A Happy Heart

“Whatever you do, make sure you do it with a happy heart.” 

My mother consistently told me this when I would sulk at the mere thought of having to do the dishes. I have come to realize throughout my life, especially during my time here at Belmont University, that that has become to be the most important bit of advice I could have asked for. My mother’s kind words enabled me to see the value in solidarity, community, and a heart that refuses to stop loving.

My journey of faith here at Belmont truly began once I was blessed with the opportunity to become an RA. As an RA, I was given the chance to create not only a floor rooted in friendship, but a family fueled by love. 

I made sure to emphasize to my residents that no one should ever feel alone. As a Christian community, it was each of our responsibility to make sure everyone was accounted for. To make sure everyone was embraced. 

Little did I know that this sentiment would send shockwaves throughout my floor. I watched students deliver tea to their sick peers. Even when I was having a rough day, jovial friends were always prepared to take me out for a milkshake. My residents illustrated God’s infinite love in their attitudes and random acts of kindness.

What I did not realize was that not only Residence Life, but every facet of Belmont University is designed to engage and transform the lives of each student that is planted here, even the science labs. From the moment I started to learn lab techniques and write out problems on the whiteboards, my professors were pushing me to keep learning, keep searching, keep developing the talents that God had given me.

The truth is, my professors merely catalyzed my inclination towards science. And as any scientist would know, a catalyst does not change the person, but rather speeds up what was already there. God gives each one of us unique and valuable gifts, hidden inside our passions and dreams. 

What our professors, advisors, and even Anotonio at the Caf recognized is that with a little bit of encouragement and support from a strong community, it is possible for us to achieve our dreams, to become the people that God created us to be. With God behind us, it is not a dream at all. On the contrary, it is a destination. It is not merely a fleeting thought of success, but rather a place that we will joyously arrive at.

Belmont is a beautiful place, and not just for its flowers. 

Here we are told to “Believe in something greater.” 

Believe is such an amazing word. 

It is better than wishing for something greater, which is a sign that there is not something greater and you are desperate to find it. 

Believe is better than hope, which is a sign that you have given up, and you do not even know if you could find something greater. 

Believe is better than dream, because dreams are not reality. 

Believe. 

Believe is an active verb. It calls us to move towards that greater end. By believing in the "something greater," we are able to create something far greater than we could have ever imagined on our own. 

I recognized the impact of God’s hand in Belmont’s community when I was given the opportunity to intern in a research lab. I worked just as I had in my science classes while on campus. I maintained a positive attitude, despite the arduous path before me, and I trusted in the help of both my peers and my God. 

At the end of the summer, our Post Doc from China tenderly acknowledged, 

“You different. 

You happy. 

You make us happy.” 

It was Belmont’s values that allowed me to have a lasting impact on those around me. Just as my mother told me when I was young, and Belmont reassured me when I matured, it is with a happy heart that one can truly engage and transform the world.