Rock the Universe experience

            When people first hear of a Christian Music concert, they may immediately think of everyone sitting together in a lawn singing Kumbaya and singing church hymns. I would know because I was one of those people. When I signed up to go to “Rock the Universe,” I was mainly going for the purpose of having fun at Universal Studios. I was pleasantly surprised when I first heard the opening act, Rend Collective perform. The sheer roar of the crowd was one that compares to the ones at the concerts of pop artists such as Drake, Beyoncé or Kanye. I am pleased to say that the band did not disappoint.  They did an amazing job of getting everyone hyped up and singing along to the songs they played. The band got the crowd so involved that you felt like you were an outsider if you weren’t singing and/or dancing along. It definitely wasn’t Kumbaya.

            Not only was the crowd hyped up at the concert, but in the lines of the rides as well. Once the other Christian Youth groups got to the park, I do not remember waiting in a line at a ride that was not filled with everyone singing songs or chanting. Earlier in the day, before all the Christian Youth groups arrived, the small group of Belen students I was with was getting dirty looks because we were singing. Once the Christian Youth groups arrived and the park was closed off to everyone except those attending the concert, the songs began to change from common songs heard on the radio to Christian music, similar to those playing on the stage that night. Our singing didn’t evoke a dirty look, instead we received an array of positive reactions and encouragement. These reactions ranged from a simple smile to groups of people joining us to sing.

     The reaction of the crowd was great.  Not only would everyone sing along, but they were also some of the most welcoming people with whom I have ever interacted. I remember being outside of The Mummy ride and just hanging out with a group from the Palm Beach area. We (the small group I had been hanging with all day) began having a very friendly conversation and just enjoying each other's company. We eventually went our different ways but before we left, we took a group picture, and the members of the other group gave each of us a bracelet that said, "Share God's love with a Hug”.  When that happened I was so surprised I didn't really process what had happened until the bus ride back to Belen. Having been born and raised in Miami, a city not necessarily known for its kindness, I would've never expected something like that. This one simple act taught me that not everyone is impatient and overly aggressive.

            Apart from all of that, as moving and impactful as it was to me, it was a lot of fun. As a senior in the middle of college application season the amount of stress and pressure I am dealing with is something I've never had to deal with before. As the time came closer to go on the trip I was worried about missing the day of school and having to add even more to my workload, causing even more stress. However, this trip was not only a revelation of the good in the world outside of Miami; it was a great way to relieve stress. I spent all night hanging out and praising His name with some of my best friends and complete strangers who welcomed me as if I had known them forever. That night was the first time since the end of summer I have felt relived and not had the thought of college applications or schoolwork in the back of my mind. It was a great experience that was completely worth it and I wish I could go again. Seeing everyone, most of which have never met each other before, get together as a single family and enjoy great music and love of all is an experience that I definitely will never forget.

            Mr. Artiz always says, “Jesus rules the atmosphere around us” and I never realized how right he was until I felt it in the crowd.