Stories at The Well
WELL STORIES
Finding Belonging at the College Retreat
College can feel isolating, but one weekend at The Well’s College Retreat reminded Bella that God meets us in the middle of uncertainty—and that true community starts with a single step of faith.
College can feel like a maze. Between classes, new routines, and the pressure to figure out your future, it’s easy to feel invisible, like you’re wandering alone. That’s exactly how Bella felt when she first arrived at The University of Texas. She wanted to get involved in church, but she didn’t know where to start. Then she heard about The Well College Retreat. Something nudged her to go, even though part of her was hesitant.
“I saw all these people who seemed so confident in their faith and already plugged into community,” Bella remembered. “I didn’t really see where I fit in.”
But the retreat didn’t feel like a place to prove herself. It felt like stepping into a living, breathing story of grace. She met students who were still figuring things out—people asking questions, making mistakes, learning to follow Jesus in real ways. Conversations spilled over meals, during worship, and in small groups, and slowly Bella noticed something she hadn’t expected: she wasn’t alone.
One night, she found herself in a circle with a few other students, campfire light flickering across their faces. Stories poured out, laughter mixed with quiet confessions, and for the first time, Bella felt a spark of belonging. “Once I started hearing people’s stories and sharing mine, I realized I wasn’t as alone as I thought,” she said.
When she returned to campus, everything felt different. Walking into The Well on Sunday, she spotted familiar faces—students who had become friends, brothers, and sisters in Christ. “I don’t feel like a stranger anymore. I feel like I belong,” she said.
I don’t feel like a stranger anymore. I feel like I belong.
For Bella, the retreat became more than a weekend away. It was a doorway into community, a place where she could see God moving in real, tangible ways. There was laughter in the dining hall, quiet prayers whispered at midnight, encouragement shared in small groups. It was messy, it was beautiful, and it was life-changing. One weekend shifted everything. Bella realized that God meets us in the middle of uncertainty.
Through The Well’s College Ministry, students like Bella are finding that faith and friendship grow best together. What began as one weekend away became the start of real belonging—the kind that carries into classrooms, coffee shops, and Sunday worship. Sometimes, all it takes is a single yes to discover you were never alone in the first place.
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