I can't believe I am on to reminiscing about my fourth year of college! It is amazing to think about things that happened and fun memories that made it all worthwhile but at the same time, it makes me miss the simple life of back then.
I can honestly say that I don't remember much about my fourth year of college. Well, I do recall having the worst case of seniorities ever possible. After all, I should be graduating at the end of this year but I knew that I still had one more year to go. It was driving me crazy. I was still pulling 18 hours for each semester and they were all mostly DCE or Theology classes.
I do remember my first semester rather fondly. It was Becca's last semester of school, since she would be done in December and would get to walk in May of 2006. It was the best semester ever. Erin moved into Sarah's old room and Rachel moved into Niki's old room. Becca lived across from me and we became fast friends with my next door neighbor, Rehana. It was so much fun, all of us hanging out in each other's room, watching movies, having fun in the Studtmann lobby, taking pictures. We had what we liked to call "Coffee House" out on the hallway where we would knit and talked and joke around until one or two in the morning.
This was the year I learned how to knit. Rachel taught Erin and Erin taught me. We would all sit out in the hallway, knitting (Becca would be cross-stitching) and talking about stuff. It was a wonderful time!
This was the year we were in Intramural Sand Volleyball...the Misfits. We made t-shirts and gave outselves alter egos. Erin, as the founder of the alter ego, was the Pirate known as Captain Smalls. Then I was next as the Outlaw. Soon after Becca, the Mobster, followed. Then Rachel as the Con-Artist completed the Awesome Foursome. You'd think being in college would make us older and mature but...not really.
Spring semester of fourth year of college was a crazy semester for me. This was the semester I learned to drive. Thanks to wonderful people from Bethany Lutheran Church and Donna, my old boss and a great mentor and friend, I had six lessons with an Austin family owned driving school paid in full. I was able to get my license before I turned 22.
At the end of this year, I ended up living on campus for the summer. I headed off to Cuernavaca for two weeks for my International Studies course, then took a Law and Special Education class for the month of June. I went home for the month of July and a week before I left El Paso, Becca flew down for six days to help me with the thirteen hour drive up to Austin. We left at 4 in the morning on the fourth of August. My mother had come through for me and gotten me a car.
The road trip with Becca was amazing. She did most of the driving, which made sense since I had only been driving for a couple of months or so. I learned how to control my speed on that trip...unfortunately for me, I-10 East goes 80mph all the way until we hit 290. This means that I love driving fast. I am still amazed I haven't gotten ticketed here in Tulsa since I always drive about ten miles over the speedlimit, whether on the highway or on a road. Bad habit, I know, but it's hard to break it.
We hit Austin at 5PM....rush hour. The next day, we were both so sore but we weren't yet sick of each other's company, which was amazing. Becca has turned out to be the sister that I never had. A wonderful friend and confidant. An exceptional partner in crime.
Well, this is the last of fourth year. Becca and Erin graduated in May of 2006 and I was insanely jealous 'cause I was suppose to have graduated May of 2006 and instead I had one more year to go. I wasn't looking forward to my last year since it involved me doing my Practicum fieldwork with a certain guy I knew I would not get along with since we were as different as night is from day. I was in for an amazing surprise without even knowing it.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Year Three in Austin
If my second year of college was the greatest, my third year was the worst. I can't blame it on anyone, not really, but it was definitely a year of hardship and testing, a year of strengthening and breaking.
I started the semester knowing I would no longer have any roommates...I was now a resident of Studtmann, the girls' dormitory on campus, and I did not have to have a roommate. Not only that, but Becca had been accepted into Oak Hill Seminary for a semester abroad in London. I was excited for her because I knew she would enjoy it very much but at the same time I was upset, because I was suppose to go too. Of course, as a DCE student, I found out I would screw myself over if I did go to London, so I gave up on the idea.
Even though I missed Becca, and I looked forward to her returning and taking up residence in Studtmann room 112, which was across from my room, 113, I still enjoyed living by myself, despite the community bathrooms. Oh, how I loved my room! I had all the space I needed, and I had amazing hallmates. Sarah, Niki, Deanna, Rose Mary...I think that was it. My first year there, I was able to make new friends while strengthening old friendships...mostly with my Erin, who became my Strawberry Shortcake during that Fall semester my third year of college. Even though many things happened that I wish hadn't, one thing I am glad of...and that is the deepening friendship between Shortcake and myself.
