Saying Goodbye

Tuesday was senior Academic Symposium at Rochester College. I presented on "Effective and Empowering Ways to Alleviate Poverty", which was based upon the research I have done these past two semester that stemmed from my internship this past summer.

Academic Symposium is a pretty big deal at RC and for someone who does not like speaking in front of people I was really nervous to present. I expected to be relieved and overjoyed once my presentation was over at 9:30 Tuesday morning, but that was not really the case.

I believe my presentation went well and I certainly did feel weight off my shoulders upon completion of it. But I was not overjoyed or even excited when it was over. I had a weird mixture of emotions: thankfulness, joy, sadness, relief, and maybe even a little fear mixed in there as well.

For me, the end of symposium means the end of my time at Rochester College
(sure, I still have 2 papers and 1 cumulative Hebrew quiz to do, but still).

I am excited to be done with school (at least for a while) and I am ready to move on to new things but boy am I going to miss this place and at the people here.

I'm going to miss all of the amazing professors and the way they genuinely care about every one of their students and the way they have personally poured into my life--Even the ones I never had a class with have made great impacts on my life. You don't find professors and college staff like that just anywhere. Thank you RC.

This picture represents not only nearly everything I have been involved in at RC (Autumn, Kibo, Omicron, Student Government) but also some of the people that have made it so special; Two mentors and some of the greatest friends.

This was a photobombed and candid picture. Not everything at RC always go exactly as planned (if often doesn't) but that's what makes it so special. No matter what is going on, your friends and professors are always there to encourage you and it ends up being a really beautiful thing. 

I am going to miss Autumn and making good music with even better people. The confidence that I have gained since being in this group is major. This year and last year, we didn't just make pretty music together but we lived through pain, sorrow, disappoint, excitement, and joy with one another. We are a family that makes fun of and encourages one another. One that has laughed and cried together. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to be part of such an amazing group of people. Thank you, Chris. 

When we Opened for Acappella 

           

I am going to miss Kibo Corner. Waking up at 6:00am to go open and make coffee to support Kibo Group. Trying and failing and sometimes succeeding at making latte art, trying out new drink ideas, and working with some awesome people along the way. Kibo Group is such an amazing organization and I don't want to stop being part of them. Thank you Larry for giving me these opportunities.

  

Some of our Kibo Corner Workers

Kibo Group Staff in Jinja, Uganda 

I'm going to miss Chorus. For the first time in 7 years, I will no longer be part of an a cappella chorus! I have loved being in RC's chorus! I'm not going to lie, there were times that I didn't like it and I got really frustrated but I stayed because I love music and the people that make up the chorus. From singing at Christmas and Good Friday concerts to traveling to Florida, Texas, and California, I would not trade the memories and the friendship I have built for anything.

For those of you who were in chorus and heard our lemon story, this is one of those lemons haha

My Zetas. I'm not sure I can really express how much these ladies and this club have impacted me. When I came to RC, I had no intention of joining a social club because (even though I love her dearly and have always looked up to her) I didn't want to be following exactly what my sister Katelyn did. I wanted to do my own thing and not be seen in her shadow [even though it is a pretty great shadow ;)].

 When I heard about this new club, Omicron Omega Zeta, I became interested because Bayleigh Laster was in it and they focused so much on service and their relationship with God. I decided to join and that was the best decision I could have made. Just even within our pledge week, our President and founder, Sarah Snyder, saw a quiet girl who had some potential leadership qualities. She asked me the first day of pledge week if I would lead the devotional for the all clubs devo during the week and for some reason I had the courage to say yes. It was one of the scariest things I had ever done but everyone from all the clubs were so encouraging. This was a major step for me. I would have never imagined how much Omicron would help me grow and I would have never imagined that I would be president of Omicron my senior year. The Zetas are a special group of ladies and I am so glad I can call them my life-long friends and sisters.

I'm going to miss weekly meetings with my 412 mentoring group: talking about life, missions, work, and God.

 Freshman year when Kirsten, Kristina, Emily and I were put together as roommates was the best thing that could have happened. We were all instantly best friends and though we weren't all able to stay together for all four years [Kristina had to get married or something ;)] we have all stayed close and Shiloh was able to join our roommate mix. Each of them has blessed my life in so many different ways.

I am going to miss being able to run next door into Kirsten and Emily's room, collapsing on their floor, and talking with them and Shiloh way later than we should about the most random and serious things. I love those three and it makes me super sad to think about not seeing them everyday or even every week after graduation.

And then there is the guac to my amole 😂, Katie Jo. I am going to miss this girl who has become my best friend. We cannot, for the life of us, remember when we started being friends but now I can't imagine my life without this crazy, energetic, dramatic, baking queen, God fearing, gift giving, hard working, smart, loving friend. Katie, there is still time to decide not to go back to Grand Rapids and stay with me in Flint!

There is still more I could add to this list of things I will miss but I will spare you all from even more sap.

This is such a bitter-sweet time. I am truly excited to move on to new things, like going to England and staying 10 additional days shadowing at a church in London! 

So many people have asked me what I am doing upon my return home from the UK and honestly, I don't know. My plans for this summer are to enjoy the summer with my family, camping, volunteering, and hopefully babysitting or doing something to make some money as well. As for a job in the fall, I can tell you what I want to do but I don't have any definite plans. My goal is to first pay off my student loans. I know that with the kind of ministry I want to be doing, I may very well need to have a job outside of that calling of ministry. This is a story for another time though. 

For now, I am just focusing on what's right in front of me. One chorus concert, 1 Hebrew quiz, 1 vocation paper, and 1 exegesis.  Then onto the UK! (Update: only 1 exegesis paper until I am totally done!)

It's been a good run RC. Thank you for all the knowledge, growth, friends, mentors, and memories I will forever carry with me!