Gillian could talk for days about brains. She’s fascinated by the complex coordination of chemical and electrical signals that allow us to move, perceive, and interact with the world around us. She studies neuroscience and psychology at CU Boulder because she can’t get enough of learning about how it all works.
When conversations get super nerdy around the Bread+Belonging dinner tables, Gillian loves it. She is just as excited to talk about the brain as she is to listen to what other students are passionate and learning about.
But Gillian was nervous before coming to Bread+Belonging for the first time. “Fall semester I was terrified to leave my room outside of going to class,” she remembers from her first year, “I felt like I was in my little box.” A friend from class kept inviting Gillian to join her on a Tuesday evening. When Gillian finally did, she found a warm welcome and even stayed after dinner for board games. “It's hard to find a community where I'm not afraid to entirely be myself,” Gillian reflects. “B+B always gives me a positive environment that gives me more confidence.”
That confidence encouraged Gillian to join the Bread+Belonging leadership team. This fall She’s begun serving on the board of directors and is helping plan and lead activities for the B+B community. “I feel more open to jumping into new things,” she says. “We’ll see what I learn, what’s the worst? I’ll trip a little bit, and I'll learn it’s okay.”
Your generosity sustains Bread+Belonging as a sanctuary where students like Gillian feel supported in taking risks, trying new things, and learning among a safe and supportive community. Thank you for your partnership in our ministry with students!