First Down

When I decided to come to Baylor in April, I kept myself from having any expectations of what Waco would be like, or whether I would like it or not. April and May were busy enough without me adding to the life changes going on, and the summer is never a good time to think about school. I preferred to make peach pies, float around in the pool, and go to King's Island and Braves games.

So for better or worse, I specifically remember that during my 16-hour-long solitary road trip to Waco, I thought about it fully for the first time. By the time I crossed over the Mississippi, I was about 50% of the way there, and 90% freaked out.

Almost four months later, I have moved myself into an apartment, lived with two girls I didn't know, gone to church alone, been part of the winning trivia team at the local pub, written and revised three research papers, befriended some hilarious people, gone to a few great football games, eaten at some awesome local restaurants, and gotten lost one bajillion times.

I've also made some mistakes, failed a lot, and felt really stupid about half the time I've lived here. But, considering I started from scratch, I don't think I should have expected any differently.

Anyway, as of Tuesday afternoon (or whenever I decide to do my take-home final), this semester will be over.

Was it fun? Most of the time (especially at first), no. Was it easy? Considering I didn't know anyone when I got here and am doing graduate-level work in a field I have never studied, absolutely not. Was it like college, just in Texas instead of Kentucky? It was probably the furthest experience I could have had from Asbury while still being on a Christian college campus. Listen, you're asking all the wrong questions, Imaginary Interviewer.

Did you learn anything important? There we go. YES. It would be impossible, and a little bit too personal, to share everything that I've learned, discovered, and finally begun to believe in less than four months. God has done some serious work on me and I'm different than I was six months ago. I'm still a weird, random, sarcastic, Dave Barry fan who loves milk too much. But I'm also a weird, random, sarcastic, Dave Barry fan who loves milk too much and really needs Jesus on a day-to-day basis, and sees more than just my immediate circumstances. That has been the key to learning to enjoy my life here: Perspective.

I also learned that my family are the best people I know, that my friends are much more dependable than I deserve, and that you cannot leave your stuff on the cafeteria table while you go get your food (consider yourselves lucky, Asburians).

So... Was it worth it? Well, it was no picnic or trip to DisneyWorld (I've been there!), and I know people who have dealt with transition much more gracefully than I did, and with far fewer freakouts over Skype. But—and this is something else I've learned—I think that's OK. So you know what, Imaginary Interviewer? Yes. Yes, it was.

First down, three to go.