...and the opening of another! What an eventful month I've had. Let me just sum up by saying that I have had many life changes, which will also continue over the next few months. So allow me to chronicle some of them for you.
First off, I have completed my education at Biola University. YAY!! I graduated on a nicely overcast day (we were outside, so it was better than direct sun for several hours). I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminal Justice. I also minored in Biblical/Theological studies.
(This is happy me with my diploma in front of the Jesus Mural)
(I love this man. He's been one of my biggest supporters!)
What are my emotions as I reach this milestone in my life? Well I have a lot of conflicting emotions, actually. I am so incredibly happy and excited and relieved to be done. and when I say done, i mean DONE. there is no grad school or further education in my immediate or even distant future. The job I want does not require it, and I am not an aspiring academic. You know how some people just love sitting in classrooms and absorbing information? Yeah, definitely not one of those people. So there were a lot of lasts for me. Last research paper. Last final. Last talk after class with my professor. Last scantron. Last meal in the caf. Last night in a dorm.
This leads me to my next emotion. I have a deep sense of sadness that comes from the inner depths of my being. I cannot describe it differently than that. I was ready to be done. but there is so much that college meant and was for me that now needs a place to settle elsewhere. Does that make any sense? I won't have my friends as close. I will fiercely miss my Bible classes and my professors who i built relationships with. I will miss the belonging, the community, the music, the events, the traditions.
who am i now?
That is what this next season is for figuring out. God is working with me on that one. He is holding my core identity in Him...and letting the details shift and get reshaped. I struggle with feeling lost sometimes and wondering how the past 22 years have prepared me for the future.
Wow, let me interrupt this post. I just got a facebook message from a long-distance friend who said she was prompted to pray for me and then God told her to tell me about it! Little did she know that I was writing this blog, and reliving all these emotions. I will admit the tears began to flow as I realized that God knew what I needed right now and used an unlikely person to do it.
anyway. I'm going to move on from that before I become like a leaky faucet over here.
To celebrate this accomplishment in my life, my mother, cousin and I took a delightful trip to one of my favorite countries.
(VIVA MEXICO!!!)
We went to a place called Playa Del Carmen which is by the ocean and is by a lot of Mayan ruins.
There were underground cenotes (caves) with fresh water that flowed into the ocean. There were sea turtles (which we swam alongside of), and lots of brightly colored fish. There were shrimp tacos, white sand, ocean like bath-water, palapas, and LOTS of speaking spanish =)
(this was the beach outside of our hotel)
(me and the mumzy)
(Me and my cousin, Bethany)
The whole trip was definitely what I needed to relax after the last weeks of finals, packing up, moving home, graduation and family events. Now I'm back home and I am settling into life as I have never known it before. How to live back at my parents house. How to navigate time management with no school. How to navigate positive relationship with my little brother. All of these things are still being fine-tuned. Prayers are always appreciated!
The inevitable "whats next" question is stirring in your minds, I'm sure. But you'll just have to ask me in person. But for a hint, it includes quitting my job and finding a new one. So lots more changes coming up! Whew.
"Hold on loosely, but don't let go. If you hold to tightly you're gonna lose control."
(song quote that helps me with change)
First off, I have completed my education at Biola University. YAY!! I graduated on a nicely overcast day (we were outside, so it was better than direct sun for several hours). I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminal Justice. I also minored in Biblical/Theological studies.
(This is happy me with my diploma in front of the Jesus Mural)
(I love this man. He's been one of my biggest supporters!)
What are my emotions as I reach this milestone in my life? Well I have a lot of conflicting emotions, actually. I am so incredibly happy and excited and relieved to be done. and when I say done, i mean DONE. there is no grad school or further education in my immediate or even distant future. The job I want does not require it, and I am not an aspiring academic. You know how some people just love sitting in classrooms and absorbing information? Yeah, definitely not one of those people. So there were a lot of lasts for me. Last research paper. Last final. Last talk after class with my professor. Last scantron. Last meal in the caf. Last night in a dorm.
This leads me to my next emotion. I have a deep sense of sadness that comes from the inner depths of my being. I cannot describe it differently than that. I was ready to be done. but there is so much that college meant and was for me that now needs a place to settle elsewhere. Does that make any sense? I won't have my friends as close. I will fiercely miss my Bible classes and my professors who i built relationships with. I will miss the belonging, the community, the music, the events, the traditions.
who am i now?
That is what this next season is for figuring out. God is working with me on that one. He is holding my core identity in Him...and letting the details shift and get reshaped. I struggle with feeling lost sometimes and wondering how the past 22 years have prepared me for the future.
Wow, let me interrupt this post. I just got a facebook message from a long-distance friend who said she was prompted to pray for me and then God told her to tell me about it! Little did she know that I was writing this blog, and reliving all these emotions. I will admit the tears began to flow as I realized that God knew what I needed right now and used an unlikely person to do it.
anyway. I'm going to move on from that before I become like a leaky faucet over here.
To celebrate this accomplishment in my life, my mother, cousin and I took a delightful trip to one of my favorite countries.
(VIVA MEXICO!!!)
We went to a place called Playa Del Carmen which is by the ocean and is by a lot of Mayan ruins.
There were underground cenotes (caves) with fresh water that flowed into the ocean. There were sea turtles (which we swam alongside of), and lots of brightly colored fish. There were shrimp tacos, white sand, ocean like bath-water, palapas, and LOTS of speaking spanish =)
(this was the beach outside of our hotel)
(me and the mumzy)
(Me and my cousin, Bethany)
The whole trip was definitely what I needed to relax after the last weeks of finals, packing up, moving home, graduation and family events. Now I'm back home and I am settling into life as I have never known it before. How to live back at my parents house. How to navigate time management with no school. How to navigate positive relationship with my little brother. All of these things are still being fine-tuned. Prayers are always appreciated!
The inevitable "whats next" question is stirring in your minds, I'm sure. But you'll just have to ask me in person. But for a hint, it includes quitting my job and finding a new one. So lots more changes coming up! Whew.
"Hold on loosely, but don't let go. If you hold to tightly you're gonna lose control."
(song quote that helps me with change)