My third year, as I said, was not the greatest. Some friends and I got into a car accident outside of Navasota on our way to the Reinassance Festival in Plantersville. Our car flipped twice and landed on its left side...it was a God-given miracle that all three of us were able to walk away from that. Ever since then, Ashley and I have had an amazing bond. I love you Ashley, my rollover buddy.
This accident resulted in the deterioration of another friendship, though. I understand now that it wasn't John's fault, the way he was acting and treating me, mostly because he was in so much pain and such that he seemed to have started developing a split personality disorder. Even though it was hard for me to lose his friendship, at the same time, it was the healthiest thing to do. Being friends with John was draining me and had me in a viscious roller coaster every day.
The other horrid thing that happened during the semester that Becca was away involved another type of car accident. I accidentally ran over a friend with a golf cart. It may sound funny but it was an extremely traumatic experience for me, not just because of how I felt after hurting her, but because I was being sued...by the school, which was being sued by her. In the end, it became very clear that I wasn't going to be able to pay the settlement the settled with her anytime soon. After that, I was even less enthusiastic about learning to drive. This experience taught me what it felt like when you hurt another human being. I felt less than human...in all reality, I felt like an animal. I wouldn't have been able to survive this experience if it hadn't been for Erin's support. She was absolutely amazing and steadfastly loyal and trustworthy. Thank you so much, Shortcake. You will always have a place in my heart.
Spring semester brought my fourth eighteen hour semester since I started college...but it also brought my Becca back from London...but she was no longer my Becca. You see, even though I was so excited for her and her experiences, I never took into account that her semester abroad would change her as much as the semester from hell changed me. She came back with a more counscious view of herself. She was no longer timid about what to do. The year before, we were joined at the hip. Everywhere I went, Becca went. Now, though, this new Becca would only go if she wanted to go. She would only do things if she wanted to do them. She made it very clear that she didn't appreciate me volunteering her for stuff...which was a shock, since I did it all the time the year before. She was more vocal in disagreeing with me, more opiniated and no longer afraid to share said opinions. We argued more this spring semester than we did the entire year before.
It was strange for me. I didn't know what to do. Things she did bugged the crap out of me and they weren't even that big of a deal...except to me. Irrational, I know, but one of those major things was that she closed her door...wouldn't of bugged me so much except that I always had my door open. I was a open door policy type of girl. And I couldn't stand seeing Becca's closed door. This is where the shower curtain came in. That's right, we hung a shower curtain in the middle of the hallway so that I didn't have to see her closed door.
By the end of the semester, I was seriously scared that I was losing my best friend, my kindred spirit, my soul sister. One day, it all finally came out. I was jealous about the fact that she got to go to London...when she wasn't even sure she wanted to go in the first place! I didn't think it was fair that God had used me that way, in motivating Becca to do something I wanted to do, but not getting the chance to do it with her. I mean, I was glad she got to go, but it rubbed me the wrong way that she spent the entire semester with "London this and London that." I loved hearing the stories at first...until I started hearing the wistfulness behind it. She wanted to go back to London, she still does, but to me, London is a place where she's been and I haven't. To me, it seemed that she wanted to go back to London and leave me behind...again.
We worked it out, though, once it all came out. Not just from my side, but hers as well. And now, we are tighter than tight. And if she goes back to London, that's all right. 'Cause I will do everything possible to visit her so that London can no longer be that place without Luz. Someday, Becca and I hope to share a flat and live in London...God willing, of course. I realize now that this was something that had to happen, for both our sakes. Becca, I am glad that you went to London, even though you went without me, because those experiences has shaped you into the person that I love.
Well, there's my third year...obviously, not in a nutshell. Being that it was the year from hell, obviously it would be the year with the strongest memories. Memories that remind me of the struggles I've gone through...and the support of God and my friends.
I started the semester knowing I would no longer have any roommates...I was now a resident of Studtmann, the girls' dormitory on campus, and I did not have to have a roommate. Not only that, but Becca had been accepted into Oak Hill Seminary for a semester abroad in London. I was excited for her because I knew she would enjoy it very much but at the same time I was upset, because I was suppose to go too. Of course, as a DCE student, I found out I would screw myself over if I did go to London, so I gave up on the idea.
Even though I missed Becca, and I looked forward to her returning and taking up residence in Studtmann room 112, which was across from my room, 113, I still enjoyed living by myself, despite the community bathrooms. Oh, how I loved my room! I had all the space I needed, and I had amazing hallmates. Sarah, Niki, Deanna, Rose Mary...I think that was it. My first year there, I was able to make new friends while strengthening old friendships...mostly with my Erin, who became my Strawberry Shortcake during that Fall semester my third year of college. Even though many things happened that I wish hadn't, one thing I am glad of...and that is the deepening friendship between Shortcake and myself.
