In a new Finding Jesus Friday video, Arizona State University rising sophomore Michael Sand opens up about his faith journey on campus.

“Coming into college, I knew I wanted to continue to grow my Catholic faith but didn’t know exactly what that would look like,” Sand said. “So I began the semester by coming to Mass, attending [All Saints Catholic Newman Center] events every week and just looking for any opportunity possible to connect. Coming into college as a freshman for the first time on my own was a little daunting, and making good decisions and living out the faith are not exactly the coolest, most-popular things to do on campus, so I knew that would obviously be a challenge.”

As he tapped into available opportunities for the Catholic community, Sand quickly built a group of friends from the Newman Center. He says he has had the chance to go on three retreats, numerous undergrad events and to serve in unique ways. 

ASU's Michael Sand | Instagram

“Through all of these events and opportunities, I believe I have really found my faith to be at a new level,” Sand said.

Born and raised Catholic, Sand said that practicing the faith was something that was not necessary to own personally. When he began to make the decision to go to Mass and participate in Catholic activities on his own, Sand saw that the faith was something that he had in his own life, not just the life he had experienced as a child. 

“It has been a tremendous blessing that has helped me be a better witness of Christ,” he said. ”I believe the biggest misconception out there about the faith is that God somehow wants you to sacrifice all happiness and freedom and that living out your faith as a college student is simply impossible nowadays. I have found exactly the opposite to be true.”