As a fourth-year PhD student, I’ve had the opportunity to watch Stanford, and my own life here, go through many changes. Throughout all of those changes one thing has remained constant. The sense of comfort, peace, and joy I’ve found in Christ through the people of CC@S.

When I first came to Stanford, I expected that my faith would be something I kept to myself. Graduate school can be an isolating experience, and I assumed that I would have to navigate the demands of research and life on my own. Instead, GCSA (Graduate Catholic Student Association) has given me a community where I can break bread with others and build friendships rooted in something deeper than our work at Stanford.

There are so many different ways that this community has become a part of my life. Whether it’s the grandeur and beauty of Sunday Mass at MemChu, the quiet and stillness of adoration on the third floor of Old Union, or the lively dinner and talks with other graduate students in EVGR, I know that there is always a place where I can go and find a familiar and friendly face. These moments, both ordinary and profound, have given me a sense of home during my time at Stanford.

There is a real temptation at Stanford to do everything alone and to become absorbed in our work and to feel as though we have to carry our burdens by ourselves. GCSA has reminded me that this doesn’t have to be the case. Faith is not something I have to keep separate from the rest of my life, nor is graduate school something I have to navigate in isolation. Through this community, I’ve found people who are willing to pray with me, celebrate with me, listen to me, and simply share life with me. I'm grateful to be part of such a great community.