JC Traditions/History Blog

Blood, Guts, and Gore! Scrapes and Bruises Galore!

Field hockey can get really messy sometimes.

Okay, so I'm exaggerating the blood, guts, and gore part. But, getting some scrapes and bruises is a 100% guarantee.

The first few weeks of autumn means that field hockey season is here. That's when I take my hockey stick and shin guards out of the closet.

In 1923, Hockey Day became a legitimate tradition at Judson College. Before then, it was just a game played for a physical education class. Seniors play against the Junior-Sophomore and Freshmen class for a year's worth of bragging rights. Both teams create banners, write a song, and put together a skit. The Student Life staff selects a winning class in each category.

I have heard a lot of exciting chatter amongst the Junior-Frosh (Junior-Sophomore and Freshmen) about Hockey Day. It is exciting to see the girls having fun and getting ready for the big day. One day at lunch, a conversation on hockey strategies was halted when I sat down.

I am thrilled to see this happening!

As a senior, it's my job to pass on traditions. A lot of girls want to continue playing hockey after Hockey Day. This is a good sign that they're enjoying themselves. Granted, most of them will quickly reconsider playing every day...I thought the same thing my freshmen year. Though, the anticipation of next year will build up over time.

Another neat aspect of Hockey Day is the All-Star Game. Players from both teams vote on fifteen of their teammates to be all-stars. All-Star players are announced the Friday before Hockey Day. This team plays against the Alumnae team who returns for the tradition.

Now, the returning Alumnae team makes for a tough match. Despite not playing hockey for a while (in some cases since last Hockey Day, in some cases since they graduated), they are seasoned participants. Most of them can knock the ball clear down the field.

The intensity of the match-up is the main catch for all current Judson students. I was dying to play on the team as a freshman. I made the team last year, and might make it again this year. If I don't, I'm not sweating it.

Either way, Hockey Day is still awesome!

I remember listening to Gold City, The Kingsmen Quartet, Squire Parsons, and The Gaither Vocal Band on the way to church. As a little girl, I could sing along to most of their music (and every other gospel trio, quartet, or soloist).

Who am I kidding? I still enjoy singing along to the music.

"You know Audra, Southern Gospel music is the root of Contemporary Christian music." Me-maw and I had many discussions about the origins of both genres during my early teen years.

She told me about The Imperials. They were the first Southern gospel group to branch off into "Contemporary Christian music" according to the 1950s-60s standards. The group traveled mainly around the East Coast and Northern region. It has always taken the South a while to warm up to new ideas.

"Youth today can find Christian music stylized in any genre they like."

Many of my older friends at church have told me this through the years. And it's true. We have more options. Me-maw told me that when she was a teen, singing "Do Lord" every so often was the highlight of the service. I laughed the first time she told me. The Christian music industry produces albums by the thousands.

Judson's Annual Hymn Sing took place last chapel. It is the one chapel service that I can count on most students attending. If you've ever been to a Sunday night worship service where the music minister asks for hymn numbers, this service is its college equivalent.

I was asked why students enjoy the hymn sing when most young people prefer "blended worship" in church.

My answer: Most people grow up singing hymns.

I'm sure they have grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. who taught them the art of singing hymns (four-part harmony is tough). Granted, there are few who know the origins of Christian music as we know it today. But, our God is one and the same.

"When We All Get to Heaven", we'll sing about God's "Amazing Grace" and be glad that "Jesus Paid It All."

Besides, when we worship Jesus, sometimes it takes all four verses and the refrain.

What are the components of the "perfect wedding"?

I personally believe it varies from couple to couple, and that the real joy stems from being united with your spouse.

In 7^th grade, I took a home economics class. Anyone who knows me understands how funny this seems. It was NOT by choice. Our biggest project was to make a "Dream Wedding Scrapbook." We had to write out the wedding proposal, create the invitations, select a cake, etc. To me, the entire process was tortuous. I'm not anti-wedding, but I was in middle school. My wedding was (and still is) an event of the distant future.

Well, wouldn't you know that my freshman year at Judson College I learned about Pageant. The entire tradition can be traced back to a wedding.

In 1898, Miss Ann Kirtley suggested that Judson women host a wedding to symbolically unite the Junior and Freshmen classes together. Both classes selected a wedding party, a class representative to speak the vows of sisterhood, and a group of students to be the virtues that every woman should aspire to have.

Over the years, the wedding grew to include a play of sorts to show how a woman comes to incorporate the virtues into her life. Looking through The Conversationalist, some of the storylines used were Carnival, Aladdin, The Wizard of Oz, and Old Man River. Every year, the section talking about Pageant said something like:

"This year, the Junior class challenged the freshmen to take on the virtues of wisdom, honesty, courage, and love."  

Honestly, the first time that I heard about Pageant, I was a little creeped out. However, when I began to research the tradition myself and talk to alumnae and upperclassmen it made more sense.

Weddings were a big deal back in the 1800s and 1900s. From girlhood, most women dreamed of getting married. The seriousness of marriage and the bonds of sisterhood are a lot alike.

They both share a common theme that is very beautiful and Christ-like in nature:

Love Conquers All

In 5^th grade, I started wearing glasses.

 My first day with new specks was the coolest. Colors were everywhere. This sounds cheesy, but I could see the leaves on the trees.  

As a Judson College ambassador, I have the opportunity to show off the campus to prospective students.

I love my job!

Though, it is a very daunting task.

Trying to explain why Judson is the best possible choice is like telling a blind man about the color blue.

All I can do is share what I know. It's a lot easier said than done. First hand retellings cannot substitute for personal experience. That's why I love when prospective students opt to visit during tradition weekends.

We have a saying here at JC: "It's not a sorority, it's a sisterhood."

Sisterhood? What does that mean?

        - Sharing a cup of hot tea with a friend who is sick with bronchitis. 

        - Random trips to Sonic when only a slushy can cheer you up. 

       - Late night talks about life, relationships, and the latest celebrity gossip to take your mind off of the aforementioned items. 

        - Laughing till you cry, crying till you laugh, and a never ending supply of Kleenex.  

       - A community of believers who intercede on your behalf. 

 These experiences are real. They are the lasting moments that motivate that extra hour of late night studying.

I cannot imagine going to school anywhere else. Most Judson girls will tell you that God brought them here. For me, attending Judson just felt like the right thing to do.

One day, I will leave the comfort of "the Judson Bubble." My memories (and diploma) will be all I take with me.

The most fulfilling part of my job as an ambassador is watching the freshmen understand what I've been talking about all along.

My time at Judson is helping me see a small glimpse of the big picture for the first time.