Settling In

Hello friends!

It has been a bit longer than I like since I blogged, so I'll just put in a quick post/update.

Settling back into college life has seemed both simple and hectic this year. Now a junior, classes are intensifying and expectations are higher. I've been noticing a few things that make junior year easier, though. (It's only my third day of classes, so forgive me if I seem idealistic - that's just who I am!)

~I know people. The first two years of school I was still in the process of forming friendships and relationships with professors. Now? These people know me, I know them - we're good. Fabulous, even. The only hard part is finding enough time to hang out with these awesome people!

~Classes seem more doable. As a freshman coming straight from being homeschooled my whole life, classes were insanely intimidating. This semester, when I find my stress levels raising, I remind myself of how much unnecessary stress I put myself through those first two years, take a breath, and challenge myself to remain calm and figure it out in a rational manner.*

*it's still a learning work in progress - I still freak out once in a while.

~I've gained confidence. While this one goes with the other two, I know I have grown up a bit during the summer - traveling and having a job will do that to you, I guess - and I'm not at all the same as I was freshman year. I walk with a straight back and with purpose in my steps, and I initiate conversations and attempt to be responsible. Being an adult doesn't seem quite so strange a concept anymore.

Okay, these are brief little points that I've been thinking about in between figuring out adding and dropping a few courses, going to classes, doing homework, practicing music, and finding time to praise the Lord for all the goodness He has seen fit to shower upon me.

Also, I just read this letter to artists by Saint John Paul II - that amazing pope and saint. You can find the link here.  I'd never read it before, but it was suggested for one of my classes and I simply devoured it before lunch. Yes, I was hungry. But the words! Read it and you will see why I was nodding emphatically and highlighting every other paragraph (slight exaggeration...). It's beautiful.

On that note, it is time to satiate another sort of hunger by going to dinner. :)


"Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing." ~August Wilson