Looking back and pushing ahead

First day of freshmen year
Well my last year is off to a great start I think! I was on time to all three classes (aren't you so proud mom), and they seem like they are all going to be interesting courses. I think my summer of hanging out with my brother's friends makes me now drawn to the freshmen, because all day long I was constantly surrounded by freshmen, whether it was in my classes or just helping them around campus. I am beginning to think that God has something he wants me to teach or share with the youngin's this year because I am often finding myself inexplicably wanting to give them unsolicited advice about enjoying every minute of the days to come! After both my experiences with my brother's friends this summer and two freshmen swimmers I had dinner with tonight, I find myself in a constantly reflective mood; I am torn between looking
back and pushing ahead.

I want to remember the carefree days of that first year on campus when every moment was new, fresh, a little intimidating but wonderful at the same time. I can still vividly recall the sheer nervousness I felt walking into that first class, totally unsure of what to expect and the sigh of relief I breathed when I realized there were 30 other nervous faces to greet me. I enjoy talking with the "Bros" and my new freshmen swimmers about their first impressions of college as it allows me to recapture those feelings that I regrettably took for granted. Perhaps I can instill in them the importance of not forgetting to live in the moment or letting those seemingly meaningless feelings escape.

Yet, at the same time I feel called to push forward and realize that now is not the time to dwell on the what-I-should-have-done's, but to focus on the future. For I know that the next nine months will all too soon become the topic of a reminiscent blog post. Instead, I intend to make sure that in those future blog posts I can write about all the terrific memories I made of senior year. I want there to be no twinge of regret the next time I feel myself "looking back", because I will know that I enjoyed every last minute of it, right down to the inevitable cram session that will occur. To go along with that my roommate and I have created a list of all the must-d0's of Elon, which we will accomplish before we stride confidently across that graduation stage and take our place among the rest of the inhabitants of the "real world". Check back later to see what mischief we have in store!





Leaping boldly into senior year