We often joke about the “ACU community” or the overly-hashtagged “acudifference.”

But let’s be real, this school has something special. It’s something you can’t find anywhere else.

I’ve seen it when complete strangers comforted me after I lost my best friend. I’ve seen it in students comforting each other when they are suffering. I’ve seen it in my professors and classmates. I’ve seen it in the encouragement and support I’ve received from the girls at our weekly prayer group meetings. I’ve found it in my friends.

Sure, I’ve learned many useful things in my classes. However, experience has been my most useful learning tool. It has introduced me to people I wouldn’t have met otherwise and handed me opportunities I might have never seen.

The ACU experience gave me late nights in the newsroom, the chance to study abroad, mission trips to Massachusetts and Oregon, moving worship experiences and lots and lots of laughter.

My time here has taught me just how much people mean to me, even those I haven’t met yet.

I may still cringe when I hear the word “core,” but community is a very real thing. And the ACU community has done wonders for me.