Lauren Jackson: “A Universal Heart” (Grad Sunday)

From the several times you may have seen me on this stage playing guitar or singing, you can probably guess that I love music. As a child of two band and choir kids, music is as ingrained in my being as math and science are. I love music, not just because it’s a creative outlet to stretch my rubber-bands in non-STEM ways, but also because it’s reliable. There’s a song out there for almost everything – whether you need a reminder of home, if you need to dance around your room, or if you need a good cry. Music says the words you may not know how to and helps you feel emotions you didn’t realize you needed. It’s all around us too, whether it’s during worship or blasting in your AirPods; even the noises of nature or a busy street can be music to the right person’s ears. To me, music feels like one of the only constants in our ever-changing world.

When I came to college, I needed something reliable. I like to think I handle change pretty well, but moving to a new place alone suddenly being responsible for my own life was overwhelming for 18-year old Lauren. I felt way too unprepared and so discombobulated, it’s a wonder I made it to class on time some days. In that chaos, I knew I needed to find one thing to ground me, something I could turn into a routine.

I ventured out to Pres House one night in October 2022 to go to this “Freshmen Connection” thing my mom told me about. I was struggling with finding a consistent community of freshmen to hang out with, so by then I was willing to try anything, even trust the random Facebook ad my mom saw and her promise that I’d like Presbyterians because “they’re really cool.” I don’t know when attending Freshmen Connection turned from a desperate attempt at a routine into something I really enjoyed going to, but all of a sudden I was going to church on Sundays and joining Music Team and attending all the retreats. What began as one hour a week became something I looked forward to, a space where I could be with people who were also searching for connection and consistency.

A lot has changed since October 2022, from little things like new schedules each semester to bigger things like my family moving to Wisconsin and me deciding to completely pivot my career path within the past year. I’ve changed a lot too – I don’t like math as much and I care more about feeling joy in what I choose to do and not what others think I should do (also I like Diet Coke now???). Yet, Pres House remained. My involvement has shifted and the place itself has grown, but its presence in my life has been steady. I know if I show up to study during the week, someone will always be at the big table in Pridham. I know there will always be a good home-cooked meal after worship. And I know the people there will support and celebrate whatever is going on in my life. That kind of consistency is rare and has meant more to me than I can fully put into words.

Now, as I’m graduating and it feels like everything is changing again, I turn back to music for grounding. There’s this song I was introduced to before my senior year of high school that I keep coming back to whenever I need to say goodbye. “All Around You” is the crux of Sturgill Simpson’s album A Sailor’s Guide to Earth, an ode to his son filled with metaphors and life lessons. It talks about how life can feel long, difficult, and lonely, but reminds us that we’re never truly alone.

He introduces this idea of a “universal heart,” something that connects us all even after we’re gone. I keep coming back to that idea because it brings me comfort. Even as everything changes, the people and experiences that have shaped me are still a part of me. That all of you–yes, you–are a part of my universal heart, just as you are a part of each other’s. And in a world that feels so unpredictable, I think that connection is the most reliable thing we have.

Lauren Jackson (she/her) graduates in May 2026 with a B.S. in Environmental Engineering.