Graduation

I can't believe I've graduated! Congrats class of 2010! We did it :)

What I've Learned at Taylor

- College students really are a lot like babies. They sleep and eat at irregular times and have little responsibility.

- God is in the details. He goes before us and behind us. 

- Spontaneity doesn't have to be an enemy... in fact, it almost always gets along with fun and always tells good stories.

- Whatever you do, don't be tempted to test the DairyQueen ads. Blizzards aren't that thick.

- Discipleship is all about intentionality.

- Confrontations, though sometimes difficult, are worth the effort at times. 

- A leader can't lead until he knows where he's going. (I've written on this here.)

- People have interesting stories. You only have to ask the right questions and be willing to listen.

- Dr. H predicted the iPod before Dell invented it :)

- Pretzels + chocolate + peanut butter + ice cream = Ivanhoe's greatest idea

- One Tree Hill is artsy -I don't care what anyone else says!

- When in an argument with your spouse, just take off your clothes (Thank you Dr. Smith for that bit of wisdom!)

- DTRs should always take place while outside walking (bonus points if you're actually on the Loop).

- When falling off a horse, it may feel like you're moving in slow motion but you still won't be able to do anything to fix the situation until you hit the ground.

- Oxford is one of my favorite places on earth.

- God is in the middle of writing a better story than I could ever write myself.

- Making up songs, actions, and rhymes seriously helps with studying for tests -the stupider, the better!

- You can relate to just about anyone, all you have to do is be willing to talk to them enough to find common ground.

- Open houses are useless unless food is involved.

- Root beer can be just as much fun as real beer, without the next day hangover.

- Home is so much more appreciated after you've spent a significant time away from it.

- We live in phases -my entire college career can be classified into different tv shows, songs, and books my roommate and I have been obsessed with.

- Read alouds are still fun when you're grown up.

- Sometimes good discussions are more rejuvenating than sleep.

- God's plans are worth the sacrifice of leaving things behind. They're also worth the sacrifice of being left behind.

- Encouragement goes a long way. Using people's names, giving complements, or even just saying hi makes a difference.

- Figuring out your priorities is important, but consistently checking in to see how they are doing is even more important.

- Smash your idols, and when you look up and realize you've made more, smash them again.

- When change hits, people cope in many different ways and can go through stages all in the same day. If you're distant enough to have perspective, the psychology behind behavior in the midst of loss is really interesting!
- I am comfortable in the "new here" label. In fact, I think I might even like it.
- However, long-term investments are always worth working at.
- Four years of college go by way too quickly! Enjoy your days!
- You go to college for the education, but the people are what you'll remember.

...College has made me smarter!

On Saying Goodbyes

I hate goodbyes. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t. It’s awkward and difficult to let go of something you love. But it is human. Everyday people say hello, but they are also forced to say goodbye. They loosen their grasp on the one thing they wanted to hold onto forever and then they slowly release it for good. Sometimes getting it back later, other times not so lucky. Through tears and pain, they utter farewells, all the while wishing there was some way around it. 

Standing at one’s doorstep staring at the dust that is left behind when a car rolls out of sight is never where one wants to be. Yet day after day we find ourselves in that exact spot. Standing and staring, because there is nothing else we could possibly do. Because there is a certain humanness to sacrifice, to leaving and to staying, to giving up. 

But letting go, and saying goodbye, isn’t always a bad thing. Goodbyes mean progress. They bring growth and new challenges. They lead people down roads they may not travel otherwise. Roads to better places, to bigger opportunities, and to more sad goodbyes. 

But goodbyes also bring us to more hellos.