors, to prepare for our futures through education, and to live in a Christ-centered community. I have been in post-secondary education for four years now, and this year in particular, I am starting to understand all of the values above as one rather than three separate things.

Part of my job here at Ambrose is to point out these different aspects of Ambrose to prospective students (maybe even you!) who attend our campus or who we call on the phone.

During this year’s Reading Week, I took a modular course. A modular course is a class that is condensed into one week, rather than the traditional full semester. While I was preparing for the class (Alliance History and Thought), honestly, I was dreading it.

I wasn’t happy about the fact that I would not be able to spend time with friends, work on LYC preparations, read a novel which I have so desperately wanted to do . . . and the list goes on.

Not only would I have to sit in class for seven hours a day, I would also have to commute from Red Deer to Edmonton every day. This meant I would need to be up by six in the morning and arrive home at six-thirty in the evening. In short: an extremely long day.

Taking Alliance History and Thought this past week has stretched me to open myself up to learn something new. I could have just focused on getting through the class and earning the credit towards my degree. But since I know that someday soon Christ may call me to work in the Alliance denomination, I came to class with an openness to learn.

I was open to the fact that God may reveal and stir within my heart something new about Himself. In this Alliance History and Thought class I was able to see pastors who are currently in ministry talk about experiences and challenges that they are finding in their congregations. Hearing their insight was very helpful. These pastors are already dealing with real church issues, not just studying them.

By taking this class I feel as if I am a step ahead of the process, because I’ve seen what my learning can look like in practice. I did not grow up going to an Alliance church, nor have I ever been aware of the deep thought and history that can be found in the denomination. Not only have I grown a love for the Alliance church and what it stands for, but I have also met some amazing pastors and laymen [and women] who have added to the community and connections that I am building.

So while you are sitting in your first class of your postsecondary career, or even if you have been in university for years, take a moment to give credit and respect to your professors. Their job is to pass their knowledge on to you so you can pass it on to someone else. They are not here to give you pointless information; they are here to give you tools for your future.

Also, take a moment to see how your Christian faith is impacting your everyday routine.

Lastly, take a breath —and look around you. See those people? These men and women around you are people who you may want to call on for advice in the future.

Maybe the person next to you wants to be a teacher and later down the road you are opening up a day care and you need someone to teach pre-school children. The connections and community you build here will literally last a life time.

My advice to you is don’t take your time in class for granted. Enjoy this time you have to grow as an individual, and you may even learn something new.