College students should make spirituality a priority for a balanced life

College is such an overwhelming experience if a student is not careful, it becomes easy to neglect certain areas of life, as one's focus is on succeeding in other areas.

I recently began evaluating my own college experience. Curious to see what areas of my life I had neglected, I made a mental list and evaluated everything on it.

It took me a while to figure out what I had pushed to the side.

On a Sunday morning, I realized what it was. The area that I had regressed in was my spiritual life.

The fact that I couldn't remember the last time I went to church or Bible study scared me and jolted me into action.

This happens to a lot of people in college due to the amount of things students have to balance.

Students become so overwhelmed with other things that they sometimes push their religion or spiritual activities to the side without realizing it.

Thoughts such as "I will go to service next week" become too frequent.

For most, it's probably not intentional, but it happens nevertheless.

Then there are the students who succeed academically, professionally and socially while maintaining active spiritual lives.

What separates the two groups is not a lack of love for the religion (whatever it may be) but a lack of devotion and prioritization.

I am a Christian. I have never stopped praying, believing or having faith – but that is not enough.

I let the actual activities like attending church and studying the Bible diminish. To some, this may not seem like a big deal, but those who practice Christianity know it is.

There is much more to being a Christian or a Buddhist or a Muslim than just saying that you are.

The Higher Education Institute did a national study on spirituality in college students.

The study tracked the spiritual growth of students by identifying trends, patterns and principles of spirituality and religiousness.

It showed that students who maintained spirituality during college were usually involved in religious clubs or groups, and they attended religious activities or services at least once a week.

When reading the study, I became skeptical of the students who participated in it.

I thought they must not be involved in anything else but those religious clubs and activities, so it would be easier for them.

I was wrong for making that assumption. I do not know those students – who I am to question their devotion to religion?

They could be busier than I am. The important thing is to understand the significance of religion and make it a priority.

Instead of being critical, I should try to accomplish what they have.

Another study done by the The Higher Education Institute showed that students who participate in religious or spiritual activities such as attending services and reading sacred texts like the Bible and the Quran are less likely to feel overwhelmed during college.

Everyone who has attended college has had times where they thought they were not going to be able to make it through another final and just wanted to give up.

Spirituality is something that can make situations like these easier to deal with.

Alexander Astin, the founding director of the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA, said that a higher degree of spirituality correlates with high self-esteem and positive feelings about the future.

Those are two feelings that all people – regardless of religious affiliation – should have.

Religion is a commitment. But it doesn't have to be your whole life.

However, if you practice a faith, that faith should be a priority. Just like school, if you want to learn, you have to study and, at times, immerse yourself in whatever it is you are trying to learn.

You cannot reap the intended benefits of religion and spirituality if you push them to the back burner.

Not everyone is religious. That is a right every human has.

But if you do not believe in something, then what is the point of living?

Academics, careers and social lives are only a small portion of life. Regardless of what you practice or what you believe – believe in something.

Making spirituality a priority in your life will do nothing but benefit you; maybe even in ways you can't comprehend.