Asia Dezenberg discovered quickly after graduating from St. John Paul II Catholic High School that staying connected to her faith in college would require initiative. “I realized that if I wanted to remain involved in Catholicism at school, I would have to seek it out myself,” she shared. What began as attending one campus ministry event soon led her into Bible study and a close-knit Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM) community at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Asia served CCM by helping care for the chapel, attending daily Mass, participating in weekly events, and joining retreats with FOCUS missionaries. Her involvement deepened even further when she attended the SEEK Conference through UAH Campus Ministry for the first time.

Although she admits she initially went to SEEK partly due to encouragement from friends, the experience proved transformative. “College is about being open to new things,” she reflected. “You get so much more out of life when you say yes, even when you feel hesitant.” At SEEK, she found time to step back and pray, gaining clarity about where she was placing her identity and where it truly belongs.

One of the highlights of her experience was meeting young Salesian sisters who invited Asia and her fellow students to dinner and prayer. Their openness and joy left a lasting impression. “It showed me that meaningful conversations can happen naturally when you let God take the lead,” she said.

Her involvement in campus ministry has shaped her college life in powerful ways. Through CCM and SEEK, Asia has built strong friendships rooted in shared values, gained confidence, and learned how to lead both academically and socially. “It’s helped keep my focus grounded in what’s important during a time when you’re figuring out so much about yourself.”

Asia credits her foundation at St. John Paul II Catholic High School for preparing her for this journey. The school’s theology curriculum and supportive community gave her confidence and a solid understanding of the faith. “JPII helped me know what the Church teaches, so when I entered the larger world, I wasn’t confused about the truth.  I just had to learn how deeply true it is.”

Now majoring in computer science with a minor in music technology, Asia recently earned her first cybersecurity certification and hopes to mix audio for a friend’s YouTube series and create her own music in the future. She also remains close with her JPII friends, spending weekends playing e-sports and Dungeons & Dragons together.

Asia encourages current students and recent graduates to stay open to opportunities for faith after high school, especially through campus ministry. She admits that after graduation, she was not yet thinking in terms of where God was calling her, which made that idea easy to dismiss. Instead, what mattered most was making the simple choice to remain involved. “I didn’t think much would come of it or that I even belonged there,” she shared, “but the community has been incredibly welcoming, and it’s become so much more than I expected.” Her advice is practical and heartfelt: show up, be willing to try, and take that first step. From there, she trusts that God will take care of the rest.