Hi, my name is Heather Nelson and I am a freshman at Elon this year. Coming into college is rough, but being a devoted Catholic girl at a small liberal arts school can be even rougher. However, Elon's CCM has helped me transition into college and allowed me to feel welcome here, helping me live out my Catholic lifestyle and beliefs. CCM has given me friends who I can count on in any situation, made me feel that my beliefs are ok and accepted, given me a safe place to go when I need to talk to someone, allowed me to still live out my faith to Jesus, and is always there to remind me that Christ loves me no matter what.

In high school, I was an active member in my church's youth group, where my best friends and I would meet up at 5:45 in the back of the church to chat, before we all walked up to the reserved youth group section in the church for the 6pm teen Mass. It was as much of a social event as it was a religious one. They made Mass fun and made me look forward to Mass. Coming into college, I was nervous I wouldn't be able to find those friends, but CCM helped me find them! CCM helped me meet people who I now walk to church with and hug, not just shake hands with during the Sign of Peace part of the Mass.

CCM also allowed me to meet amazing upperclassmen who knew what it was like to be Catholic at Elon and knew what it was like when our views, as Catholics, weren't accepted. Whether it have been on sex before marriage, God being real in my philosophy or sociology class, or not being quite so bummed out over the election results, they have always been there for me. I can't wait to do more with CCM as I continue my next four years here at Elon.