by aubreymacmillan

Friends, I have a hard time believing the end of my undergrad is drawing nigh. The past few years have been my favorites ever, and now I awake to the anthem “Carpe Diem” every morning (notice I refuse to utilize YOLO here – my major has indeed taught me something).

Per my experiences so far, allow me to share with you all the things to take advantage of during college, whatever year you are.

1. Enjoy the pre-prepared meals. The ability to be on a meal plan and enjoy amazingly delicious food at any time has been a huge perk. CBU has enough dining options to supplement both healthy habits and dangerous cravings – I can say I have thoroughly enjoyed them all.
2. Make a budget. Life is too short to constantly stress about money. Work, save, and designate an amount to spend on those concert tickets. You’ll feel less guilty about going out and having adventures when you have budgeted beforehand.
3. Engage in class. This one’s self-explanatory. Learning from our professors is a blessing, and learning is all your own. Love it.
4. Follow through on commitments. If you plan to have dinner with your friend, don’t cancel. You may be tired after the day, but showing people their value to you is always worth it.
5. Take hold of serendipity. Sometimes the day does not go according to plan. I may wake up and think that I will first go to class, head to the library, hit up the rec center, and be back in the apartment to invest in my unhealthy relationship with Netflix. Then the day actually begins and I run into a person I wasn’t expecting to see and I wind up heading to a coffee shop for deep discussion while infringing upon my Netflix time. And it is always better this way.

 Overall, my best advice to get the most out of your time at CBU would be to dig your wells deep. Ask questions, engage faith, meet people, and constantly grow. You won’t regret it.

Let me be perfectly candid here and admit to the world that throughout my time at this university, I have been deathly afraid of one thing:

My capstone project.

For English majors, this semester-long project encapsulates everything you have learned in this department over the last three and a half years and puts it into practice. It should allow us to demonstrate proficiency in communicating and arguing an original thesis that adds valuable thought to the academic topic you choose to cover. This will come together into the largest paper we have written to date, and will hopefully cover something that we can be passionate about and possibly turn into a graduate thesis.

I have been walking in the shadow of my capstone for a while now, and in hindsight, I definitely psyched myself out. I had been non-committal to ideas I haphazardly developed in my sophomore year, but I didn’t spend enough time asking myself what I truly cared to write about. It wasn’t until last semester that I really committed, dove into my research, and walked into this journey.

What have I ultimately discovered in the few weeks I have been in Senior Project is that it is not nearly as scary as I always made it out to be. In fact, it’s actually a lot of fun. This class is filled up entirely of like-minded English geeks who are all in favor of everyone creating the best capstone they possibly can. The faculty members walk us through each step of the writing and editing process. We get to go over everything we have learned and pull all that together. This allows us to create a paper that is about exactly what we want it to talk about.

Senior Project is not nearly as scary as you might think. It may turn out to be one of my favorite things I have done in college. I know that my department has prepared me well for this over the years, and I hope to reflect my best as I go through this undoubtedly exciting process.

Here I sit at the end of a long day, listening to the last sounds of the coffeehouse event I just attended wrapping up quite literally just outside my door.

Readers, one is truly never far from events of any kind here at CBU.

The event we had was put on by the Village living area’s staff, and included free coffee and an open microphone for any of our residents to step out and share the gift of music among friends. Our over-caffeinated crowd cheered on performances that included Amy Winehouse covers, acoustic guitars and humming violins. This stood as a welcome partner to the previous Disney fiesta held here last semester, reminding me of the diversity of events pulled off by our RAs. The atmosphere of a joyful, yet laid-back community perfectly sums up this living area, and I was reminded that I am indeed residing in the right place.

After living in four different areas on campus, I have decided that if I were to categorize it, I’d say the Village is the Shire of the Middle Earth that is CBU. Our slogan is “Keep the Village Weird.” If that doesn’t sound like a place to have hobbit-style parties, then I don’t know what does.

I of course can’t throw that analogy out there without finishing it. Since CBU truly is as magical as Middle Earth without the threat of Sauron overtaking us all, I’d have to say that the dorms would be Bree, the Colony would be Rohan, UP would be Rivendell, and the Point would be Gondor. Basically, one will always have an adventure worthy of an 11-hour cinematic quest when hanging out on campus.

