The ZU: Round Two

Wow wow wow... okay, what the heck?! Wasn't it just yesterday when I was walking through my front door to find my puppy Xavi running laps in the living room because "mama was home!" or reuniting with my Bay Area family? And now... I'm going on my second year of college. There's so much to process and take in, but bottom line- I'm beyond excited for this coming year!

APU has become my second home. It's a weird feeling to have your heart in two places, but I've learned/chosen to be fully immersed and present in my current state of being because I know that this is where I'm supposed to be.

This year will look a little different than my Freshman year for a few reasons-

I'm not living in a dorm #PTL. Don't get me wrong, I fully embrace everything that comes with dorm life, especially being in Adams, but... I'm not going to miss it. I will still be living "on-campus" with my neighbor from last year (who's awesome!), but rather than in a dorm room, we will be in a really, really nice apartment.

I have to "adult" now. Living in an apartment just beyond East Campus keeps me separate enough from literally living on campus, but far enough to where I had to buy a microwave the other day... and that was REALLY weird.

Lastly...and probably the most important one for me, Alpha. This semester I will be what Azusa Pacific calls an "Alpha Leader" which essentially is a leadership role through the OAT (The Office of Orientation and Transitions). I will be serving a group of 8-15 new students through their first semester of college at APU and I couldn't be more excited.

Because of this position, the past two and a half weeks I've been at APU training and preparing for orientation this coming weekend. Sitting through seminars, lectures, and briefs, each training day just makes me more and more excited to meet my Alphies August 26! I'm just beyond excited to show them that Azusa Pacific is not just a "college experience" but it's a God experience.

The past couple weeks have been exhausting, to say the least. Through transitioning back into college life and jumping into a leadership role where I don't always feel equipped or qualified, there's a sparkle of encouragement I have to hold on to... well, 12 sparkles to be exact.

My AC (Alpha Coordinator) group, which is basically a group of Alpha leaders in an Alpha group. We (mostly) all met once last semester, but our AC leader was studying abroad in South Africa, so wasn't there for the initial greeting which was... uhh definitely something we all look back at now and laugh about because it was awkward. Really awkward. Fast forward a few months and we're all sitting in Trinity Lounge reintroducing ourselves and again, super awkward. BUT all it takes is one inside joke and a missions trip to bring a group closer than they'd ever thought they'd be or even wanted to be.

What I love most about these people is the fact that we can laugh SO hard to the point where we're literally crying and on the flip side, have such intentional, genuine conversation about some really hard topics. The delicate balance between the two is necessary, humbling, and definitely not taken for granted.

Just a quick introduction to my people:

Christine- AKA Mama Murph. Our AC leader. So Godly, witty, and wonderful. Alyssa- loving, talented, and down to earth. Avanthi- The most loving person I have ever met. Grant- Incredibly intelligent, yet so humble. Jeanette- Hilarious, very authentic. Jonathan- Heart of gold, wise beyond his years. Lauren- Compassionate and caring. Mattaniah- Graceful and reliable. Bekah- Insane and incredibly loyal. Ryan- Intentional and respectable. Shelby- Thoughtful and exquisite. Sophia- Elegant and admirable.

The way these people love on me so deliberately and willfully has in two short weeks given me a new perspective on how God loves and cares for me. It's weird because it feels like just a few days ago, these goons were strangers and now I feel like I have 9 new sisters and 3 new brothers.

I can't fully express how I feel toward these people, mainly because I haven't fully comprehended and processed how incredible they are. I'm just in a state of being and feeling completely humbled by who they are and how they love not only me, but God. They're SO faithful. I'm blessed that they keep me in formation.

This year will be different, but I'm looking forward to it! Beyond meeting my new friends this weekend, continuing to build relationships and invest in the incredible people at APU, going to football games and fangirling over my friends, having coffee with my professors, growing closer to God and falling in love with Him over and over again daily.

Here's to year two. Welcome back to the ZU.