Caught Up In It All

I meant to write something when I came home for Thanksgiving, thinking that I would have lots of free time (boy was I wrong), but family, friends, and microbiology ended up being my priority while I was there (not that that's a bad thing). And then finals started and finished, and now I'm home, still running around doing different things every day.

Some thoughts from my first semester:

1) College is so different than I thought it was going to be. I went into it having expectations, some things didn't live up to them, and other things surpassed them by far. Honestly, I have expectations about next semester that I know aren't going to be true, but its hard to not think of the future.

2) Being on your own isn't as glamorous as you think it is. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed every minute of it, it just requires a lot of learning... You know how when you lose something, your mother is able to magically find it? No more. She lives 12 hours away. And Daddy can't fix things from that far away either (I managed to put a shoe shelf together all by myself! It only took 20 minutes longer than it should have.) 

3) Roommates are great, I love mine so much, but learning to share a small space with someone is a new adventure in itself. The bathroom mirror only fits one person at a time, and shoes get everywhere and you aren't on the same sleep schedules so you have to learn to be quiet and find matching socks in the dark. But Esther and I hit it off right away, I had an automatic friend from the first day, and she even says I'm quiet when I get ready at 5:30/6 in the morning!

4) College friendships are "sped up" compared to what you're used to. You have to understand that you are about to meet some complete strangers that are going to see all sides of you in about two weeks. From seeing you in your cute clothes with your hair and makeup done well to seeing you right after you've woken up, in your pajamas and morning breath... Your closer friends will get it all. Actually, your roommate gets all that in 24 hours tops.

5) To go along with that, you can't be afraid to let people see you without makeup. Sometimes you wake up in the morning and your too starving to actually get ready for the day, so you just go to the Student Union wearing sweats. 

"And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6, ESV)

summing it up

So. My first semester of college is over.

Whaaaaaat?

I've been at Gordon college for 118 days.

I've travelled 5446 miles.

I've taken 11 tests.

I've been to 12 churches.

I've met a whole lot of incredible people.

It's hard to explain all of the things I've learned, experiences I've had, how I've changed.

It's hard to tell you what this semester has been like.

Let's just say there's been lots of questioning and answer, seeking and praying.

Let's just say God's been working.

He's pretty cool, guys.

But I just can't seem to explain everything since August.

I was talking to one of my friends who shared the feeling;

They said they just wanted to go home and tell everyone about the people.

The people those are what made the semester, what made the change...

So here are the faces of my first semester of college:

Lauren and Rosie

So, living in community is hard.

'Cause by community I mean three girls with a lotta stuff in a tiny dorm room.

But when you have 

total hippy with thrift shops and earth tones

Lauren (on the left)

who is so committed to listening to God and trusts His plan even when it's real difficult

and 

total prep with nautical stripes and all kinds of pink 

Rosie (on the right)

who is so dedicated to studying and working hard and does well at everything she does

and 

me ('nuff said),

you end up with a few fights,

some passive aggression,

some gossip and straight up issues,

cause, well, community is hard.

But you end up realizing that if you have a problem,

you don't talk about someone to other people, 

even if you think you're helping or they're straight up making you mad.

That conversation and communication is awkward, but worth the awkward.

That judging people's past does nothing but mess up your future.

That real friends come when you take the people you aren't like at all

and commit to caring about them.

James Reese

Straight out of Knoxville, Tennessee

He just might be the most interesting man in the world

(but don't tell him I said that).

The first night I met him I told him he could stay at my house

and we decided we'd have a radio show.

(PS, we have a radio show now. It ‘ight. Tune in.)

A few days later he told me his passion was rap.

I didn’t believe him...

Then I heard him rap,

And man, he’s good;

And man, he cares about it.

Four hours of rap lessons later, I actually appreciate the art.

Passion is such a buzzword,

But his is for real.

He’s taught me that you should do exciting things,

and you shouldn’t ever forget what makes you jump around excited,

And not let yourself be bored,

And figure out how to be passionate about right now,

And he does all of that and is still totally thoughtful about the world around him,

And he knows himself.

Also, he doesn’t care what anyone thinks about him.

He’s thoughtfully genuinely unapologetically James Reese

And man, I admire that.

Jamie Shore 

She won the first conversation we had.

The first day of classes we realized we had three in a row together,

Then we walked back across the quad and tried to best each other.

“Oh I’m going to apply for GCSA”

“Oh really? I already have 30 signatures”

Point, set, match, Jamie Shore.

I had an identity-crisis-panic-attack after that,

Because I’d never met anyone JUST LIKE ME.

I was ALWAYS the conversation winner.

So, yeah, not a fan.

Then I got to know her, slowly, awkwardly

and through a lot of not liking each other.

We actually became real friends.

And we realized even though our schedules and goals and ambition might be the same,

We were definitely different.

But, we could understand each other in a way other people couldn't.

And we realized how cool it was that we both agree that the presidents are the best,

And how cool it was that we don’t both agree on Anabaptism.

But we have a conversation about it, 

and it's thoughtful and generous and challenging.

She’s the person who will talk to me about the things no one wants to,

Who will answer the door at one in the morning and dream in the hallway with me about how were going to redeem the world and politics and journalism and how we’re going to make Gordon College passionate about Jesus and justice and conversation.

Now she’s the one who helps me process all of the crises I have about what I’ve always grown up learning and what the Bible actually says,

And she has pink hair because she is brave and breaking down walls and stereotypes,

And she cares about justice more than breathing,

And I’m thankful we can push each other together.

Rachel, Kelsey, Blake, and Julia

(isn't Gianna Nicole Photography the best?)

College was rough at first.

When the only people you want to talk to are thousands of miles away and they don't really get you anymore,

It's hard without anyone right there that you trust.

And then I met these girls.

One was my suite mate,

One was in my small group,

One was in my Women’s Lit class,

One just kind of showed up in my life and then we realized we had Old Testament together.

And one day after class we decided we would go swimming in the pond before dinner, and the rest was history.

It's amazing how you can make close friends so fast.

They're pretty cool.

Blake(the middle) is so smart and dedicated but so easy going and she always make you feel welcome and like you belong and always knows what to talk about.

And Rachel’s(the right)heart is soft and warm and kind that I can’t really even describe it but just being with her puts me at ease.

And Kelsey(the second from the right)is just straight sass and it’s the kind that can look you in the face and tell you what you need to hear but you leave feeling loved.

and Julia(The left) is funny and adventurous and always moving but will still sit and listen and talk through things with you even when you're cranky and angsty.

And we've learned that staying in on Friday nights laughing and catching up is just as fun as going out.

And they've all taught me and shown me how great and valuable real relationships are,

and how fast you can make great valuable relationships.

It's cool you can find a group of people you love as much individually as you do together.

(of course, this isn't all of the people who've impacted me, who I love, who I really just want to be like someday, but it's a few of the big ones)

--------------

Yeah, all of these people are pretty cool. 

You should get to know them.

They're what made my first semester great.

So now I'm back in the 719,

sitting at my kitchen table,

starting to miss the people I'm used to seeing everyday,

but glad to be back,

reflecting on my first semester of college.

I'm thankful. Very thankful.