Lessons Learned
"I guess I'm a senior now."
That was my answer when someone asked me the other day at a beach retreat I went on in Garden City what grade I was in and it felt weird to say. Being the first time I had verbalized that I only have one more year in my undergraduate career was both exciting and slightly terrifying. Junior year was probably my toughest yet in terms of classes and workload, but it has also been one where I have grown so much as a person and become more of the person I was created to be.
When I got to Appalachian in the Fall of 2010, my intention was to be a Mathematics Secondary Education major with hopes of eventually teaching high school calculus. Since then a lot has changed and after checking out social work and deciding that just wasn't the right fit for me, I finally settled on exercise science as my new major. I can honestly say that I absolutely love my major and can't wait to find a career where I can use my passion for fitness and wellness to inspire others to commit to their own health and well-being.
I feel like the end to another school year brings me to a place of reflection and considering the things I have learned. The people in my life are a huge blessing; they have helped me become who I am and they inspire me to dream about the person I am still becoming. As I reflect I can't help but be overwhelmed with gratitude for all the ways God has not only met my needs but also exceeded my expectations. Here are a few things I have learned or been reminded of over the past year...
Balance is key - whether it is school, work, friends, family, or any other place I invest my time, it is important for me to find a balance. After all there is a time and season for everything, so I just need to remember to be fully present where I am and invest and engage in life to the full so I don't miss out on present opportunities because I was too busy contemplating future possibilities. With all the extracurricular activities I try to be involved with, I have found that it is better for me to do a lot of different things with a variety of people so that no one place or activity becomes my identity. There are a lot of inherently good activities that can become idols if I allow them to have too much dominion over who I am and how I spend my time. No matter where I am or what I am doing, nothing defines my identity except for the Lord - instead I like to think that it enhances it and helps me to come more fully alive.
Embrace your awkward - I think we are all a little bit quirky and unique, but hey, that is what makes life so exciting. After many years of being painfully self-conscious I am finally able to be comfortable in my own skin. I know I can be a little awkward, somewhat quiet, and more introverted, but that is completely okay. Instead of worrying so much about how people might embrace my uniqueness, I recognize that the people that love me don't care and will be there for me no matter what. Wouldn't life be so much easier if we could all just embrace all the things that make us different and truly be proud of them.
There's always time for one more cup of coffee - so this one isn't entirely literal, but I do love a nice, strong cup of black coffee. It really embodies the idea that it is okay to loosen my death-grip on my planner and my daily to-do list to just relax and rest in the Lord. There is something so beautiful to me about sharing life together and just unwinding with a friend as you catch up on life. It allows me to slow the pace of my day and to truly just be without having to actively do anything. I am reminded of the importance of fellowship and community and sharing the journey of life with the people I love the most - and what better way to enjoy their company than over a coffee date.
Everyone is worth the fight - some may call it naive or overly optimistic, but I strive to believe that every person is inherently worth fighting for and being loved. All of us are creations of the same God and we are all made in His image. Even though that manifests itself in entirely different ways, it doesn't make any one of them more or less beautiful. About a year ago I went through a tough season of life and I really saw my parents fight for me in a very real way. I have never doubted that my parents love me and would do anything for me, but seeing my parents rally behind me and be strong in the places where I was feeling weak has been one of the most meaningful experiences for me. They reminded me that even on the days when you are feeling down on yourself or things just aren't going your way, you are still a beloved son or daughter of Christ and worth the ultimate fight. Nothing you can say or do can make God love you any more or less and that is such a precious truth. Remembering your identity as a child of God and also seeing that every other person in creation is a child of God helps your faith to be made real and your love to become active.
Finding a balance between the things I feel like I should do on a day-to-day basis and the things I truly need to do to maintain my mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being can be a little tricky at times...I think the same can be said for all of us. But when I stop to look around me and open my eyes to the Lord's blessings and faithfulness, I am overwhelmed by how good He truly is and how deep His love is for us. And when I am seeking to understand His love better, I am freed to love the people around me well and honor our shared identity in the Body of Christ. God's unconditional love and grace poured out in such abundance is my reminder that because of who we were created by and in the image of, every creation under Heaven is worth fighting for, including me.
That was my answer when someone asked me the other day at a beach retreat I went on in Garden City what grade I was in and it felt weird to say. Being the first time I had verbalized that I only have one more year in my undergraduate career was both exciting and slightly terrifying. Junior year was probably my toughest yet in terms of classes and workload, but it has also been one where I have grown so much as a person and become more of the person I was created to be.
Freshman Year
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V
Junior Year
When I got to Appalachian in the Fall of 2010, my intention was to be a Mathematics Secondary Education major with hopes of eventually teaching high school calculus. Since then a lot has changed and after checking out social work and deciding that just wasn't the right fit for me, I finally settled on exercise science as my new major. I can honestly say that I absolutely love my major and can't wait to find a career where I can use my passion for fitness and wellness to inspire others to commit to their own health and well-being.
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| from our closing worship at Wesley Foundation's beach retreat |
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| took a day off from school work for a spontaneous snowy hike at Greyson Highlands State Park |
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| cross country camp...no other explanation |
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| truth. coffee = delicious |
Everyone is worth the fight - some may call it naive or overly optimistic, but I strive to believe that every person is inherently worth fighting for and being loved. All of us are creations of the same God and we are all made in His image. Even though that manifests itself in entirely different ways, it doesn't make any one of them more or less beautiful. About a year ago I went through a tough season of life and I really saw my parents fight for me in a very real way. I have never doubted that my parents love me and would do anything for me, but seeing my parents rally behind me and be strong in the places where I was feeling weak has been one of the most meaningful experiences for me. They reminded me that even on the days when you are feeling down on yourself or things just aren't going your way, you are still a beloved son or daughter of Christ and worth the ultimate fight. Nothing you can say or do can make God love you any more or less and that is such a precious truth. Remembering your identity as a child of God and also seeing that every other person in creation is a child of God helps your faith to be made real and your love to become active.
Finding a balance between the things I feel like I should do on a day-to-day basis and the things I truly need to do to maintain my mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being can be a little tricky at times...I think the same can be said for all of us. But when I stop to look around me and open my eyes to the Lord's blessings and faithfulness, I am overwhelmed by how good He truly is and how deep His love is for us. And when I am seeking to understand His love better, I am freed to love the people around me well and honor our shared identity in the Body of Christ. God's unconditional love and grace poured out in such abundance is my reminder that because of who we were created by and in the image of, every creation under Heaven is worth fighting for, including me.
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