Monthly Archives: December 2014

Thanksgiving time around CBU means a break! This break, I feel, was most needed for all of the students. This was the first time off we had received all year and most of us took full advantage of this time. It falls exactly two weeks before finals, allowing us time to relax, sleep in, study leisurely, and overall just enjoy our time away from the classroom. This break was a time of freeing any stress we may have had just before finals hit.

I got to go home the Friday before break began. This first thing I did when I got back in town was go to my step-brother’s house to see his family and spend the day there. That night I finally got to go home. The week of break I spent sleeping in until about 9 almost every morning and it felt great! When at school, I would wake up anywhere from 5-7 every morning, so sleeping in till 9 or 9:30 a.m. was heaven to me.

Now that break had ended, it’s time to get ready for finals. Intense studying has been going on all week long in preparations. During finals week next week, I only have one final since the rest of my finals took place this week. Therefore, it gives me all weekend and a couple days next week to get ready for that intense final that has been haunting my thoughts all week. But I know I’ll do great.

This week will be an intense week for all of CBU. This is the last stretch before winter break, and I am looking forward to having these next four weeks off.

This Thanksgiving break was unlike any other. I gave thanks for a much needed week away from college, but that didn’t give me a break from working. Productivity levels were at an all-time high, and I made the most of it.

The first task on my agenda involved soldering and software. For my Data Acquisition class, the requirements for our final group project was to create an application using a NI ELVIS II Breadboard, LabVIEW programming, and physical components. As a group of nerdy college students, of course we chose to make a video game complete with controller. Since the due date was a few days after break, we needed to finish it during the holiday. The Monday of break I drove back to campus and met up with my group members and we started engineering. I soldered the buttons, burned my fingers, soldered them again, and burned my other fingers. The others worked out the software, which involved much less burning of fingers. The game was a simple memory game, but that didn’t translate to simple coding. We designed and debugged software from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. I gave even more thanks that the day ended in success.

The other task was all about internships. The College of Engineering requires that all engineering majors complete an internship during the summer before their senior year. With a constantly revised resume and desire to graduate, I decided to start the process early. My plan was to apply to as many companies as possible and hope for the best, like throwing out a handful of seeds and only needing one to grow. And if they all do, even better. I applied to Intel, Broadcom, Garmin, Honeywell, Blizzard and even Disney Imagineering. Basically every website used the same internship application so I became quite efficient at the process. I actually became so familiar with the process that I would find companies and apply as a study break. I have applied to 18 companies so far. I might have a problem.

“Deck the halls with boughs of holly! Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la…”

Normally, having to slide back into the swing of school after a luxurious break away from homework is a struggle no student looks forward to. But me? I was ready — ready to see those boughs decked out in holly!

My decked-out week began with a sweet surprise. My fiancée invited me to go to chapel with him on Monday, even though I’ve already fulfilled my credits for the semester. He insisted that this would be an especially “great one.” Boy am I glad that I went!

Chapel on Monday was unique and beautiful in a way I had yet to experience. It was essentially a combination of Christmas-related musical acts, performed by students and staff alike. Rosy cheeks, bright eyes, and warm smiles filled the room – Christmas spirits were high as our brothers and sisters in Christ shared the extraordinary talents they’ve been given.

To continue in celebration, Wednesday’s chapel was a magnificent show put on by CBU’s choir and orchestra! What a treat that was! And for the cherry on top, Conferences and Events spent a morning setting up for CBU’s annual Christmas party taking place Thursday evening. Sledding, ice skating, classic Christmas tunes, and joy all included!

As much as I look forward to these two weeks being over, so that I can go home and enjoy a long stretch of quality time with my family, I will be sorry to say goodbye to the holiday cheer that envelops this place each winter.

Friends, I am in an insanely good mood.

Yes, I am aware that it is finals week. Yes, I have countless projects and obligations that are consuming my time. No, I have not lost my mind and resigned myself to my happy place. Allow me to tell you why I am currently walking on sunshine.

First off, I have been reminded of the joys found in my job as a FOCUS leader. I just received an encouraging note from someone I met through FOCUS. This has reminded me once again of the immense pleasure it has been to have this position on campus. I have been blessed with an amazing group of people to connect with, and I pray that the friendships formed these last 15 weeks will continue to flourish. This entire experience has been a huge cause for joy.

Secondly, I just received a refund check from a mistake in a deposit made earlier this year. Right before this, I had begun to panic at the fact that I needed money to pay for gassing up my car before a busy weekend and a gift I’ve had my eye on for my man. This simple occurrence serves as yet another reminder that worry is useless, and that my Creator has it all figured out especially when I don’t. This was one simple way that my Lord reminded me of the importance of trust in him, not in finances.

Lastly, through a week of final class sessions and debriefs with professors, I have been consistently reminded of the hope I have for the future in being a part of the body of Christ. Each professor and each class builds up to how we can ultimately be in right relation to each other and to our creator, and it’s an immense privilege to learn with these beautiful people… even in the midst of finals week when each class is kicking me to the curb. Learning is beautiful, and especially so with fellow Christians.

And that is why I am ecstatic to be alive at this very moment.