The Auburn University student has been a key part of our ministry from the conception of PCC. We have always felt led to provide spiritual and clinical support to these students. Because I was raised in Auburn, and graduated from Auburn University, I will always have a fondness for Auburn and the university.

The college student of today is different from the student of my time. They are better prepared academically, have a global view of life, and are much more mobile than in years past. As I work with AU students I find that the majority of them are more mature, more focused on their future, and in general, more confident.

Unfortunately the fast paced, high- pressure culture of a major university can create problems and requires students to make significant personal choices. Students must negotiate academic pressure, drugs and alcohol, relationships, loneliness, parental expectations, etc. Even though most students are better prepared for college academically these days, I am not convinced that they are as emotionally strong. This is where we see our role in their college experience.

Although our students here at Auburn are diverse, the majority of them are similar in one respect; most of them have a Christian background. I am always surprised but pleased to find these students are willing to use their faith as a resource for personal problem solving and improving emotional health.