Cool for the Summer
- Jun 4, 2016
- 4 min read
It feels like yesterday when I moved into 10 x 15 room with practically everything I owned, only to fast forward eight months and my Freshman year of college is complete. I haven't quite come to terms with the fact that for the next three-ish months I'm free of chapel requirements, dining points, and fourteen-page papers. I almost don't know what to do with myself. Yes, I'll be working a little bit, but my life in the Bay Area is so much different than my life in Azusa.
Over the past few weeks, I've had time to reflect on this past school year, overwhelmed with the amount of blessing I have...
My Roommate
Ronya Khateri. A Berean Christian Alumni, just like myself. It's funny because we were both told, "Don't room with someone you know" but clearly, neither of us listened to that. These past two semesters with her definitely had its ups and down and by that, I mean up until the wee hours of the morning or one of us somehow ending up down on the floor (*cough cough RONYA!). The majority of our time together ended in either dance parties or laughing until it hurt. From binge watching O.J v.s. The People to sharing a pizza from The Den to staying up until 2am talking to each other in the reflection in the mirror on our vanity about a plethora of topics, I loved having her as my roommate. And as a bonus, she was ALWAYS down for Disneyland! Yes, we fought. Yes, we argued...A LOT. Yes, she is a beautiful soul inside and out and I love her a ton. I'm super excited to be living with her again next semester along with the beautiful Sahara Winder who is in fact one of the most awesome people I know. Ronya and I are stoked about not just being Sahara's neighbor, but her roommate because we kind of love her. A lot.
My Alpha Group Each freshman and/or transfer student is paired with 5-8 other freshman/transfers and had a weekly meeting with their Alpha leader. My group was amazing. I feel as though they were a pivotal part of me coming out of my shell a little bit and settling into the whole "college" thing. My Alpha Leader, Lorena, is one of the sweetest, caring, most genuine human beings I've ever met. She set the tone for not only what are meeting would look like, but created an atmosphere where we could all be open and as vulnerable as we wanted to be. These humans have forever impacted my APU experience.
LAC I've talked about these wonderful ladies before. But I can't express it enough how deep my love for them is. Being on LAC was so much more than planning events for Adams Hall. It was having the tough conversations with one another about our week, our workload, our personal lives, etc... It was running into our floormates in the bathroom and checking in with them on how they're doing and how we could be praying for them. It was collaborating with Smith LAC and being able to bond with them. It was sending stalker photos of one another to our group chat and then proceeding to say how beautiful they are. It was setting an example for not only our halls but Adams as a whole. I love these girls, and I can't wait to be in a D-Group with them next year.
The Tribe. I'll be honest... I don't really know what to call them. We're not basic enough to refer to one another as a "squad." It's one of those things the just sort of "fell" together by the grace of God. All I can say...It's kind of funny how God works. Really the only way I can describe these people is they're the type of friends you pray for. I haven't been friends with them for long; I only really started hanging out with them second semester. But they, in 5 short months have blessed me in a way they will never know, I will never be able to explain. They've become, in a way, like my own little family. I've had some of my hardest laughs with these individuals. They will always hold a special place in my heart.
I've only been home in the bay for a few weeks, and I already have gone through a grieving process and have had separation anxiety from my Southern California home.
I feel both saddened and at peace with this.
Sad because there are so many people who have already made a huge impact on my life that I've been living with and been within walking distance of for the past year and now I'm not going to see many of them for a while.
I feel at peace because I miss APU. If I didn't, I'd be concerned and questioning my choice in attending Azusa in the first place. I find comfort in the fact that after a year, I am still 100% confident that Azusa Pacific is where God wants me to be and has placed me specifically.
I'm SO looking forward to the fall semester- leadership and traveling opportunities, fangirling over my friends during football season and supporting one of my closest friend who will be swearing into the military, having a kitchen and being able to cook my own food (and by that I mean Sahara, will you please cook for me and I'll do the dishes?! LOVE YOU...) and so much more!
With the excitement of next semester, there is, and already has been, some amazing things happening this summer that I'm beyond stoked for! It's good to be back with my family and to see some familiar faces in the Bay that I've missed so much.
Things are good. God is good...
Remember that one time last semester when Josh, Brenna and I surprised my family for Easter?
Watch it here!
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