Although it has been a long time since I have written, I have a lot to share! Right now I am enjoying a relaxing evening to myself. Tomorrow is Good Friday and we do not have school. Many people are leaving but I am staying. I am glad to have a long, relaxing, enjoyable weekend ahead. So much has happened in these last two months. The last time I updated this blog was before Spring semester even started, and now I am two-thirds of the way done with it! I cannot believe that I am almost done with my first year of college, it has gone by so fast. However, in hindsight I realize how much I have learned and how much I feel that I have grown in these last seven months.
This semester has felt much different than last semester to me. I am still fulfilling gen eds for the most part, but they are much more interesting, I have more variety and there are new subjects and content that I have never learned about before. The classes I am taking this semester include Intro to Psychology, Intro to Sociology, Spanish, Foundations of Christian Leadership, a Major/Career skill/exploration course, and Core 150, which is a course about the history of Christian perspectives and all different worldviews. I am really enjoying my classes this semester, they are all interesting to me.
The first half of this semester, especially the month before Spring break, was very busy and stressful for me. I was juggling homework as well as midterms and many different applications. I applied for an academic program, a Resident Assistant position, and a study abroad program. I applied for a Certification For Ministry program here, and recieved good news, I was accepted! It will turn out to be a Theology minor as well as a bit more due to the certification for ministry aspect. Honestly, I sort of applied to see what would happen. I honestly have no idea what I will or can do with it but I will learn a lot nonetheless and who knows where it could lead me or what it could do for me either while in the program at college or afterwards.
Applying to be a Resident Assistant here in the dorms was a very long process. Total it took about a month which included the written application, essays, cover letter, resume, references, scenarios, prime time activity, and interview. I made it through everything and was invited for an interview but the day before Spring break I found out that I was not hired. It was a let down, I will be honest and say that it was a disappointment and I didn't quite understand it at first. I think it just seemed like a huge let down because it had been building for so long and was such a long process. Luckily, Spring break was right after I recieved the news and it was incredibly nice to be able to go home. I did learn a lot and it was a great experience and process to go through.
So long story short, my parents and family knew that I was coming home for Spring break but they thought I was coming home a couple of days later than I actually did. So I showed up Friday night a lot later than expected at one in the morning! Nobody but one friend knew that I was coming home and so it was exciting to surprise everyone, especially Sarah! Her reaction was the best :)
I didn't stress much about doing a lot with friends, I mostly rested and relaxed. It was really nice to be home and not worry about a lot. I just layed low and did homework mostly, it was very much needed. Also, Sarah's Spring break was starting the week after mine. So we had come up with the idea for her to come to school with me and guess what, it worked out! I drove back to school Sunday and Sarah came with me. It was the first time I drove to Spokane myself, especially without my parents. I was a tad nervous but it was a blast. Sarah and I had a ton of fun. It took us quite awhile to make the trip. We only missed two exits so I guess that's better than it could be, haha. But it was okay because we easily found our way back to where we needed to be in not much time. We stopped a couple of times. We stopped in The Dalles, in Tri-Cities, and then stopped and ate in Spokane once we got into town. The road trip itself was a lot of fun!
Once we got to campus, we kind of just hung out for the night. Sarah stayed from Sunday night and then flew home Wednesday night. While she was here, it was a huge blessing and very unusual that I did not have hardly any homework. I was able to spend all of my free time with her. She came to my classes with me, we both managed to sleep in my twin bed, we went shopping, went out to lunch at a local pizza place called Shakey's, and we got our hair cut. We also watched several episodes of Cake Boss, hung out and talked, went to dinner with my roommate at Applebee's one night, went to frozen yogurt with friends, and also just spent time being in the dorm with people, going with whatever came our way. I think she got a pretty good idea of what my life here at Whitworth is like and I am pleased that she felt so welcomed by my friends and the students/faculty here, as I knew she would be. Having Sarah here at Whitworth with me was absolutely incredible. It was good for me in many, many ways. It was nice to have her here, and it was a nice transition back to school for me after I had had a rough week before break.
Moving to more recent matters, as I said earlier, I applied for a Jan term study abroad program in Guatemala. I was unsure about it, but once I found out about a month ago that I was on the wait list, I figured it was not the right time and I must not have been ready. Therefore I sort of stopped thinking about it. However, this last Sunday I recieved a very unexpected email from the director of the program that said I have been selected and there is a spot for me after all. I was shocked and excited. I needed to talk to the professor before I made a decision in order to get more information. I was finally able to talk with her yesterday and I have made the decision to go! This will be in January of 2013. It is an incredible opportunity and the more I think about it the more excited I get! I will travel with a professor from Whitworth as well as about twenty other students. I will be there for three weeks taking an intensive oral Spanish course. I will live with a Guatemalan host family with one other student, and attend a language school there. I will have my OWN teacher who will work with me at my speaking level for five hours a day, Monday through Friday. We will be able to see sights, have "weekend excursions", spend time in the city, work with children at a community center, and many other things. I cannot believe I have such an amazing experience ahead and I am really excited!
Summer is approaching very quickly, which means that many things will be changing next year. My roommate has become my best friend here at Whitworth, I am so incredibly thankful for her. She was hired as a Health Advocate for next year, which I am so proud of her for. However, she will be moved to another building and I have to figure out if it would be best to stay here in my dorm or move along with her. It has been a very difficult choice to think about, but I need to stay focused on the fact that regardless of what happens, God will use it. So I have been mindful and been praying about that a lot, hoping that whatever is meant to happen will be laid on my heart. After all, basically all of my biggest decisions in life have come from God providing direction to me, laying His will on my heart, and making it possible.
Overall, there have been a couple of challenges over these last couple of weeks, but good things come from them in one way or another. But many incredible things have been happening as well. God has definitely been working in my heart lately. He has mixed things up from where I thought I may be going and shown me that ultimately, I do not have control. And I am perfectly content with that. I wouldn't want my life to be directed any other way. After all, He knows best.
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