And now I continue on mine! I’ll see you here next week.

I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times, and friends, I’ll say it again.

My academic journey at CBU has been a highlight of my time here.

I sat in class today, realizing just how alive and at home I felt in the midst of a fascinating lecture and discussion. I was reminded of how much my classes have enabled me to grow intellectually, and how much that will continue to influence me for years to come.

This university, while multifaceted and lovely for a number of reasons, is prioritized highly as a reputable academic institution which espouses scholarship in a variety of fields. If a person comes here ready to grow in the area of academics, I can guarantee that they will be continuously excited by what they are learning.

I have always been a reader and a seeker of knowledge on just about any given subject (except calculus – I flee from calculus). Naturally, I looked forward to the time in my life where my main job was to attend college and learn as much as I could. When I first came to CBU, I have to admit that I was astonished not only by the approachability of the professors, but also by their sheer brilliance in their respective fields.

The professors here are truly masters of their craft. Each has made highly respectable achievements in his or her field, and maintains a passion for carrying on this knowledge. I have not met a professor in my four years here who was not only in love with their work, but also with using that passion to advance the Kingdom.

CBU values exploration of truth and knowledge. In my time here, I have seen how my Christian worldview aligns with my intellectual passions and allows me to appreciate both faith and knowledge more highly. It is for this reason that I am particularly thankful for the fact that I will soon earn a degree from this university at this time in my life.

Aaand we’re back!

Friends, I hope you all had a marvelous Christmas break that was filled with love, relaxation and a healthy amount of productivity. I can honestly say that my break was filled to the brim with the former two items, but slightly lacking in the third due to the release of every season of “Friends” on Netflix. Thus, I’m now completely rested up and eager to dive back into reality at the university that holds my heart.

As I went through my four-year long journey at CBU, I realized that at the start of every semester I am consistently reminded of why I chose to come here in the first place. Each fresh start brims with the giddy anticipation of all that will happen over the next 15 weeks. We are reunited with our friends and feel that unmistakably comforting sensation that we are at our home away from home. There is something about the communal atmosphere that can’t be ignored.

When I first toured CBU, I have to admit that I did not think that I would come here. Today, as I dive into what will be my very last first day of school, I am so thankful that I ended up exactly where I am. There is no doubt in my mind that being a student at CBU has set my life on a trajectory that I am thrilled with. At this university, I have met some of the most influential people in my life, and I grew more than I could have conceived. I discovered new academic passions due to the attention of caring professors and a variety of fields to choose from. I have had opportunities to refine my central beliefs and see exactly how my faith converges with all my passion, knowledge and experience. I owe so much of who I am to my time at CBU, and as I sentimentally begin the last semester of my senior year, I am so excited to finish what I began and see what will come next. I’m convinced, as ever, that life is a fantastic adventure.

See you next week.

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.

Friends, now is the time for long drives home, pajamas all day, and eating more than is decent with friends and family. Or in my case, it’s time for travels all across the state, venue seeking, wedding dress shopping, and catching up on work for the final weeks of the semester. Either way, this is going to be a beautiful break.

As I approach Thanksgiving break, I’m always blown away by just how quickly the semester has gone by this far. Naturally, this causes me to become about 15 times more sentimental. Given that this is my last fall semester at CBU, I’ve become an especially touchy-feely goon. Because of that, I just have to share all that my God has given me these past few months that I appreciate more than I can say.

I have to mention just how grateful I am for my fiancé and the growth I have experienced through this relationship. I never thought I could be simultaneously so humbled by my shortcomings and elevated by another person’s love and support. This has so clearly echoed the love I have found fully in Christ, and I am so thankful for a place like CBU to grow in this love and see it spread in my relationship.

And, of course, I am ever thankful for a university that challenges me intellectually, connects me with people who push me to be the best human I can be, and facilitates growth. My scholarly life has flourished, as have my ambitions for the future, and I am left with more hope than I would have thought possible. This is in large part due to this specific university, the people I’ve met here, and the resources available to facilitate growth. I can’t think of a more appropriate time to express just how much my experience here has done for me.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Recently, I have consistently been reminded of the beauty of redemption.

