With the leaves changing and cascading down to the ground, the campus of Mizzou is surrounded in a flurry of color. Kyrstin Pritchett, a sophomore at Mizzou, walks through the campus on her way to class. Pritchett graduated from Westminster in 2017 and now that she attends a large state-school, she finds that while there are many differences between high school and college, both experiences are equally life-changing and serve as a valuable time in life.

One difference Pritchett has faced from high school to college is sports. Pritchett has played soccer her entire life and all throughout high school, and now she continues to play club soccer at Mizzou.
“Playing a club sport in college is definitely a time commitment like it was in high school. It’s amazing though, because the sport you love helps connect you to other people who are just as passionate about it which is so cool,” said Pritchett.
Soccer helped bridge the gap of the transition from high school to college for Pritchett, and it continues to be a passion that brings her friendships.

Another Westminster alum, Avery Englemeyer, who graduated in the class of 2018, also played sports all through high school. When it came to deciding on whether or not to continue playing her favorite sport, volleyball, in college, Englemeyer decided that it would be too time-consuming to fit into the rigorous 6 year Medical Program she is taking at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). “It’s much different not playing a sport in college. I absolutely miss playing, and I hope to join intramural teams when I find more time. The main difference is not having that team that you get to see at the end of a long day,” said Englemeyer.
Both Pritchett and Englemeyer have been shaped by positive Westminster teams and memories that made transitioning to new teams and not playing a sport at all, a major switch.
Westminster also provided Pritchett with close friends that she still keeps in contact with, but now that she attends Mizzou, relationships in college strongly differ from those in high school.

“In college you are on your own. You don’t have your family to do life with, so at college your friends become your family. Also it’s not as structured as it is in high school, so you have the time to hang out or study with friends whenever,” said Pritchett.
In addition, her sorority, Chi Omega, has also been a place full of new and developing friendships that have shaped her college experience. While at first, Pritchett was unsure if she was the “sorority type”, she has found that being apart of Greek Life has given her opportunities and friendships that she never would have been able to make otherwise.

“These people push me to love others better and be a light for God. I love being a part of Greek Life and participating in Homecoming and Greek Week, it’s a big community and I’ve found my closest friends here,” said Pritchett.
At UMKC, Englemeyer is also a member of the Chi Omega sorority. Because the medical program that Englemeyer is in is made up of only 100 people and can be confining at times, the idea of joining a sorority was especially inviting.
“I didn’t want the program to take over my life, so I knew joining a sorority would be a good way for me to balance school and a social life. It’s not the only way to make friends, but it’s an easier outlet for finding fun things to do and getting involved in the community,” said Englemeyer.

When it comes to academics, both Pritchett and Englemeyer agree that Westminster prepared them well for the courses they take in college. While college is a step up from high school and so is therefore, expected to be more challenging, Westminster implemented basic skills like knowing how to keep a tight schedule, study techniques, and a foundation that is highly valuable in higher education.
“The tools I learned at Westminster to balance everything are still helping me today. Along with that, nothing compares to the teachers at Westminster. With their teaching, I am able to use much of what I learned in high school in upper level college classes,” said Englemeyer.
Westminster also prepared them both for how to stay strong in their faith, even when it is challenged. Since both Pritchett and Englemeyer attend public schools, their faith has been tested several times, and they have had to make difficult decisions and choices.

“College is a time where you get to decide if you want to pursue your faith in college or not. I am so grateful for the foundation Westminster gave me to feel confident about my faith in Christ. It also showed me how rewarding Christ-centered friendships are and causes me to seek those out and continue keeping contact with my friends from WCA,” said Pritchett.
Both Pritchett and Englemeyer have had to make the difficult decisions of choosing where to go to school, and what activities to participate in and can speak to current students who feel the stress of college looming ahead.

“You are your own person outside of school, and it is good to maintain the things you love. Definitely think through what you’re committing to and how much time that is going to take up,” said Englemeyer.
However, it is important to not only spend time studying in your dorm room, but to also dive into the college experience by joining the community.
“Go ahead and get involved! Play a sport, join a sorority or fraternity, participate in a club! College is a time to meet new people, so make an effort and make an impact,” said Pritchett.