As they prepare to leave Principia College, graduating seniors shared reflections on the faith, belonging, and personal growth that shaped their college journeys during a recent Faith in Action panel discussion with Director of Spiritual Life and College Chaplain Roger Gordon. Students, faculty, and staff gathered in Wanamaker Hall to hear candid stories of doubt, acceptance, and spiritual discovery.
The seniors described arriving at Principia with different backgrounds, beliefs, struggles, and questions about life and spirituality. Several students noted that the openness of the campus community allowed them to explore spiritual questions honestly and without judgment.
Bradley Forrest shared that his early experiences with religion had often felt negative or limiting. “Then I came to Prin, and I feel more accepted here than I have anywhere and more at peace to open up towards religious experiences and teachings than I ever have,” he said.
Hannah Wymer expressed gratitude for her faith journey, sharing that she did not come from a Christian Science background but discovered it during her time at Principia. She spoke about entering college with insecurities, self-doubt, and fear about the future, and how strengthening her relationship with God helped transform those struggles.
“Even in the moments when I doubted God during my time here – in the moments where I felt fear or discouraged – I always felt God kind of nudging me and telling me ‘you got this,’” she said.
Gordon asked how the students planned to sustain their spiritual growth after graduation, noting that many young adults report becoming less connected to religious practice after college.
Pushing back on the idea, Elvis Ajuoga encouraged the audience to think of their spiritual journeys as they would the stock market.
“After college may seem like a downtick, but your spiritual journey includes ups and downs," Ajuoga said. “If you view only one day, you can think you’ve lost your whole portfolio. But if you click on the five-year view, you can see how far you have come. For me, that’s the most important thing – remain on that journey and keep clicking the five-year view.”
Other students spoke about continuing practices such as prayer, quiet time, and church participation as sources of strength, guidance, and grounding beyond college.
“Throughout my time at Principia, I’ve realized that if I’m relying on God’s divine love and trusting that love is enough to carry me through my life and my experiences, then that’s all that I really need to be able to live life to the fullest and to be able to do good in the world,” Wymer said.
Though their paths forward may include challenges and uncertainty, the seniors expressed confidence that spiritual growth is not measured in isolated moments, but through a lifelong journey marked by resilience, reflection, and progress – one that, as Ajuoga suggested, becomes clearer when viewed through the “five-year view.”
