Valeria

I grew up in a household of six in Puerto Rico, where we didn’t belong to any particular religion. My parents believed in God, but what we were taught was more of a spiritual lifestyle rooted in Indian practices. Because of that, my faith was never really my own. I believed in it because my parents did. I never questioned it or sought God for myself. As I grew older, my life became empty. I lived without thinking about consequences or how my actions affected others. I hurt people I loved, allowed myself to be hurt, and put myself in situations I never should have been in.

I had a damaged conscience, but I didn’t realize it at the time. I pushed my pain aside and kept going. My family did the best they could, but without Christ, there was only so much they could do. My friend group was toxic, and things like getting drunk and partying all night were completely normal. I didn’t see how lost I was. In Spring 2024, I moved to attend USF, excited to live on my own and forge my own identity. I thought freedom would fulfill me, but it left me feeling more empty. That following year, I decided to read the Bible, primarily out of curiosity. When I started, I was confused and overwhelmed. I didn’t know where to begin or how to understand it. One day on campus, someone invited me to Bible studies, and I said no without thinking. Later that day, I felt convicted. I remember telling myself, “If someone asks me again, I’ll say yes.”

Less than a week later, I met a campus minister from Cornerstone. She invited me to church and to a one-on-one Bible study, and this time I said yes. That decision changed everything. God started revealing the truth about my heart, my sin, and the way I had been living. For a while, I was afraid to fully surrender my life to Christ. However, upon returning to USF after spring break, I met with the campus minister, and during that conversation I realized how separate I still was from God. I didn’t want to live divided anymore. I wanted to be fully His. On March 26, 2025, I gave my life to the Lord. I repented and surrendered everything to Jesus. When I gave my life to Jesus, everything didn’t become perfect, but everything became new. My desires began to change, and I no longer wanted to live for myself. I learned that following Christ isn’t about perfection, but about daily surrender, obedience, and trust. Today, I can confidently say that God is good. He didn’t just save me, He transformed me. He gave me a new identity, a new purpose, and a new way of living. I’m deeply grateful for Cornerstone, for my friendship with the campus minister who met me, and so many others. God showed me patience, grace, and what real Christ-centered love looks like.

~Valeria