My third year, as I said, was not the greatest. Some friends and I got into a car accident outside of Navasota on our way to the Reinassance Festival in Plantersville. Our car flipped twice and landed on its left side...it was a God-given miracle that all three of us were able to walk away from that. Ever since then, Ashley and I have had an amazing bond. I love you Ashley, my rollover buddy.
This accident resulted in the deterioration of another friendship, though. I understand now that it wasn't John's fault, the way he was acting and treating me, mostly because he was in so much pain and such that he seemed to have started developing a split personality disorder. Even though it was hard for me to lose his friendship, at the same time, it was the healthiest thing to do. Being friends with John was draining me and had me in a viscious roller coaster every day.
The other horrid thing that happened during the semester that Becca was away involved another type of car accident. I accidentally ran over a friend with a golf cart. It may sound funny but it was an extremely traumatic experience for me, not just because of how I felt after hurting her, but because I was being sued...by the school, which was being sued by her. In the end, it became very clear that I wasn't going to be able to pay the settlement the settled with her anytime soon. After that, I was even less enthusiastic about learning to drive. This experience taught me what it felt like when you hurt another human being. I felt less than human...in all reality, I felt like an animal. I wouldn't have been able to survive this experience if it hadn't been for Erin's support. She was absolutely amazing and steadfastly loyal and trustworthy. Thank you so much, Shortcake. You will always have a place in my heart.
Spring semester brought my fourth eighteen hour semester since I started college...but it also brought my Becca back from London...but she was no longer my Becca. You see, even though I was so excited for her and her experiences, I never took into account that her semester abroad would change her as much as the semester from hell changed me. She came back with a more counscious view of herself. She was no longer timid about what to do. The year before, we were joined at the hip. Everywhere I went, Becca went. Now, though, this new Becca would only go if she wanted to go. She would only do things if she wanted to do them. She made it very clear that she didn't appreciate me volunteering her for stuff...which was a shock, since I did it all the time the year before. She was more vocal in disagreeing with me, more opiniated and no longer afraid to share said opinions. We argued more this spring semester than we did the entire year before.
It was strange for me. I didn't know what to do. Things she did bugged the crap out of me and they weren't even that big of a deal...except to me. Irrational, I know, but one of those major things was that she closed her door...wouldn't of bugged me so much except that I always had my door open. I was a open door policy type of girl. And I couldn't stand seeing Becca's closed door. This is where the shower curtain came in. That's right, we hung a shower curtain in the middle of the hallway so that I didn't have to see her closed door.
By the end of the semester, I was seriously scared that I was losing my best friend, my kindred spirit, my soul sister. One day, it all finally came out. I was jealous about the fact that she got to go to London...when she wasn't even sure she wanted to go in the first place! I didn't think it was fair that God had used me that way, in motivating Becca to do something I wanted to do, but not getting the chance to do it with her. I mean, I was glad she got to go, but it rubbed me the wrong way that she spent the entire semester with "London this and London that." I loved hearing the stories at first...until I started hearing the wistfulness behind it. She wanted to go back to London, she still does, but to me, London is a place where she's been and I haven't. To me, it seemed that she wanted to go back to London and leave me behind...again.
We worked it out, though, once it all came out. Not just from my side, but hers as well. And now, we are tighter than tight. And if she goes back to London, that's all right. 'Cause I will do everything possible to visit her so that London can no longer be that place without Luz. Someday, Becca and I hope to share a flat and live in London...God willing, of course. I realize now that this was something that had to happen, for both our sakes. Becca, I am glad that you went to London, even though you went without me, because those experiences has shaped you into the person that I love.
Well, there's my third year...obviously, not in a nutshell. Being that it was the year from hell, obviously it would be the year with the strongest memories. Memories that remind me of the struggles I've gone through...and the support of God and my friends.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Year Two in Austin
My second year of college was crazy fun, insanely intense, and the best ever.
I pulled 18 hours both semesters and worked as an Information Specialist (fancy title for secretary) for one of the greatest bosses ever at Concordia.
I had the best roommates ever and had immediately clicked with one of them, who is my best friend and twin sister. We've been tight for four years now...from August 2003 to present...going on five years this coming August 2008.
This was the year I shared my feelings for my guy best friend with him and discovered a friendship that has lasted for five years and is still going strong. Said guy friend is now married and has been blessed with his first baby today. His wife is one of my favorite people and a great friend. Both have been an amazing blessing and I am so excited at their new addition to their family...this baby boy is one lucky ducky!
