Monthly Archives: September 2014

In August 2013, I suffered an ACL injury that caused me to stop playing sports completely until approval from my physicians, which I still have not received. The ACL is a ligament that runs through the knee and is vital for stability and strong legs. Any damage that may be done to the ACL can cause the knee to be unstable and unable to function properly without proper care and rehab.

Because of the injury, I was unable to play sports all of my senior year in high school. It was heartbreaking to me, to walk into the orthopedic doctor’s office every month and walk out again without a clearance to play. I was never sure what to do with myself that year. I got involved in theater; I was able to focus on school more, but it killed me inside to not to play. It was a true test of my faith and trust in God. I prayed and prayed that I would recover as fast as possible. I eventually started physical therapy. By the time I graduated from physical therapy, I was just as strong as I was before I hurt myself! I was so excited to starting training again! Little did I know that this was only half of my test of trusting God

In mid-July, I suffered a second injury. Sadly, it was just as devastating as the first. I spent the remainder of July and all of August recovering on my own. I came to freshman orientation still extremely weak and nervous that I wouldn’t be able to grow stronger. As I started school, I got multiple questions about my knee, and just about every single person who asked me about it ended the conversation with “I will keep you in prayer.”

I am glad to report that those prayers have definitely been heard. I am just as strong as I was before my second injury and I am getting stronger every day. My trust in the Lord has grown to the mountains. He brought me through something that I never thought I would be able to get through, and I praise Him for that.

Well friends, here we are again. The time of full schedules and ridiculous amounts of caffeine has officially arrived (along with the season of the pumpkin spice latte, which is good news for everyone). While I am insanely busy, I can honestly say that not a day goes by that I am not thrilled to be studying literature and film.

I am reminded again of the reasons why I chose to pursue these subjects. The greatest explanation I have found has come from a deeper understanding of God’s character and how that is reflected in film and literature. He has created the universe and everything in it and represents the good in all of it. As we are all made in his image; the diversity of our gifts shows we can and should worship him using these natural abilities.

I study the complexities of stories and ideas in both film and literature because God uses stories in the scriptures to show us his nature and advance his kingdom. Jesus often used stories to communicate truth because he knows the impact that stories have on his creation. When I study by reading a book and viewing a film, I see clear reflections of the Creator in that. We catch sight of his divine love, his justice, and his redemptive nature in stories expressed in these art forms. Recognizing this allows us to honor him in art and to thank him for the goodness he expresses.

My worldview is dramatically shaped by the faith I have placed in the Creator, and it is because of this that I strive to do well in my studies in order to use the new knowledge to serve other people. I am so fortunate to live in a time where multiple areas of study are available to be pursued, and I hope to share my passion with others in order to communicate the goodness of God. Knowing this, I move forward in my work and strive to honor my Creator with it.

Tuesdays this semester have become my day to avoid. My first class begins at 8:45 a.m. and, besides one 15-minute passing period, I don’t leave the engineering building until 5:30 p.m. If I’m lucky, my stomach doesn’t digest itself until after my Electronics I lab finishes. Not surprisingly then, when I say that I wasn’t looking forward to this week’s Tuesday. To add even a little more sugar on top, the last lab of the day ran an extra half hour. Why then did this Tuesday end up being a pretty solid day?

That had everything to do with Taste the Nations. Every year around this time the International Center hosts this event out on Stamps Courtyard to promote cultural diversity on campus. As the name suggests, each table represents a different country or region and offers a sample of its own cultural food. As a part of the Global Village staff, I managed a table for our living area to promote our events for international students. Besides having to grab things from my apartment and ultimately forgetting to grab the right the things from my apartment, set up was easy. I noticed there were flags hanging from each of the tables except for ours, so I quickly brought out my Peruvian flag. I can’t leave out my own country.

The night ran perfectly. Students packed the Stamps Courtyard as they walked between tables and learned about the many countries represented here at CBU. The East Asia table served boba milk teas which quickly became a crowd favorite. At our table, I advertised Futbol Fridays, which will be a weekly soccer event on the roof of the Rec Center at 5 p.m. (if you’re interested, please come!). We didn’t have food to share, but the promise of fun times on Fridays with your feet was hopefully more fulfilling for more than a few. It was a great night of learning and tasting. I like this job.

I so vividly remember the mixed terror and excitement that came along with beginning my freshman year of college. Being the introverted artist that I am, a big part of what caused my stomach to jump into my throat was the idea of spending every day with unfamiliar faces. I’m someone who much prefers a few tightknit friendships to shallow companionships with countless people. The idea of finding these friendships in such a large crowd, though, caused more anxiety than anything else that first semester.

So, CBU has done something very unique to alleviate this anxiety! About three weeks into the school year, CBU advertises “T.W.I.R.P. (The Woman is Required to Pay) Week.” This week is meant to envelop students, freshmen especially, in fun moments of fellowship and opportunities to meet one another on a very casual level.

“Create A Date”

During the weeks prior, female Lancers are given the opportunity to creatively ask young men to be their “dates” for various upcoming T.W.I.R.P. events, for which they are expected to pay. Granted, at first this sounds a little unfortunate for all the new Lancer ladies, but CBU has done an excellent job of providing discounted prices for each event, so that our wallets don’t ache after the week’s festivities are through!

 This year, T.W.I.R.P. week consisted of an exciting variety of activities. Monday was the classic “Coffee House,” a free concert and coffee night in Stamps; Tuesday was an Angel’s Game; Wednesday “Create a Date;” Thursday the “Barn Dance;” Friday Medieval Times; and Saturday, “Surf and Twirp.” My charming boyfriend and I could only make Create a Date work with our schedules this year, but definitely still enjoyed the excuse to take a break and have fun together!

