"She's just a smalltown girl, living in a lonely worrrld. She took a midnight train goin' anywhere..." Ok, so I'm definitely not lonely here in my Judson-world, and I've never ridden on a train...but the first part is true! I call the microscopic town of Grove Hill, AL my home. I'm a Freshman here at Judson, majoring in Religious Studies. God has called me to serve Him in the mission field, though He hasn't let me know the "where" part yet. I'm super-ecstatic about becoming a part of the Sisterhood, and I can't wait to let you know all about it! Feel free to add/message me on Facebook if you have any questions!
“Becca, Ashleigh, and Ashley – we’re gonna collaborate on a blog!” I run in the room yelling.
Off-handedly Rebecca mutters, “Stop, collaborate, and listen...”
THIS is the type of friendship we have - completely unexplainable, but totally in sync. [“N*SYNC? You may hate me but it ain’t no lie, baby bye bye bye BYE BYE,” Ashleigh had to add.]
Rebecca’s mom teaches an 11th and 12th grade girls Sunday school class, and since Becca was home Sunday, they interrogated her. The umbrella topic of the discussion was, “What advice would you give yourself as a senior?” So that’s what we’re gonna do for YOU.
Disclaimer: This is not a “Come to Judson because it’s awesome, and if you apply right now you get a free jumbo blue slushy because those make everyone happy” blog. This is a “I wish I’d known this” blog.
Advice #1 from Rebecca: “Don’t eat old yogurt.” Explanation from Ashleigh: “It makes you poop funny.”
Advice #2 from Rebecca: “Don’t get so caught up in belonging somewhere, because at home, I felt like I belonged somewhere. I had my place, my people, respect, popularity kind of thing... but when I came here, I didn’t think I ‘belonged’ here. But now I understand that as God’s child, I don’t ‘belong’ anywhere in the world. I belong to Him.”
Advice #3 from Ashleigh: “Apply to EVERY SINGLE scholarship you possibly can.”
Advice #4 from Ashley: “Don’t try to please everybody else because you’ll end up getting hurt and doing something you regret. You’ll never be able to please everybody.”
Advice #5 from Ashleigh to Ashley, who was chugging a bottle of water: “Don’t drink so much water that you make yourself sick!”
Advice #6 from Rebecca: “Don’t get a roommate who has bad gas.” [“Gee, thanks Becca,” is Ashleigh’s reply.]
Advice #7 from Rivers: “Realize that you have the most free time and resources at this point in your life. As busy as you think you are, you can actually do so much more for your community and for the kingdom of God than you will be able to in college.”
Advice #8 from Ashleigh: “Always shave your arm pits before you go to church in a sleeveless dress.” Further explanation from Rivers: “Yeah, you don’t want to freak someone out when you feel the Spirit and lift your hands in worship. You don’t want to have to hinder the Spirit.”
Advice #9 from Rebecca: “Appreciate each stage in your life and don’t try to rush them. Like, when you’re single, praise God for that time you have for just you and Him, that you can glorify Him. When you’re in high school, appreciate the opportunity you have to minister to the people around you. Everything – jobs, marriage, boys, life – will come in God’s timing.”
Advice #10 from Ashley: “Stop doing what you want to do and listen to God.”
Despite the fact that calendars claim that it is still winter,everything pleads the case that it is in fact, spring!
Judson girls have traded in their coats, scarves, hats, gloves, and furry boots for t-shirts, flip-flops, shorts, and sunglasses.
Heaters are no longer running; windows are propped open all over campus.
No one has such a problem walking outside anymore.
Birds sing gloriously.
The sun actually brings warmth to our faces.
And midterms have attacked.
[Sigh.]
Yes, the word “attack” is quite appropriate. The horrid midterms have snuck upon Judson College with the stealth of a sniper, and out of nowhere stolen any ounce of joy we may have had.
The beautiful weather is just salt on the wound.
So badly do we want to be outside, enjoying the glory of it all, but our good-student-consciences guide us to the library, the J, our rooms, anywhere that’s not fun in order to complete a paper or study some flashcards.
Ya know, sometimes college is a real bummer.
In literature, spring is used to symbolize new life, new love, and happiness. When I take a moment out of my busy schedule to contemplate where those things are, I have to rebuke myself. They are here.
In the past week, I have gained new friendships, deepened existing friendships, revived broken friendships, and drawn near to my Lord through it all. I can’t help but smile.
