Lauren Pettis: “So Much More” (Grad Sunday)

Those that know me well know that I like to be busy. For or better or for worse, I have a hard time sitting still, and I love trying new things. When I got to Madison as a nervous eighteen-year-old, I was eager to find my place on campus. Walking around, it seemed like everyone had found their people, and I was excited to find mine. As the initial excitement wore off, I felt the impending loneliness as it started to sink in that I was all alone in a new place. To stave off this feeling, I decided to fill my scheduIe. Within a week, I had joined the rowing team and signed up for several clubs. My schedule had been built and color coded, and there was no looking back.

During this time, Pres House was one of the communities that I threw myself into. I can’t say exactly what drew me here, whether it was the signage outside the building proclaiming that all are welcome, the familiarity of a church environment or the homesickness that kept creeping up on me. Whatever it was, I’m so glad it brought me here, because while I bounced between activities and making new friends, I was invited into a community that is as welcoming as it is dynamic.

Pres House has always been a place where I am asked to bring nothing more than myself and who I am in that moment. It’s a place where I have always been met with so much love and grace. Through Freshman Connection, I met so many wonderful friends, and I feel so lucky to have gotten to grow alongside them for the past four years. My involvement in Freshman Connection catapulted me into the Pres House community. It led me to go on two Break with a Purpose trips, join Council, and even attend a conference in Colorado.

While at times I was highly involved here, there were other points when all I could manage to attend was the occasional Sunday worship service. During those busier seasons, I was still treated as a valued member of the community and felt the same sense of belonging as when I was here multiple times each week. One of the things I love about this place is that it has a way of giving you exactly what you need at that moment.

I am so incredibly grateful for the mentorship of Nii Addo and Erica, who have guided me through challenges and been there to celebrate the wins with me. Toward the end of my freshman year, I came to the conclusion that I had to quit the rowing team that I had joined earlier that year. However, another thing about me is that I do not like to quit things. Nii Addo sat patiently with me while I talked in circles about how I should quit, but couldn’t bring myself to do it. Around that time, we were at a retreat, and I had gotten myself into a never-ending Uno game. I had begun to grow tired of the game and wanted to end it, but everyone around me had heard about my difficulty quitting the team, so they stood firm, saying the game wouldn’t end until I quit. I’m not sure how long we continued playing, but what I do remember is eventually tossing my cards to the center of the table, standing on a chair, and loudly proclaiming, “I QUIT!” and being met with cheers.

Pres House has been so much more than I ever thought a church could be for me. It has been a place that has held me during the difficult times and supported me through all of the changes and growth I have experienced during the past four years. I am so incredibly grateful for this place and for getting to share it with you all.

Lauren Pettis (she/her) graduated in December 2024 with a B.A. in journalism and Spanish.