 I already can’t wait for next year!

Skateboards are lined against every wall, the word “T.W.I.R.P.” dominates discussion, and my to-do list is stacked high with homework assignments… I must be back at CBU!

When I was a senior in high school, I remember thinking about how I just couldn’t wait to have a four-month summer at CBU. Ten weeks always seemed much too short, and the idea of an extra six was a dream. However, having just experienced my first CBU summer,  I’m not looking forward to the next one. CBU is my second home, and I am so thrilled to be back!

As an upperclassmen, I now reside in The Colony area. I live wih three amazing young ladies, in a spacious 2-bed, 2-bath apartment overlooking a picturesque green lawn strewn with trees (maybe when it’s not 200 degrees outside, we’ll actually use it!). My roommates and I say that we could dominate the world, if we put our graphic design, engineering, and psychology minds together. Something tells me, though, CBU will keep us much too busy to ruminate on world domination. 😉

For example, this semester I’m taking two science classes, art classes, tennis, and a class called “Marriage and the Family.” Actually, this works well for me because I’m the kind of hands-on, creative learner who needs a change of scenery pretty often. I’m blessed to be somewhere that’s possible!

Lancers, you’re definitely in for another fantastic year. I can’t wait to write about all of the amazing traditions coming up… Next week, I’ll definitely be writing about T.W.I.R.P. – one of my absolute favorites!

Oh, and welcome to all you first-timers! I hope to see your awestruck, wide-eyed expressions around as we pass on campus this year. J

Until next week!

This past summer felt a little different than the rest of them. From the moment I received my high school diploma, I was ready to start the next chapter of my life as soon as possible, college. Summers in grade school were much shorter and each new year came faster than I had anticipated. However, I was perfectly fine with it. I’m the type of person who likes to transition into a new year as fast as possible.

Every school I have ever attended started either the beginning of July or the middle of August. Since CBU starts on the day following Labor Day, this summer was going to be a long one for me. Though I was excited to have a long summer, I was ready to start my new life in college. Sadly, the summer dragged on and on, and move-in day just didn’t seem to come fast enough. The entire summer I felt like my life was on pause. By the middle of August everything was set and ready for me to leave, and from then on, the only thing to do was wait.

The day finally came and I was ready to move in and start school. I was so excited. It was time to press play on my new life! The transition was a long and painful process, but I was ready to continue on with life.

This transition caused me to realize that life sometimes forces you to wait so that you can take the time to appreciate all that God has done for you. Summer allowed me to spend time with the ones I love and it was amazing to be able to do that without any interruptions. I was free to be with those who have been there for me through it all, for the college life wouldn’t allow me to spend much time with them. I’m glad that I got the time that I did. And though some are in town, out of town, out of the state, and out of the country, I know that every single one of them will be there for me throughout my years in college and long after I graduate. ​

Senior year.

Very rarely have two words stopped me in my tracks while raising so many questions and thrilled anticipations. Wasn’t I a freshman just yesterday? Is studying literature and film really relevant? Will I get a job that allows me to use my degree? And why on earth do I still not know how to cook an egg without burning it?

Whether I believe it or not, I am here, living out a sort of epilogue to my undergraduate career. In my time so far, I have experienced different cultures, delved into different subjects that I adore, and had the opportunity to love on several different people. In spite of this, I know that there is still so much more ahead and that this year will continue to shape my life. Am I nervous? Absolutely. Am I inspired? Most definitely.

As with each new beginning in life, I make a terrible habit of overcomplicating things when I should be simplifying. While questions regarding a future career and future relationships once again enter my mind, I find the need to return to the simple truth by which my life has been forever changed:

The God who created everything is the greatest good that exists. He defines justice and beauty and wants us to experience this goodness that he is. He died for us and triumphantly rose so that we can experience him fully, reveling in his goodness and unashamedly sharing it with others.

This is the gospel and tenant by which I live. I study these arts and strive to love people because God is reflected in this. When the very extent of my musings has been reached, it always boils down Solomon’s divinely spoken words of wisdom:

“The end of the matter, all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”

Senior year? Let’s do this thing.

How is it already my 5th semester at CBU? I am essentially three weeks past the half way mark of my college experience, and yet I still marvel at the blessings of sushi Tuesdays, the joys of longboard cruising across campus, and the serene view of a front lawn sunset. Each year since I’ve been here, there have been new buildings, new campus dining options, and new involvements for myself to invest in. Already this year is shaping up to be different than any other year, and that has everything to do with being a Resident Advisor.

If you read my blogs last semester, then you would know that I applied in the spring, missed the first interview due to a roommate graciously passing on his flu, and to my complete disbelief received an email of acceptance. Here I am, an East Colony RA, and I love it.

My title not only resembles my initials, but it also provides a platform for me to create a healthy living community on campus. I am a social, spontaneous hangouts, kind of guy as it is, and now as an RA, I have more than enough opportunities to do just that. My specific apartment section is the Global Village, which means I have a number of international students as residents. They all moved in early as well, so I had plenty of time before classes started to introduce them to CBU and sunny California culture. Most of these guys haven’t even visited an English-speaking country before. I was honored to be the one to take them to the ADC for the first time. Always a memorable moment.

Beyond getting to know my French and Chinese residents, just having the platform to serve my residents is amazing. The year has only just begun, and already I’m excited to plan movie nights and organize soccer games. I took up baking this summer, and yes, I baked for them the best oatmeal cookies. You can ask them. They tasted amazing. It’s those random activities, too, that really motivate me. We made a crepes and Nutella the other night, and you bet my French residents taste-tested everything. There will be plenty of fun stories to share this year. I can’t wait to see them happen.