ISOLATING

Ashlin, a self-identified plant nerd and biologist for Pheasants Forever in Minnesota, played piano regularly for worship at the University Lutheran Center for two years and graduated from South Dakota State University in 2024.

Beginning college in the midst of the pandemic was not fun, and it certainly wasn’t what college was supposed to be. Ashlin describes her first year of college in one word: “isolating.” “I only left my room to go get food,” she remembers, “it was impossible to find friends.”

At the beginning of her sophomore year, she explored the student engagement expo with some friends, looking for something that would get her out of her room and give her a chance to socialize. She explicitly wasn’t looking for a church because of experiences from her childhood. “It was mostly about getting out there and meeting people,” Ashlin remembers, “I felt like my friend group was so small — I just needed to expand.” It may not have been what she was looking for, but she accepted the invitation to the free ice cream social at the University Lutheran Center that night. That invitation was possible because supporters believe every student deserves a place to belong.

While it took some convincing to come back, she eventually found a safe place where she was comfortable being herself. Here, Ashlin found a community that helped rewrite the isolating nature of her first year of college. As she became more connected to the community, Ashlin began to see herself as someone who could help create that same sense of belonging for others. By the end of the academic year, she applied to be a student leader. “I saw all the cool stuff the student leaders were doing,” Ashlin remembers, “I wanted to be part of that.” Her role as a student leader pushed her out of her comfort zone and led her to share her gift of playing the piano by leading worship within our community. “This is a group of chosen friends,” Ashlin says, “because here you actually get to know people.”

We are so thankful for your support of the University Lutheran Center. You make it possible for students like Ashlin, who once spent most of her time alone in her dorm room, to discover a sense of belonging, leadership, and a community of faith where she could share her gifts. Thank you for being part of this shared ministry.