As a concept, it seems complex as it does contain a great deal of depth. In practice and impact on everyday life, it is multifaceted and freeing. I have seen so much of this in various ways in my experience as a college student at CBU. Sitting through lectures and participating in life with my dearly loved friends in various majors has shown me so clearly that God’s redemptive nature is active, and indescribably beautiful.

When I read scripture, I see how the Creator made a gorgeous and thoroughly good world. He designed us in his image, man and woman, to experience and steward this goodness. While we do live in a state that has been perverted by sin, we can still catch vivid glimpses of the goodness in creation through the perfect character of our deity.

The world is beautiful not only in its form and activity, but in its diversity of culture and in the giftings of all individuals. Each singular talent is a redeemable gift and blessing. I am able to worship my God in using my love of literature and film and my longing to show others the elements of God as shown through those mediums. Friends are able to capture the beauty of the world and minister to others through visual arts. Still others study gender and culture and work to spread the gospel through engaging social justice. These are just a few manifestations of the diverse and redeemable talents that can all be used to honor the Creator.

The verse that always comes to mind when I consider individual passions and gifts is Luke 12:48. Jesus says: “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.” If we have been redeemed, our talents and passions have as well, and we as students should work to perfect these skills and use them to advance the Kingdom. With that, readers, let’s go out and use what we have been given to be awesome.

In my years at CBU, I have seen some amazing things. The list includes an actual chocolate slip n slide, discussions with a respected Hollywood film producer and Academy member, hidden catacombs (that’s another story), and innumerable concerts involving some of my favorite bands. Too many opportunities have given me the chance to see these things, but I have to say that one of my favorite recurring events has consistently been the Halloween Hay Ride.

Let me say that while these events have always been great, the Residence Life staff really outdid themselves this time. They typically pick a theme and set up scenes and activities relating to that, along with candy and costumes along the way. This year, rather than picking just one film or story to draw from, they drew inspiration from the happiest place on earth and scattered Disney goodness all over campus. Allow me to give you just a small snippet of the glory involved in CBU’s Harvest celebration.

Residence Life completely decked out the Brisco’s Lawn with representations of various Disney movies and characters. Included, of course, was more candy than a human could possibly eat, hot chocolate, and anything you could imagine that would make Halloween amazing. They played music, had games, and even acted out skits worthy of America’s Got Talent. My personal favorite was a tribute to Mary Poppins’ chimney sweep scene. Throughout the campus were scenes from various cartoons that were ongoing through the evening. My roommate played Jasmine at the Aladdin scene – even though I live with her, I was still star-struck.

I really could not have imagined a more welcome study break. While classes plow forward, I always find opportunity to balance the chaos of life with fun at any and all campus events.

I am not an especially wise woman. I have not been around very long and I have only experienced so much, but I am convinced that there is no other experience quite like taking the opportunity to serve another person.

I’m not just talking about serving loved ones here. It’s easy for me to go out of my way to make my family, friends, or kickin’ fiancé feel loved. As Jesus reveals to his followers, anyone can do that. I am talking about giving up a chunk of your life to serve people you may not like, or people you don’t even know. This is truly a thrill and exercise in holiness, and I have been graced with countless opportunities as a CBU student to do just that.

This past weekend I had the chance to head to a local church with my Focus group and spend several hours serving its needs. None of us are members at this church, and we had not yet met anyone we would be working with, but this honestly contributed so much to the experience. We quickly connected with those at the church as we planted bushes, mulched beds, set up equipment, and sorted through dumpsters. There is nothing quite like manual labor to serve as an icebreaker, after all.

As we worked together, I was overcome by the beauty of the experience we got to participate in. Not only did we get to work alongside each other as friends, we got to meet and bless other members of God’s Kingdom as they moved forward in their ministry. In some small way, we got to share the character of Christ with those whom we would not have otherwise met. This is part of the beauty of being a human, and a bit of the joy experienced in living a life of service to God and others.

This is why being a part of Focus is one of the best things I could have done this year. The program not only connects new students, it gives us a chance to serve the community. That, readers, is a gorgeous thing.