This is also the year that I lost my grandfather, the one strong father figure in my life. It was a hard time for me because I didn't have the opportunity to go home and be with my family during this time. Instead, I discovered the amazing support of so many on campus. This was a time when Concordia became my home, my family, a place that will always be in my heart. I still remember all the people that helped me out during this time, that made so many things easier, one of them being Donna, my boss, who contacted the campus pastor to let him know what was going on.
Thank you so much for that Donna. You are an amazing woman and one of my favorite mentors and friends. I miss hanging out with you. Someday, I just may take a trip to North Carolina just so we can go out to lunch like we used to.
This year was also my last year in Harms, the co-ed dorm. This was the year when I realized that being used by God will not always feel great...sometimes it feels lousy...sort of like a used kleenex that has served its purpose and has been tossed aside. I don't regret it though, because I know that God had His reasons for using my enthusiasm and such to push Becca into going to London. God had His reasons, which some are very clear and others aren't.
This was my first year as a DCE major and it was strange for me because everyone else already knew each other from previous classes and such. Most of the time, I felt left out but it didn't bug me that much because I had close friends of my own...my Becca and my Erin. It was great getting to hang out with them and do fun stuff, such as two hour photo shoots in Erin's room or putting together our Lord of the Rings collage wall....Still remember how much paper and ink we wasted on that one.
This was definitely a fun year. The year of flushable J-ELLO, of weekly snacks, of pictures and videos. The year room 411 needed the Navy because we were drowning...the waterfall over the microwave...the river by C-D bathroom...the year of the broken mayonnaise bottle that I could still smell three weeks later even though Becca cleaned it up. This was the year of the women of the tomb, the year that I let all my stress out during the second semester by being absolutely silly during rehearsals. "When you're dead you're dead!"
This was the year that got a scrapbook...the only scrapbook from all five years of college. This was the best year of all my five years in college. Hope y'all enjoyed my reminiscing.
I pulled 18 hours both semesters and worked as an Information Specialist (fancy title for secretary) for one of the greatest bosses ever at Concordia.
I had the best roommates ever and had immediately clicked with one of them, who is my best friend and twin sister. We've been tight for four years now...from August 2003 to present...going on five years this coming August 2008.
This was the year I shared my feelings for my guy best friend with him and discovered a friendship that has lasted for five years and is still going strong. Said guy friend is now married and has been blessed with his first baby today. His wife is one of my favorite people and a great friend. Both have been an amazing blessing and I am so excited at their new addition to their family...this baby boy is one lucky ducky!
This is also the year that I lost my grandfather, the one strong father figure in my life. It was a hard time for me because I didn't have the opportunity to go home and be with my family during this time. Instead, I discovered the amazing support of so many on campus. This was a time when Concordia became my home, my family, a place that will always be in my heart. I still remember all the people that helped me out during this time, that made so many things easier, one of them being Donna, my boss, who contacted the campus pastor to let him know what was going on.
Thank you so much for that Donna. You are an amazing woman and one of my favorite mentors and friends. I miss hanging out with you. Someday, I just may take a trip to North Carolina just so we can go out to lunch like we used to.
This year was also my last year in Harms, the co-ed dorm. This was the year when I realized that being used by God will not always feel great...sometimes it feels lousy...sort of like a used kleenex that has served its purpose and has been tossed aside. I don't regret it though, because I know that God had His reasons for using my enthusiasm and such to push Becca into going to London. God had His reasons, which some are very clear and others aren't.
This was my first year as a DCE major and it was strange for me because everyone else already knew each other from previous classes and such. Most of the time, I felt left out but it didn't bug me that much because I had close friends of my own...my Becca and my Erin. It was great getting to hang out with them and do fun stuff, such as two hour photo shoots in Erin's room or putting together our Lord of the Rings collage wall....Still remember how much paper and ink we wasted on that one.
This was definitely a fun year. The year of flushable J-ELLO, of weekly snacks, of pictures and videos. The year room 411 needed the Navy because we were drowning...the waterfall over the microwave...the river by C-D bathroom...the year of the broken mayonnaise bottle that I could still smell three weeks later even though Becca cleaned it up. This was the year of the women of the tomb, the year that I let all my stress out during the second semester by being absolutely silly during rehearsals. "When you're dead you're dead!"
