When Lydia came to college, she carried questions about faith and purpose. Though she grew up in a Christian home, she had never made her beliefs her own. Like many students, she began looking for fulfillment in the party scene, substances, and the constant pull to fit in.
“I always knew faith should be part of my life,” Lydia shared, “but I wasn’t ready to give up the lifestyle I was living.”
Early in her freshman year, Lydia met two StuMo staff members, Hannah and Summer, at a campus event. Not long after, a girl in her Pi Beta Phi sorority, Madison, began reaching out—inviting her to events, Bible studies, and church. “She was the first person in college who cared so deeply about my faith,” Lydia said. Madison also invited her to SMC, StuMo’s winter conference where she experienced genuine community and friendship centered on something deeper than the party culture she’d known.
Over the next semester, Lydia began to feel the emptiness of the lifestyle she once enjoyed. Through her friendships with Madison and Hannah, she decided to attend Kaleo, StuMo’s summer leadership and discipleship program.
“At Kaleo, I realized how unfulfilling my life had been,” Lydia reflected. “Seeing people living with real joy and purpose made me want that too.”
One of Lydia’s biggest challenges was overcoming substance use. “I couldn’t picture myself living a sober life,” she admitted. “But I realized I didn’t have to have it all together to start fresh—I just needed to surrender and trust.” That summer, Lydia made a decision to follow Christ, and from that point on, her life began to change dramatically.
Today, Lydia celebrates many months of sobriety—something she once thought was impossible. “My desires are different now,” she said. “I just want to know God and live with purpose.”
Back on campus, Lydia now co-leads a Bible study in her sorority, openly shares her story, and invites others to explore faith for themselves. Her life is a powerful example of transformation—moving from emptiness to joy, from self-focus to service, and from searching to truly living with purpose.
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