I know it has been a while since my last post, but some pretty big things just happened in my life that took up a lot of time and I’m so excited to share them with you!
A little over a week ago, I graduated from THE University of Texas! 4 years of hard work finally paid off in the sweetest way as I heard my name called out and walked across the stage…No, I did not fall. But, with graduation comes the closing of a chapter of my life and let me tell you, no one can truly prepare you for the flood of emotion that accompanies walking across campus for the last time.
At first, I was so relieved to be done, actually, officially done with this semester, this degree, everything. Then, without any warning I felt the tears streaming down my face as I realized I was not ready to say goodbye to this place yet. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to my twin size bed in the sorority house. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to having all of my friends live within walking distance, or down the hall. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to all my incredible peers and professors that have made such a huge impact on the way I see the world and myself. I wasn’t ready to close this door yet.
As I walked back to my house on campus, I slowed down quite a bit and really took in everything around me for the last time. You see, I have this fear of forgetting things. I don’t want to forget what this campus looks like right here and now as a student. I don’t want to forget the feeling of belonging when walking on campus, the familiar faces I see, the annoyance of construction, the different routes I take, or the way the sun shines between the buildings. As I passed by each building I thought about the different classes I had over the past 4 years or the different places I would study at until early morning hours because, lets be real, I was definitely a procrastinator. I thought about all my different instructors, the things I learned, the friends I sat with in class and all the groups I did projects with. It was like 4 years were circling in my head and I suddenly appreciated it all more than I ever had before. I’m not the same person I was when I stepped foot on this campus for the first time. This place has shaped me in every way and watched as I flourished into the person I am today.
In college you hear everyone complaining about how stressed they are and how busy everything is, but as I look around me I can’t imagine a time when things will be simpler than they were. We had the guidance of our teachers and mentors, we had the opportunity to learn a great amount every single day, and we had our friends a few blocks away when we need a night with “our people”. How blessed we are to be able to say that and to have the opportunity to experience everything we have over the years. Yeah, I can tell you there were more nights than I can count where I cried from being so stressed out and so busy with school, but now I don’t think I would trade those nights for anything because it meant that someone believed that I was smart enough and capable enough to learn how to balance several classes, learn the material, and succeed. It meant I truly cared about my education and I wanted to do better and be better. We were given this incredible experience to grow not only as scholars, but also as individuals as we learned how to navigate our way through college.
I’ve learned that, this opportunity and this education is not given to us for our own self-satisfaction, but instead to go out and use what we have learned to transform the lives around us. We are given these gifts to glorify His kingdom here on earth and spread light and hope and truth and love to those who are in need. What we have learned over the past 4 years is great, but what we choose to do with this knowledge and this empowerment is far, far greater.
As I close this chapter in my book, I am so excited to open the next chapter as I get to spread the unfailing love and the Word of Christ around the world. It’s surreal that in only 5 short months I will say goodbye to friends and family to chase after this calling. I will be saying goodbye to the girl I’m leaving in the airport as I step out in faith and allow God to completely shape not only me, but my image of Him and His beautiful kingdom.
I still have a long, long way to go to raise the funds I need! If you would like to partner with me financially, please hit the orange Donate tab at the top of the page! Additionally, I would be incredibly grateful if you would cover my team and me with prayer over the next few months before we leave, and for the 11 months we are on the race. I am so excited for you to see how your donations and your prayer extend into the world to help bring the Gospel to others! If you have any questions, or would like more information about the World Race, please feel free to contact me any time! Thank you for your continued support, and God Bless.
PS. Stay tuned for a super cool fundraiser coming up soon!!!