I am blessed.
As the new season gets into full swing (hopefully it’s here to stay), so is this season of joy.
Despite the fact that I am a broken, useless mess, He delights in me. He has helped me rediscover the joy of my salvation. My cup overfloweth. :)
And even though I know it has no bearing on anything, I feel obligated to thank the groundhog for not seeing his shadow.
Just for the record, Judson College is ONE OF A KIND.
<.We’re an all-women’s college. In a man’s world, women should just hush. In a woman’s world, men should just listen. In God’s Word, men and women work together to achieve His will. At Judson, girls learn how to be and become women of God, wherever they are.
Our academic dean and president value the students’opinions. After several years of Spanish classes at MMI, Judson is hiring a Spanish teacher of their own. Rather than just picking the “best” candidate like most institutions would do, several students were asked to sit in on trial classes with the top two candidates. Though the president and dean will of course have the final say, the fact that they are willing to listen to the opinions of the student body speaks volumes.
It’s small! Some people think that they want to be “invisible” when they go to college. But I enjoy speaking to people by name when I walk by them on my way to class. I think it’s cool that all of my professors know my name because of our small student to faculty ratio. I value knowing just about everyone at myschool. It’s not just a sea of women; it’s a close-knit Sisterhood.
Judson cares about the non-Judson! After Invisible Children’s visit last semester to The Core, a passionate group of women began Judson’s chapter of “Schools 4 Schools.” Our goal is to raise money for Awere Secondary School in war-torn Uganda. Another example of caring Judson women can be found in Elizabeth Velasquez, a social work major who is heading a 30-Hour Famine event at Judson! With the soccer team on her heels, Elizabeth is leading the Judson student body to help conquer world hunger!
Traditions are what weave us together. Judson and her traditions are so hard to explain to other people. To me, it is the thing that makes this place so unique. Where else are seniors given special privileges, like walking on the school seal? Where else can you find a student body that sings the blessing every day at 12:05 in the dining hall? At what other school do classes pass these traditions (including fun secret traditions) year after year? There’s no other way to explain except: we do traditions!
One of my favorite things about Judson is the music. Between step sings (another tradition...) and an amazing music department, music is EVERYWHERE!
Every day, I enjoy hearing Dr. Betty’s voicestudents in their private lessons as I walk by on my way to Jewett Hall.
Step sings are a very important part of traditions here at Judson. Songs that are special to Judson girls are passed down from class to class, and are sung only on special occasions, such as step sings and serenades.
I participated in choir last semester, and I loved it so much that I decided to continue my alto career! You can read about my first concert experience here.
Last semester, the student body had the opportunity to hear the internationally acclaimed pianist, Simon Tedeschi, in our very own Alumnae Auditorium. It was a sensational performance!
I can honestly say that I love my school – my home, rather. I am so thankful that God brought me here!
Escaping reality could be the very thing that helps you cope with reality.
And so, we went.
Whitney, my hilarious storyteller of a roommate
Taylor, our comical diva of a suitemate
And me, well... you know me.
We fled the looming week of finals like we had stolen something.
Like the lyrics of one of our current favorite songs, we just kept runningggg from tomorrowwwwwwww.
"To Tuscaloosa, and beyond!" we shouted, as we zoomed off in my snazzy little Blazer.
All owners of lengthy To Do lists, we ignored our responsibilities and raced into horizon.
And I tell ya, it was nice.
The three of us (along with Kaylin, our friend who ended up not coming to Judson) met at SOAR in June, and hit it off big time. We called ourselves "The Box." At first, we all felt awkward, not knowing anyone but our parents. Once the four of us finally connected, we stopped trying to make friends. We stuck together like glue, adamantly refusing to think outside of "The Box."
Cute, right?
But... things have been crazy. Thanks to cadet exes, ridiculous schedules, and an awkward fourth wheel, the three of us have not been as close as we were at the beginning of our journey. After a wake-up call for us all, we decided that differences were just that - differences.
NOT defining characteristics.
And most certainly, NOT a friendship ender.
After hours of shopping, our friendship was remedied.
Praise God, the Sisterhood PREVAILED!
We bought really cute cheap little rings, as our promise rings.
Our promise was that we would do fun stuff at least once a month.
Oh, and that our friendship would dominate over anything that could happen.
All in all, it was quite a delightful experience.
Except for when that guy slammed on his brakes in front of us. Grrrrr.
