Fitting In. Belonging.
Finding Your Place.

 

“When students enroll at Messiah College, I want them to find a place of belonging.”
      Kim S. Phipps, Messiah College president

 

As a first year student, you will live on the same floor and in the same residence hall with other first-year students.  When you arrive on campus, you’ll most likely find yourself among a bunch of strangers from a variety of different schools, cultures, and backgrounds. It can be exciting — but also a little overwhelming.

 

To help make your transition to college life a little easier, Messiah has created a "First Year Experience" where you'll share many aspects of college life with other students going through similar transitions.

 

Living in the same residence hall; sharing classroom experiences; reading, discussing, and debating a common text with many of the same students means getting to know people happens quickly and naturally. So getting involved in campus life doesn’t seem quite as intimidating because you’ll be doing it along with a group of people who have already become your friends.

“We’re all going through the worries and stresses of our first year at the same time, in the same place. It’s [first year experience] been a great community experience.”
Laura Gaugler ’08, Macungie, Pa.

Where will you belong?...

 

• Brandon Hamm found his niche as a member of the Messiah Singers and the worship band that plays during chapel services. He says, “Getting plugged into the worship community was the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time.”
• For many students, Issachar’s Loft is a place of belonging. “The Loft” provides a blend of adventure and discipleship for students who enjoy hiking and canoeing together, as well as weekly times of Bible study and movie discussion. “I want students to have a faith that means something for their lives, ” says Tim Bogertman, who directs Issachar’s Loft.
• Derek Rosenberger ’06 and James Yutzy ’08 revived a residence hall group from the 1970s called the Bruderhof, German for “House of Brothers” and was focused on forming community among men living in Hess Hall. The new Bruderhof continues this tradition of brotherhood, and hosts weekly times of fun and fellowship they like to call “Bruder Time.”

 

...the opportunities are endless!