Be the difference: a contemporary Christian college student writes essay about health and education and unwittingly speaks volumes about what we all can do to live a better life.

Looking out the window at the fresh snow, you spot them. This is the third morning you've seen this couple jogging down the street decked out in their workout gear. While watching, you begin to imagine yourself in their place. You, too, want to be healthy and fit. Inspired, you quickly run to the nearest store to buy everything you need: sweats, weights, workout DVDs--the whole nine yards. The next morning comes and you watch the couple go by again. It's not a great day for running, you tell yourself. Tomorrow will be better.

Sound familiar? We all want that strong, attractive body, but don't have the extra "oomph" to get us going. It's the same sob story repeated again and again, right? So why does this happen? Why me? Why can't I be flexible and beautiful and have the perfect body?

I believe the answer lies in our concept of what health actually is. Instead of desiring physical fitness as a means of living a happier and more productive life, we have skewed it into an issue of vanity. Selfish wants have become the determining factors of how we choose to live our lives.

Society fuels that fire through the media and its vast array of reality shows geared toward making "ugly" people look like swans. We're battered daily with promotions of superficiality, and in the storm we've lost sight of a focus that is more than skin deep. We've lost the true meaning of health.

Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary defines health as "the condition of being sound in body, mind, or spirit; especially, freedom from physical disease or pain." Seems health is more than just having firm abs and a tight bottom. It includes being sound mentally and spiritually as well.

But how does that work then with the second part of the definition? Simply put, it's very difficult to be focused on mental, spiritual, and physical health when you're in extreme pain. As a matter of fact, each part is dependent upon the condition of the other three.

So what can we do to make my college--or any institute of higher learning--the healthiest Christian campus in America? What can we do to improve the college's physical, mental, and spiritual atmospheres?

Physical

Let's start with the most basic component, the physical. My campus cafeteria offers a unique variety of lacto-ovo meals. However, as with all cafeterias, it has some weak points. By far the most notable is the amount of grease sometimes used in preparing meals.

A lot of foods don't require much oil or butter/margarine to cook. My guess is that the reason for using so much would be to speed up the cooking process and get more done at once. Though this is understandable, it's not acceptable in promoting a healthy campus. I believe that the quantity of grease, fat, oil, etc. applied should be moderate, if not minimal. Yes, this may require a bit more time and perhaps some extra money from the administration to pay employees. But we should make the additional effort if we have the funds and resources to bring about such an important change.

Though the nutrition portion of the physical perspective may be slightly under par in a few areas, the athletic department puts forward many health-building programs such as softball, basketball, and tumbling. These are coached by people who themselves can be labeled as athletes. These same people are available and willing to take time out of their day and interact with students whether in a game of ping-pong or in a weightlifting session.

In addition to making themselves accessible, these teachers offer classes in subjects such as physical fitness, swimming, anatomy and physiology, and nutrition. Pushing the bounds even further, this year the Athletic Department presented a week for health wellness, providing screenings and lectures on topics pertinent to all people.

Mental

My school has made a fantastic effort to keep us fit and at the "top of our game." This goes hand-in-hand with the mental atmosphere. With more than 20 majors and minors offered, and a master's in Business Administration and cooperative education program, the school does not limit students' opportunities for learning. Even parents and other adults have a chance at education through the college's adult learning programs.

What, then, could be a deterrent to mental growth? The answer that comes to mind is the learning environment. While the Music Department is one of the bigger programs on campus and does a great deal of advertising for the college through international tours and church performances, the program is run from two old facilities.

Am I complaining? No. Wonderful musicians have been nurtured in the Music Department. Students have gone on to share their gift of music in schools, churches, and concert halls. But I believe that for students to perform to the very best of their abilities, they must be given an environment that nurtures creativity and expression, not hinders it. I often wonder how much more could be done with a building better suited to the needs of the students and professors.

Spiritual

The spiritual aspect of health should be at the center of any Christian college or university regardless of denomination or beliefs. I'd say that my school is about a seven on the 10-point scale. Not everyone will agree with that assessment, but I stick by it.

The chaplain's office offers numerous methods of ministry, and the Religion Department boasts an ever-increasing selection of religion classes. Countless doors are opened to the students, waiting for someone to walk through. There are always people around to help nudge us in the right direction. So, where did they go wrong?

They didn't. We did--a fact brought up recently by one of the speakers during our Week of Spiritual Emphasis. The attitude of many students on this campus is far from being conducive to spirituality--or even physical or mental health for that matter. There's a negativity that's ever present in classrooms and activities. Cursing is a common pastime, and authority is meant to be shunned. People have carried their ideals about smoking, drinking, premarital sex, and self-centeredness onto this campus, forgetting what this school is really supposed to be about.

In my opinion, it's about Christianity; about humility in service to others. It's about encouraging each other and functioning as a unit to bring about change in our community. It's about living a Christ-centered life filled with purpose.

My school was founded on faith as an educational institution that would be different from all other post-secondary schools. How? By being active in spreading God's message to the world. But many of the students of this college are tearing down the foundation through a refusal to live up to the standards of our predecessors, our professors, and our church.

If we want to bring about a change on this campus, we must start with ourselves. Instead of compromising our beliefs, we should stand firm in them, knowing that we are doing God's will. This does not mean that we reject others. On the contrary, I'm saying that we need to bring others into the fold. We must share what we know. It's through sharing and understanding that we can grow physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Total health starts with purpose, something that motivates and pushes us to higher things. I believe it's time for us to slip into our jogging suits, lace up our running shoes, and join that couple in the snow. One thing I've learned at my school is this: If you want to make a difference, then you must be the difference.

This article is the winner of a health-essay contest held on a Christian college campus in 2005. Vibrant Life magazine was one of the sponsors of the contest.