3
I went to Catholic elementary school, and I grew up going to Mass every week.
Bottom line, I was what I considered a good Catholic. When I came to Stanford, I
thought I didn’t have any need to pursue my faith further. It had brought me this
far, hadn’t it? I went to Mass when it didn’t conflict with my studies, and I think I
went to the ice cream social welcome—mainly for the ice cream. I thought I had a
relationship with God that was good enough, so I just went about my business.
It wasn’t long before the college environment got to me. I don’t mean I suddenly
became fed up—quite the opposite. I suddenly found myself drowning amidst the
bad decisions I had made, and I knew I needed help getting back on my feet. My
years of Catholic school training served me well then, because the first thing I did
was talk to Father Nathan. I started going to church more regularly, and the summer
after freshman year marked an important deepening and strengthening of my faith.
Sophomore year found me still making my way along this track closer and closer to God. I had found the time for God and
went to Mass regularly, but I hadn’t yet opened up to the people around me. It was actually my now boyfriend (then platonic
male classmate) who was the first to invite me to Mass. We sat together there, and I realized that I was surrounded by people
who could help me grow in my faith by challenging me, supporting me, and guiding me. That winter I attended my first ever
Catholic Special Dinner, and I was hooked!
Junior year I began to realize that some of my closest friends were part of the Catholic
community. I wasn’t just another face in the crowd at Mass—when it was time for the
sign of peace, I had plenty of friends to hug and wave at across the pews. The minute I
allowed myself to open up and bring people from the Catholic community into my life,
I found a new circle of friends that I could share my faith with. This was a new concept
for me. I was part of ESTEEM, and the discussions about deep subjects and interesting
Catholic topics were completely foreign to me, but I LOVED them. Everything about
the Catholic community was a highlight in my life—never just another obligation.
This year, I’m on the Catholic Leadership Team. I love being able to provide for oth-
ers the community that was so integral in my growth and healing after freshman year.
When I chose to seek a deeper relationship with God, I didn’t realize that the entire
community would come with Him, but I couldn’t have done it without them. Every
year throughout my time at Stanford, I managed to take one step further into the com-
munity, and every step was greeted with the supportive people and spiritual commu-
nity that I so yearned for. I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I hadn’t found the
Catholic community. I only wish I had four more years to spend here.
Megan majored in Linguistics and spent a quarter in the Overseas Program in Paris, France. She rowed Crew for Stanford
and was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority. She is pictured here with her boyfriend, Matt Colford.
i come
from a
big irish
catholic
family.
i can’t imagine
what my life
would be like
if i hadn’t
found the
catholic
community.
i only wish
i had four
more years to
spend here.