This was the year that got a scrapbook...the only scrapbook from all five years of college. This was the best year of all my five years in college. Hope y'all enjoyed my reminiscing.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Year One in Austin
I'm not sure if I am having a mid-life crisis early on or what, but lately, I've started thinking about "back in the days."
I always wanted to go to college but as I got older and closer to graduating high school and getting the heck out of my parents' house (and El Paso), the less possible my dream of college seemed to be. God had other plans though and before you knew it, I was done with my first summer after high school and on the road to Austin, Texas to attend Concordia University as a English major with a Criminal Justice minor. I don't think God really cared what my major was at the time, He just wanted to get me to Concordia, which He did.
The most significant moments of my first year at Concordia can be count in one or possibly two hands. The first one was stupid yet significant...first weekend before school started, my roommates and I headed off to sixth street and I got myself a tattoo...always wanted one but I knew it was going to be hell telling my mother about it. I did this in August of 2002...I told my mother November of 2002 and she finally saw it for the first time during my Christmas break at home. This event is significant because, incidentally, it reminds me that I am not perfect and it keeps me humble. I am human and I know I tend to get on my high horse, so to speak, so I now have something that keeps me from getting on said high horse. I am not perfect...I am loved though.
Second significant event would be in the Spring of 2003. This was the moment when I truly felt convicted of my sinful nature. I realized right then and there that I was lost and hopeless and that I did not deserve what God offered me. I realized I had spent most of my life as a Christian finding ways to earn the love and salvation that God offers freely. I remember that night as one of the worst nights of my life followed by one of the most amazing days ever when I asked God how I could earn His love, struggling under the burden of having to do so, and heard His voice, letting me know that there was no need for me to earn His love for His Son has done that for me. Ever since then, grace has taken on a new meaning and my relationship with Christ moved from shallow to personal.
Third significant moment was about a month after I started college. I was taking Old Testament with Professor Puffe and after a month of his intense and insanely interesting lessons, I finally stopped denying my one spiritual gift (being teaching and interpreting Scripture) and changed my minor from Criminal Justice to Theology. This is one decision I never regreted and never changed...unlike my major, which went from English to Secondary Lutheran Education. By the end of my first year of college, I knew I didn't want to teach and finally opened my mind up to contemplate the possibility of God calling me into the DCE ministry.
Here I am now, in the DCE world, out of college and praying for my first call. Interesting how it seems like my first year of college just ended yet at the same time, it feels like it was a lifetime ago.
I always wanted to go to college but as I got older and closer to graduating high school and getting the heck out of my parents' house (and El Paso), the less possible my dream of college seemed to be. God had other plans though and before you knew it, I was done with my first summer after high school and on the road to Austin, Texas to attend Concordia University as a English major with a Criminal Justice minor. I don't think God really cared what my major was at the time, He just wanted to get me to Concordia, which He did.
The most significant moments of my first year at Concordia can be count in one or possibly two hands. The first one was stupid yet significant...first weekend before school started, my roommates and I headed off to sixth street and I got myself a tattoo...always wanted one but I knew it was going to be hell telling my mother about it. I did this in August of 2002...I told my mother November of 2002 and she finally saw it for the first time during my Christmas break at home. This event is significant because, incidentally, it reminds me that I am not perfect and it keeps me humble. I am human and I know I tend to get on my high horse, so to speak, so I now have something that keeps me from getting on said high horse. I am not perfect...I am loved though.
Second significant event would be in the Spring of 2003. This was the moment when I truly felt convicted of my sinful nature. I realized right then and there that I was lost and hopeless and that I did not deserve what God offered me. I realized I had spent most of my life as a Christian finding ways to earn the love and salvation that God offers freely. I remember that night as one of the worst nights of my life followed by one of the most amazing days ever when I asked God how I could earn His love, struggling under the burden of having to do so, and heard His voice, letting me know that there was no need for me to earn His love for His Son has done that for me. Ever since then, grace has taken on a new meaning and my relationship with Christ moved from shallow to personal.
Third significant moment was about a month after I started college. I was taking Old Testament with Professor Puffe and after a month of his intense and insanely interesting lessons, I finally stopped denying my one spiritual gift (being teaching and interpreting Scripture) and changed my minor from Criminal Justice to Theology. This is one decision I never regreted and never changed...unlike my major, which went from English to Secondary Lutheran Education. By the end of my first year of college, I knew I didn't want to teach and finally opened my mind up to contemplate the possibility of God calling me into the DCE ministry.
Here I am now, in the DCE world, out of college and praying for my first call. Interesting how it seems like my first year of college just ended yet at the same time, it feels like it was a lifetime ago.
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