10 Things.

Someone asked me the other day, “What are you most looking forward to about your senior year?” I sat there and had a hard time coming up with just one thing. I am excited about every single detail except for that huge always-obvious one that this is my last year here. I am happy that it’s not a year of firsts because those kind of years are the hardest for me but I sat there heavy hearted because while it isn’t going to be a year of firsts it is going to be a year of lasts in a place that I have grown to love and call home—and at this point that sounds a little worse then starting from the beginning. That’s when it hit me, I knew what I was most excited about and I proceeded to say,

“I can’t wait to live college with the perspective I have now. It took me a long time to realize that college isn’t my whole life but rather just a phase of life and that has started to change everything. I want to do everything bigger and better with as much passion and integrity as I can. I love this place and these people and I am just grateful and relieved that I still have one year left to live the college dream with this perspective. So that’s no doubt what I am looking forward to most.”

This has made me start thinking a lot about what I wish I would have known that August day as I moved myself into Collins 315. I don’t know if someone had told me these things that I would have listened or believed them (b/c I know people did tell me!) but regardless I want to share with anyone who might be entering college this year what I would do to make sure I am making the most of this awesome phase of life! Whether you’re entering your Freshman year or your Senior year like myself, I think these are must do’s during college!

headed to my first Baylor game as a student! 

(This post is specifically for Baylor people since that is the college experience that I am having however I am sure a lot of these can be true for any school/town you find yourself in!)

10 Must Do’s While Living Your (Waco) College Dream:

10.  Hop on the “I love Baylor” Train: Yep, that’s right… go Baylor crazy. This is something that I did not fully do until I was a sophomore and I really regret it. I remember that I never went to anything during welcome week because I thought that I wouldn’t have fun and that it was lame to do those kinds of things. NO, I WAS LAME. It is important to take pride in the school that you are attending because taking pride in something will help you to feel ownership over it. Baylor is great and you should feel proud to call yourself a bear.  Get out of your dorm room… paint yourself green and gold, don’t take yourself too seriously and go drink Dr. Pepper floats. They’re good and not to mention, FREE.

9. Knock on Doors and Keep Yours Open: Again, something that I didn’t do well my freshman year. I spent my entire first semester of college convinced that I was going to forever and always hate all things college. Everything started to change the day I decided I would just get over myself enough to go knock on a girl’s door that lived down the hall from me. Her name was Mary Burton and 3 years later we are roommates who share everything from a bathroom to clothes and dry shampoo-- the only difference now is that instead of knocking on each other’s doors we just walk right in…

me and Mary Burton junior year. 

8. Eat Food with People: It sounds simple (and it is) however as I look back on my first 3 years of college some of my best memories are while I have been gathered around some type of table, eating some type of food, with some type of people. It doesn’t necessarily matter where you’re eating or what you’re eating but more of whom you are doing it with.  Make sure you eat meals with people who are your best friends and people who are strangers. Gathering around a table is an easy and perfect way to get to know people! Some of Waco’s best food places are: Food For Thought, Vitecks, Cupps, La Fiesta, Buzzard Billy’s, D’s Mediterranean, Poppa Rollos, Taco Z, and more—go to these and then go find some of your own favorites!

7. Study and Skip Class: Now every parent reading this hates me but I’ll explain myself. Study… hard. And skip class… occasionally. The great thing about college is that your classes are almost always packed full of valuable information and you don’t want to miss it! However you also don’t want to miss fun chances to go make memories with friends and sometimes just doing something while class is going on will automatically make it more fun and more memorable. So… study hard, check your schedules and skip class every once in awhile on a day when it is safe to do so. Remember to enjoy your freedom but also make sure you don’t abuse it.

6. Serve and Strive for Self- less- ness: College is a time in life when it is extremely easy to make everything all about you. Don't do it. You will be able to decided what you want to get involved in, who you want to hang out with, where you want to eat, and ultimately how you want to live. That's a lot of you's. If you are a believer in Christ, don't let the freedom of college let you forget about your calling and purpose in every stage of life. If you only think about yourself for 4 straight years I promise you will look back with a feeling of emptiness and waste. Serve in order to rid yourself of yourself. 

5. Make a Baylor Bucket List: This is something that I did my Junior year and I so wish I would have created it earlier! I have found that my bucket list is one of the best things I have done in college. It has helped me explore Waco and find some of my favorite places. Not to mention, it has created some of the best memories for me and my friends who are always quick to join on my crazy adventures! Some things on my list include: hammock on the suspension bridge, travel to Buc-ees, kayak down the brazos, rent a tandem bike, memorize Romans 12, eat with President Starr, crash a high school Prom, eat at the head table in Brooks, climb the climbing wall at the SLC, go to a drive in movie, Karaoke, run the bearathon, go to the top of the ALICO, jump off the suspension bridge, sleep in Collins as a senior, and more! 

crossing Buc-ees off the bucket list. 

4. Be Purposeful with Your Summers: One of the coolest things about college is the different ways you can spend your summers! Whether you choose to study abroad, go on a mission trip, work at camp or stay in Waco to take class-- be purposeful with it. When I look back on my 4 summers in college I know that I wouldn't be the person I am today without them. I chose to spend 3 summers at Pine Cove Christian Camps where my faith was tested, refined, and deepened. This summer I have spent in Waco and have learned that I can be just as refined and challenged here as I was at camp. It's less about where you are and more about what you choose to do with the extra time you have. But if you have the chance to do something like camp or travel-- do it. You won't regret it! 

camp 2012

3. Find Solitude to Study Gods Word and Yourself: Everyone tells you (and I think it's true!) that you will never have as much time as you do in college. Will you be busy? Yes, you will be BUT you will still have more time then you will when you have a job and family. Spend time your first year of college practicing how to time-manage and when you do make sure you allow time for solitude and self-evaluation! College is a perfect time to process through hurts, habits, and hang ups. Find your strengths and your weaknesses. Study scripture, journal, and process. Find a place where you can be alone and dig into the silence.This has been one of the best best best things about college for me. Some places where I have found solitude in Waco include: Cameron Park, Lake Waco, the Garden of Contentment on campus, the porch at my house and even my car! 

the garden of contentment with lyd. 

2. Stories: Read them, write them, and create them! I challenge all of you to read books you wouldn't normally read, write about things that you wouldn't normally want to see put on paper (ex: sin, fears, dreams, etc.) and finally create stories that you are going to want to share with your kids! This is the part where you make your bucket list come to life... 

( and finally... drumroll) 

1. Lean into Conflict and Community: If you are thinking that you are going to be getting away from conflict by leaving your family home and coming to college you are (thankfully) w r o n g. College (and especially Baylor!) will provide you with some of the best community that you will ever have which will in turn provide you with some of the best conflict you've ever had. Don't run away from this because if you do you will never taste how sweet community can actually be. Let your friends fail you and then choose to love them anyway AND let yourself fail your friends and let them show you how they aren't going anywhere. S/O to all 4 of my roommates and Lydia Pettit for showing me that conflict isn't just good but needed. Love is a lot better when you know that it was and is a choice. 

the aspen hottiez (roommates)

Rebecca, Jana and I did accountability together this past year. 

these girls love me better than most. 

If you're just about to start college, welcome aboard. Get ready for the best 4 year journey you could ever imagine... full of growth, laughter, failure, dreams, tears, refinement, and the very best community. 

get excited. 

and as always, 

sic 'em bears.