How I Overcame Temptations During My Time on Campus

When I received my acceptance letter to the University of Zimbabwe in 2021, I felt like my prayers had been answered. Coming from a humble background, studying at UZ wasn’t just education it was a dream fulfilled, a door God Himself had opened. I carried with me great excitement, a burning desire to make my family proud, and above all, a vow to honor God with my life on campus. Before I even set foot at UZ, I had already heard stories whispers of how students lose their way through peer pressure, alcohol, drugs, and casual relationships. Those stories stirred something in me. As a believer, I wanted to stand firm. “We are the salt of the earth,” the Bible says, and I wanted my life to season the campus with an example worth following. The Reality of Campus Life When I finally arrived, the environment was different from what I was used to. For the first time, I saw students openly drinking, smoking, and living without restraint. Nothing seemed off-limits. It was a culture shock. In that moment, I felt the weight of my vow to God: to remain pure for all four years of my studies. I knew I couldn’t survive alone. The people I surrounded myself with would either build me or break me. The Turning Point God brought the right people into my life. My friend Kudakwashe Mvundura invited me to a fellowship on campus ZAOGA On Campus. That invitation changed everything. In that fellowship, I found a family of believers who encouraged me, prayed with me, and challenged me to walk in holiness. Week after week, the teachings and fellowship reminded me who I was in Christ: not ordinary, but a chosen generation, a royal priesthood. Leadership roles followed, and with them came responsibility. I couldn’t afford to live carelessly anymore. My reputation and my calling became shields that kept me from many traps the enemy had set. My Survival Tools Looking back, three things became my lifeline: Prayer – Luke 18:1 reminds us to always pray and not lose heart. Prayer gave me strength when temptations knocked, purpose when I felt lost, and power when I felt weak. The Word of God – The Word shaped my thoughts and kept my heart clean. Jesus said, “The words I speak are spirit and life.” Scripture filtered out the lies of the enemy and replaced them with truth. Right Friends & Accountability – I chose friends who shared my values. Instead of pulling me down, they lifted me up. We kept each other focused on God. The Victory and the Lesson Escaping campus temptations isn’t about luck—it’s about choice. I chose to fear God. I chose to walk with the right friends. I chose to pray, study the Word, and stay busy with meaningful work. To anyone stepping into university life, here is my advice: Make your values clear from day one. Surround yourself with friends who lift you, not drag you down. Keep your prayer life and Bible study consistent. Stay away from wrong places and wrong crowds. Above all, be a principled person. Campus life will test you. But if you stand firm, you will not only survive you will graduate with your dignity, your values, and your faith intact. By Brighton K. Murove

Comments (3)

Oluwanisola Adetayo

Medicine and Surgery, polyibadan 5month

As a fresher at the prestigious university of Ibadan, people from all walks of Nigeria admit for schooling here. Sometimes, it seems as though distraction and I are inextricable. But thank you for the advice, certainly, it'll help me graduate with dignity

Brighton Murove

6month

Humbled

Speaker_of_Truth

pub 6month

Inspiring, let's sprwad the link every student needs to read thi