When I first arrived at Stanford, my faith felt unsteady. I grew up in a Hispanic, Spanish-speaking Catholic household where I was taught to memorize prayers more than to understand them. God felt like a set of rules and expectations, and he never felt real to me. I was doubtful, and honestly a little scared to accept a love as beautiful as the one I had been told about.

What softened that fear were the ministers who truly wanted to get to know me. Their kindness and the way they lived showed me what a good Catholic could look like. Being known by them made it easier to believe I could be loved by God. Then I joined CC@S and found students my age who carried their faith with a joy I could not ignore. My women’s small group became a gentle place to ask the questions I never felt free to ask, since my Catholic education had not been strong. Slowly, I learned how to pray, how to grow closer to God, and how to be more trusting, patient, and loving. That investment has given me some of the sweetest fruit of my life. Looking back, the most transformative part of my journey has always been the friendships I made along the way and the kind souls I continue to meet.