Why am I so cold? Why am I lying on the floor? Why am I not in my house?
These are the questions that run through my mind as I scan the place I woke up in. There are loud snores. Close to six people are lying on the floor, asleep, oblivious to the cold. Young men and women, all scattered in the room, asleep in different positions. I spot a couple of my classmates. Abandoned bottles of beer and empty plastic caps are lying everywhere. My head is pounding heavily as I try to recall what had brought me to this place.
Hey Zawadi, party at my place; 7pm till late. Be there. Booze in plenty. That was the message that I got on my phone that Thursday evening. Grab a friend, preferably a guy. The message continued.
Friday afternoon. Tick, tock, the clock seems to be frozen. My mind keeps wandering to that evening. What should I wear to the party? My blue dress? No, probably I should try the black one, it’s more enticing, plus it hugs me in all the right places. I glance down at my mode of dressing and frown. Whoever wears jeans, a t-shirt and sneakers in this era? I ask myself. Thanks to Daystar’s mode of dressing, I cannot flaunt my amazing fashion sense.
The party is at its peak by the time I arrive at my friend’s place out of campus. Her one-roomed house is full of people and so stuffy with smoke and sweat. Music is blaring from the music system in the house; a number of students are swaying to the beat. My short figure-hugging dress is riding up and I pull it down. I spot the host of the party, swaying some few feet away, a guy holding her by the waist. Another friend of mine, Cate*, looks drunk and is throwing up in the kitchen sink. I look away and continue sipping my drink. My watch reads 12.38a.m, still plenty of time to party. Someone grabs me and I oblige; we dance. I remember dancing but the rest is a blur. I hold my pounding head and vow never to touch alcohol.
You may wonder what a University student is doing, drinking and blacking out like that. Well, let me tell you that I have not always been like this. You see, I come from a Christian background and all values of the Christian faith have been imparted to me since childhood. My parents had tried to ensure that I learnt about the Christian faith at a very young age, ensuring that I attended Sunday school every Sunday and that I at least learnt how to say The Grace and the Ten Commandments were imprinted in my young mind. It is with this view of making sure that my faith in the word of God grows that my parents brought me to a university that shares the same vision as they.
The first time I stepped into the gates of Daystar University, I was greeted by the words: DAYSTAR UNIVERSITY IS AN ALCOHOL AND DRUG-ABUSE FREE ZONE, proudly displayed at the University’s gates. The University’s rule book, which is also the catalogue emphasized on the need for students (and staff) of the University to grow spiritually and to practice the faith of Jesus Christ. One way that the University ensures that all stakeholders are reminded of their faith is by compulsory chapel attendance every week. Does this work?
It is Chapel Tuesday at Daystar University, Athi River campus. A few students are streaming towards the Amphitheatre, bibles in hand. Members of the Daystar Christian Fellowship (DCF) are engaging the few who have managed to make it to Chapel in a session of worship. Another group is wiping the benches and placing hymn books on them. A few kilometers from Daystar, at Vegas Hostels, is Cate*, a fourth year communication student is still fast asleep, waiting for Chapel to end so that she can attend her lectures. Closer at home, Jane, a second year resident student at the Patience Hostels is still in bed, ignorant of the activities going on at the Amphitheatre. The bed above hers is neatly spread out, the Occupant, a second year Community Development student, Mercy*, is already at the Amphitheatre.
“I attended Chapel the first week of Orientation, that is when I was a freshman because I was told that if I missed Chapel I would be punished,” Cate* says when she eventually manages to drag herself out of bed. “Since then I have never attended any Chapel.”
“Chapel attendance is not an activity that can help one grow spiritually because of the co-notation of being forced to attend chapel which actually beats the logic of spirituality,” says Cyrus Maina, a fourth year Communication student.
So, do Daystar students practice what they are told to do in chapel, bible study, mission outreaches and other Christian based activities?
The first time I met Davis Njeru was in my INS 111 class while I was still freshmen. He was quite an ordinary young man who came to class like the rest of us, did his assignments and participated like everyone else in class. What we did not know was that he is a practicing pastor in his local church. Davis is also the current DCF Vice-Chairman and a young man who tries to live his life according to the ways of the bible.
“Faith is an integration of doctrine and belief,” Davis says when asked to define what Christian faith means to him.
“I would say that people in Daystar have moderately practiced faith and has been evident in the way they conduct themselves.” He says of the practice of faith among Daystar students.
Off-campus life has been blamed for tainting the practice of faith among Daystar University students. Stories of drinking, co-habiting, skiving of chapel, stealing and other vices that are not associated with the Christian faith have been blamed on living out of campus. Cyrus begs to differ with this.
Campus is campus, whether I live off-campus or in-campus,” he argues. “Growing spiritually is a conscience effort. You need to involve yourself with activities that would help you grow spiritually.”
He mentions the bible study and small groups as DCF based activities that have made him grow spiritually.
“Christian Faith is a personal relationship between you and God; there should be no gatekeepers,” Cyrus continues to say. “In order to learn that relationship, one needs to ensure that you commit yourself to activities like bible study, praying and engaging in forums that people discuss about Christianity.”
