'Do It Scared': How ORU's Lucas Reid Turned Fear into a Formula for College Success

What's the best advice for college success?

When you ask, you'll get answers like "stay organized," "meet your professors," and "don't procrastinate." That's all good advice, but some of the best advice comes from ORU's Lucas Reid. According to Lucas, success in college (and success in life) boils down to this: "If you can't get over the fear, do it scared."

"When you're fearful," Lucas said, "you think you're not enough. But that's exactly the point. You're not enough. Fear happens when you're worried about what's within your power. Forget that idea and tell yourself, 'I know I'm not enough. The Lord's going to help me through this.' When you lean on God, He'll give you the strength you need. Doing new things can be scary, but with God, you'll be able to face them."

Courage Is the Key to College Growth

John Maxwell once said, "Your life expands in proportion to your courage." This is what Lucas is suggesting when he says to "do it scared." To grow in college, you might have to do some scary things. Those who find their voice might have to face the fear of public speaking. Those who plan to lead might have to face the fear of responsibility. And those who want to serve might have to face the fear of sacrifice.

"The hard decisions are the important decisions," Lucas said, "because when you make a hard decision, it's going to bring growth into your world. These are the decisions that catalyze you in the next season of your life and build you into who you are becoming. The path God has called you on isn't going to be an easy path whatsoever, but it's going to be the path that's most fulfilling. It's going to be the path that leads to life."

As a college student, Lucas is building his foundation upon the decision to be active and involved. Since arriving at ORU, he's participated in Prayer Movement, international missions (Uganda and Honduras), a homeless ministry, and the Chaplain Program. These are hard decisions-greater responsibility means less time for other things-but for Lucas, they're also life-changing decisions.

"Many students are looking for what they're gifted at," Lucas said, "but how do you know if you haven't tried anything? I was definitely not a "born" leader. I was shy, and I had to grow into it. I tried something new, and that's where I discovered my leadership voice. ORU is a fantastic place to try new things. You'll discover your gifts if you take a risk and do something new on campus. Each step you take reveals more. The Word of the Lord is like a lamp to our feet, not stadium lights to our entire future. When you take a step forward, God will light up your next step and guides you in the right direction."

Moments of Lucas getting involved and participating in ORU activities.

Risk: It's Essential to Your College Experience

Overcoming fear and making hard decisions … both point to the heart of Lucas' college advice, which is this: to grow in college, you need take risks. As he describes it, risk is important because risk takers are willing to get uncomfortable. And one thing's for sure, life in general isn't always going to be comfortable.

"If you're not taking risks," Lucas said, "then you're not truly living. To become the person that God's calling you to be, you're going to have to make some decisions that are uncomfortable. For me, coming to ORU was an uncomfortable decision because I left a lot of relationships at home. But the whole time I knew it was the right decision. God was calling me to ORU, and in the three years that I've been here, the Lord has done so much to form me. If I hadn't made the uncomfortable decision to leave home, I wouldn't be the person I am today."

A photo collage highlighting moments of Lucas with his ORU friends.

Nationally Ranked, Globally Recognized

ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 17 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor's level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. In 2024, the Carnegie Foundation recognized ORU with a "Leadership for Public Purpose" award, a distinction earned by only 25 universities nationwide. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 176 nations in the last 7 years to be whole leaders for the whole world.