Summer and Reflection

Well, friends, I made it. I have survived my freshman year of college. That is a slightly unnerving thing. When I look back over the past year, I find it incredibly difficult to believe that I graduated from high school, and have completed 25% of my undergrad. I feel like graduation was just the other day. Time seriously does speed up the older you get, and it really freaks me out. I know this is all mushy and nostalgic, but mostly, it's weird. Don't get me wrong, it's a fabulous weird, but weird none-the-less. All of a sudden everything is much more grown-up-y, and there is so much more responsibility.

Here is a list of things I learned this year at college:

1. You are going to have professors you like and professors you don't like. And I'm just going to leave it at that.
2. Some classes are going to be good, and others are going to teach you nothing but patience and self-control. I especially learned this this past quarter. There were moments when I literally wanted to throw things because certain material was complete and utter hogwash. God held my hand through a lot of frustration in the past 11 weeks.
3. Pay attention when setting your schedule. Yes. Going to school twice a week and getting five GE's knocked out in one quarter is superb. But after having scheduled them so tight that making it from one class to the next is a hassle, I've learned to pay attention to where my classes are when I register.
4. Don't lose your syllabi. Personally, I didn't have this problem as I pride myself on my organizational skills, so  I always knew where they were. But if I did lose one (or more), I would have been in VERY bad shape.
5. Talk to people. While this kinda seems like a no-brainer, it's not something that I did too much. I almost missed out on a couple of great friendships because it was halfway through a quarter before I realized that we had nearly EVERYTHING in common. Friendships aren't going to happen overnight, and they take effort. It's up to you to seek them out and cultivate them.It is also helpful to know at least one person in all your classes so if you miss a day, you can get notes/email them assignments to turn in for you.
6. Sleep is good. I'm such an old lady and I love my sleep. It is actually true that you perform better (ie-learn more, test better) when you aren't fighting to stay awake during your lecture on Death of a Salesman.
7. Make your professor know who you are. Speak up in class. Ask questions. Email them. They'll love you (or at the very least, appreciate you) for it. And when you're on your professor's good side, your academic life is a much happier world.

Basically, college takes a bit of getting used to, but it is definitely manageable. And like every other year that I've been a student, I am more than a tad excited to have three glorious months of no class to encroach on my reading time. =)

Matthew 5:6-10 NIV
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Summer and Tea Parties

It is getting to be the end of the school year. YAY!!!!! This means last minute paper writings/finishings/editings, prepping for finals, seeking out opportunities for extra credit, and trying to hold onto my sanity. The past few weeks have been slightly eventful and more than a little frustrating. I have shed my fair share of angry tears, and taken off more time from work than I would like in order to complete things. I have been in a constant state of negativity, but my Father has preserved me and given me strength to make it through the most trying of days. Now it is down to finals week. Two days, two extra credit assignments, and four finals. That is all that stands between me and a summer of freedom.

To celebrate my upcoming free time, I'm in the processes of obtaining a Pinterest account. I really don't know a whole bunch about it, but I've heard nothing but wonderful things about it, so I'm quite excited. =)

On a different note, I hosted a tea party yesterday for the junior high girls at my church. We had an overabundance of food (I'm pretty sure the two of us that planned it were overcompensating for a dismal tea party we went to last summer...), seven types of teas, and six adorable girls. It was probably the greatest tea party ever. We totally played Just Dance 3 and hung my mom's good silver spoons from our noses. One of the girls accidentally stuck her face into a bowl of soup in one of her fits of giggles. Despite our attempts to make it semi-fancy, it was...not quite there. But that doesn't even matter because each of the girls had a blast, and that is what we were going for.

Here's to a happy summer!!!

Ephesians 3:14-19 NIV
For this reason I kneel before the Father from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth drives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power though his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.