These are the questions that run through my mind as I scan the place I woke up in. There are loud snores. Close to six people are lying on the floor, asleep, oblivious to the cold. Young men and women, all scattered in the room, asleep in different positions. I spot a couple of my classmates. Abandoned bottles of beer and empty plastic caps are lying everywhere. My head is pounding heavily as I try to recall what had brought me to this place.
Hey Zawadi, party at my place; 7pm till late. Be there. Booze in plenty. That was the message that I got on my phone that Thursday evening. Grab a friend, preferably a guy. The message continued.
Friday afternoon. Tick, tock, the clock seems to be frozen. My mind keeps wandering to that evening. What should I wear to the party? My blue dress? No, probably I should try the black one, it’s more enticing, plus it hugs me in all the right places. I glance down at my mode of dressing and frown. Whoever wears jeans, a t-shirt and sneakers in this era? I ask myself. Thanks to Daystar’s mode of dressing, I cannot flaunt my amazing fashion sense.
The party is at its peak by the time I arrive at my friend’s place out of campus. Her one-roomed house is full of people and so stuffy with smoke and sweat. Music is blaring from the music system in the house; a number of students are swaying to the beat. My short figure-hugging dress is riding up and I pull it down. I spot the host of the party, swaying some few feet away, a guy holding her by the waist. Another friend of mine, Cate*, looks drunk and is throwing up in the kitchen sink. I look away and continue sipping my drink. My watch reads 12.38a.m, still plenty of time to party. Someone grabs me and I oblige; we dance. I remember dancing but the rest is a blur. I hold my pounding head and vow never to touch alcohol.
You may wonder what a University student is doing, drinking and blacking out like that. Well, let me tell you that I have not always been like this. You see, I come from a Christian background and all values of the Christian faith have been imparted to me since childhood. My parents had tried to ensure that I learnt about the Christian faith at a very young age, ensuring that I attended Sunday school every Sunday and that I at least learnt how to say The Grace and the Ten Commandments were imprinted in my young mind. It is with this view of making sure that my faith in the word of God grows that my parents brought me to a university that shares the same vision as they.
The first time I stepped into the gates of Daystar University, I was greeted by the words: DAYSTAR UNIVERSITY IS AN ALCOHOL AND DRUG-ABUSE FREE ZONE, proudly displayed at the University’s gates. The University’s rule book, which is also the catalogue emphasized on the need for students (and staff) of the University to grow spiritually and to practice the faith of Jesus Christ. One way that the University ensures that all stakeholders are reminded of their faith is by compulsory chapel attendance every week. Does this work?
It is Chapel Tuesday at Daystar University, Athi River campus. A few students are streaming towards the Amphitheatre, bibles in hand. Members of the Daystar Christian Fellowship (DCF) are engaging the few who have managed to make it to Chapel in a session of worship. Another group is wiping the benches and placing hymn books on them. A few kilometers from Daystar, at Vegas Hostels, is Cate*, a fourth year communication student is still fast asleep, waiting for Chapel to end so that she can attend her lectures. Closer at home, Jane, a second year resident student at the Patience Hostels is still in bed, ignorant of the activities going on at the Amphitheatre. The bed above hers is neatly spread out, the Occupant, a second year Community Development student, Mercy*, is already at the Amphitheatre.
“I attended Chapel the first week of Orientation, that is when I was a freshman because I was told that if I missed Chapel I would be punished,” Cate* says when she eventually manages to drag herself out of bed. “Since then I have never attended any Chapel.”
“Chapel attendance is not an activity that can help one grow spiritually because of the co-notation of being forced to attend chapel which actually beats the logic of spirituality,” says Cyrus Maina, a fourth year Communication student.
So, do Daystar students practice what they are told to do in chapel, bible study, mission outreaches and other Christian based activities?
The first time I met Davis Njeru was in my INS 111 class while I was still freshmen. He was quite an ordinary young man who came to class like the rest of us, did his assignments and participated like everyone else in class. What we did not know was that he is a practicing pastor in his local church. Davis is also the current DCF Vice-Chairman and a young man who tries to live his life according to the ways of the bible.
“Faith is an integration of doctrine and belief,” Davis says when asked to define what Christian faith means to him.
“I would say that people in Daystar have moderately practiced faith and has been evident in the way they conduct themselves.” He says of the practice of faith among Daystar students.
Off-campus life has been blamed for tainting the practice of faith among Daystar University students. Stories of drinking, co-habiting, skiving of chapel, stealing and other vices that are not associated with the Christian faith have been blamed on living out of campus. Cyrus begs to differ with this.
Campus is campus, whether I live off-campus or in-campus,” he argues. “Growing spiritually is a conscience effort. You need to involve yourself with activities that would help you grow spiritually.”
He mentions the bible study and small groups as DCF based activities that have made him grow spiritually.
“Christian Faith is a personal relationship between you and God; there should be no gatekeepers,” Cyrus continues to say. “In order to learn that relationship, one needs to ensure that you commit yourself to activities like bible study, praying and engaging in forums that people discuss about Christianity.”
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