Thank you, Alpha Program
- Dec 9, 2016
- 4 min read
This past semester I have had the blessing of serving through the OAT (Orientation & Transitions) office. I had the privilege of being an Alpha Leader, which essentially is a mentor for new students their first semester of college. Despite insecurities of feeling inadequate for the position, I had an incredible support system. Just in the past 5 months, I have met some of the most influential people in my life who have become like family to me.
My Alpha Coordinator (AC) Group
I've mentioned in a previous blog that these people mean so much to me. They are the ones I went to when I was having a bad day or week and I could constantly count on them to give me Godly advice and/or life my spirits. They are the ones who forced me out of my comfort zone. They are the ones who love on me and embrace me for the hot mess I am despite the fact that I'm "not a physical tough person They are the ones who make me laugh so hard I cry. They are the ones who push me to pursue my hallelujah, and I will forever be grateful for them.
Alyssa, thank you for your kind heart and for leading with me in the cuts of LA, you inspire me.
Ava, thank you for your desire to care so deeply for me and others around you... and for making bomb burritos at Mexicali, you inspire me.
Grant, thank you for the wise man of God that you are and for your contagious laugh despite tough times, you inspire me.
Jeanette, thank you for your willingness to not only have intentional God conversations with me, but to jam out hardcore to Disney karaoke, you inspire me.
Jonathan, thank you for the example you set as a Godly man and leader and for being the best prayer partner ever, you inspire me.
Lauren, thank you for your humility and selflessness in all circumstances, you inspire me.
Mattaniah, thank you for your uniqueness and ability to make us smile daily, you inspire me.
Bekah, you're a mess. But thank you for your heart for Jesus that is inspiring to me and your bird-like mannerisms, you inspire me.
Ryan, thank you for asking me the "tough questions" even though I hated it sometimes and for being dad AF, you inspire me.
Shelby, thank you for your hunger for knowledge and your attention span of a goldfish, you inspire me.
Sophia, thank you for your constant encouragement and for sharing a bed with me on Bridges.
And Christine, because of your leadership within our group, you have made each and every one of us better and more confident leaders. Thank you for pushing us to be Kingdom minded and for being such a savage, you inspire me.
Thank you guys, I love you more than I'll ever be able to express through words.
My Alpha Group
I never expected to love and care for 8 individuals so quickly. A month before school started I had been anticipating what MY Alpha group would be like. Through training and meetings and seminars, I began doubting my own abilities to mentor my freshman and be their first impression of APU.
The night we were setting up to meet and greet our Alphies, there was a mix up with the numbers as to who was assigned what Alpha group. I went to the higher ups and explained that the number I had originally been assigned had also been assigned so someone else.
"That means that there's an empty sign laying down somewhere?"
"Yes."
"Did you see one?"
"Yes I did."
"Where? *walks over to sign on the ground* How do you feel about being 54?"
I'll be honest, my first reaction was to laugh because I thought he was kidding. When I realized he was being serious I realized one thing, This is not MY Alpha group.
"Okay God...54..."
Without getting overly emotional, let me just say that the step of blind faith to pick up an unoccupied sign off the ground of West Campus was the best decision I've ever made. As one of my Alphies would say, "God came in clutch." In other words, God knew exactly what He was doing when He gave me 8 of the greatest blessings in my life.
I cannot imagine my semester without these guys. Not only did they trust me enough to open up to me, but they allowed me to share part of my story with them and for that, I am forever grateful. Not only did I get the privilege tho meet with them as a group weekly, but one-on-ones were a thing, and they mean the world to me. Grabbing coffee or a meal, running errands, going to chapel together, having much-needed dance parties, going to football games together- spending time with my Alphies fills my love tank. *barf* I know... sorry
So Alexis, Christian, Genesis G., Genesis M., Jordan, Kalin, Maddie, and Whitney... Just because "alpha" ends this semester does not me I'm done with you. I have every intention of continuing to keep up with you guys and caring for y'all so deeply. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to love on you guys. You guys make me a proud Mama Jess. I love you guys so much.
So to the Alpha Program...
thank you for the forced friendships that turned into chosen family.
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