Challenge Essay Winner

New Voice:

Class of 2010 Challenge Essay Winner

What will you discover at Baylor? That was the question incoming freshmen, the Class of 2010, tackled if they chose to write a Challenge Essay. The winner was Faith Wardlaw of Richmond, Texas. Choosing the winning essay and nine finalists--including four who tied for 10th place--was a team including Dub Oliver, vice president for student life, and faculty, students and staff. As the winner, Faith receives her textbooks for the first and second semesters as well as a senior ring when she is eligible. See her winning essay, "Become," on this page.

Challenge finalists:
Lauren E. Novak; Mansfield, Texas
Sara E. Sommers; Broken Arrow, Okla. 
Stacy C. Pate; San Antonio
Katie Turkiewicz; Temple, Texas
Greg Bond; Greenville, Texas
Timothy J. Azevedo; Jenks, Okla. 
Catherine R. Cyrier; Hurst, Texas
Martha Ayewah; Den Haag, Netherlands
Rabia Shafio; Montgomery, Texas
Daniel Ashley; Conway, Ark. 
'Stephanie Norwood; San Marcos, Texas'
Melissa J. Borckardt; Allen, Texas

Become

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

BY FAITH ANN WARDLAW

Become. College is all about becoming who we were created to be. It's about learning about the world around us - learning knowledge to serve us in our careers - learning who we will become. College is about learning to reason and learning to determine the right paths in our lives. College is one of the ways God is making us worthy of His calling - and God's calling is greater than anything we can imagine. Yes, it will be hard; yes, it's a challenge. But never give up - rise to the challenge and become all that you can be.
Become. Maybe you were bored in high school, and the classes you took were easy. Perhaps you only studied to get good grades - but you never really learned anything in most of your classes. Become a better student: the best student that you can. Don't settle for 'easy A' classes, or GPAs that just barely keep you in school. God has said that He will 'fulfill every resolve for good...by His power'. Resolve to take challenging classes, and to actually get up and go to class; resolve to study hard and learn all you can in each of your classes. If you pray that God will give you the strength to carry out your resolutions, He will give you strength, even more than you asked for.
Become. In high school, you had the group of friends you ate lunch with and hung out with after school every year for four years. You probably took some of the same classes, played in marching band together, and liked the same books. Now that you're at Baylor, you don't have the same old group to tie you down to what you know. Break out of your comfort zone! Meet people who aren't like you, and make friends with people who have completely different dreams for their lives. Join an organization or take a class that's completely different from things you already do. If you're an English major, join the cycling club. If you're a music major, take a few science classes. Become someone new through the friends you make and activities you enjoy. 
Become. God has told those of us who are Christians to be formed to His example of grace, sacrifice, and love. We need to become His ambassadors, His representatives. Don't just say you're a Christian - act like it! Pray that God will use you and those around you to glorify Him. God is willing to work His marvelous plan through us. He will give you the strength to be a great student and a great friend. He will give you the power to use all you learn for His glory. Even when you feel like you're at your weakest point, God will give you strength. Become the clay for the Master Potter. If we let Him mold us to His will, we will become more than we had ever dreamed of. 
Don't put it off - become who you want to be now. Right now is the most important time, because it's the only time in which we can make a difference. So use your time here at Baylor wisely. Some say that the time we spend here at college will be the best time of our lives. It's certainly one of the most pivotal times of our lives - and in this time, God can use us to bring about great things - to bring about His calling and to glorify His name. Class of 2010, let's get out there and become the best class Baylor has ever had!

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