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.
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