I’ve always been a Christian, but holding on to that identity hasn’t always been easy, especially when I came to college. My parents and I immigrated from Nigeria to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, when I was just one year old, hoping for new opportunities and a better life. Even though I was too young to remember Nigeria, faith has always been part of my story because of the way my parents carried it with them.
In Nigeria, faith was part of the air they breathed. Everyone around them went to church, prayed out loud, and talked about God like a close friend. My parents brought that same spirit into our home in Milwaukee. But as I got older, especially in college, I started to wonder how others would see me if I showed my faith openly. Would people think I was too religious? Too different?
Over time, I realized that faith isn’t about fitting in, it’s about staying rooted in who you are as a person. My relationship with God doesn’t depend on who approves or understands it. It’s something personal, something that gives me peace when life feels loud and uncertain.
Now, I try to live my faith quietly but confidently, through kindness, gratitude, and the way I treat others. Because sometimes the best way to share what you believe isn’t through words, but through the way you live.