Post Graduation Thoughts

May 18, 2013 – my last day at Erskine College as a student…

It’s hard to believe that four years went by so quickly. It’s all so bittersweet. I guess the saying, “Time flies when you’re having fun,” is accurate. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Erskine. Sure it started out a little rough, but over the years I grew quite fond of Erskine and the community there. I left Erskine with tears in my eyes because I realized just how blessed I have been. I received a fully funded college education. I made life-long friendships with students and faculty and staff. I traveled to Europe with the Choraleers. I traveled to China during J-Term with Dr. Grier and Dr. Chaney and students from various departments. I met outstanding alumni who helped me find internships and jobs. I further developed my talents and skills. I was given several opportunities to be a student leader.

For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

- Luke 12:48

I was given four years at Erskine to grow academically and spiritually. I gave back to Erskine as much as I could. But all of my accomplishments and accolades aren’t of importance. Over the years, people will eventually forget what I’ve done. My only prayer is that I left a legacy that reflects back on Christ more than it reflects back on me.

As a student, there were times when I complained about Erskine and got tired of the school and church politics. I got caught up in the rumor mill. I talked about things I didn’t fully understand. But I implore current students to realize just how much of a blessing the Erskine community can truly be. It’s not a utopia of higher learning, but it is a fine institution. You will be pushed academically, but that will prepare you for your future endeavors. You will be nurtured spiritually, but that will help you define what you believe and why you believe it. You will be given opportunities to lead, but that will teach you how to deal with people from different backgrounds.

Above all, you will make friendships that will last a lifetime. You may meet your future spouse. If not, you’ll at least meet your future bridesmaids and groomsmen. You will meet professors that actually care about your well-being. They will push you to succeed not only in the classroom, but in life! We have a tight-knit community and many times it’s seen as a curse instead of a blessing.

Choose to see it as a blessing. Choose to focus on excelling academically, growing spiritually, and reaching out socially. Squeeze that Erskine education for all it’s worth! Then, when your day of commencement comes, you will be able to walk underneath the towers (I’m still a little bitter that I had to graduate in the gym…) with a smile on your face, knowing that you grew as a person and are adequately equipped to take on the world and impact the Kingdom.

Under the Towers

Choraleers Friends

Magna Cum Laude

Only at Erskine…

So i just got back in from having lunch with a friend from Erskine. And you know what? I had such a great time.

I know Erskine is small. It’s in the middle of what seems like nowhere. People know all your business…BUT the kind of friendships you can build at a school like Erskine is truly something special. I thank God for the wonderful people I’ve been able to meet through Erskine. Today’s lunch date definitely reminded me to be thankful for those relationships and to make sure I don’t take them for advantage.

I know it seems like your life revolves around your usual circle of friends in high school, but to be honest I only talk to about 3 people from my high school on a regular basis and I went to a small private high school. Not to say that friendships from high school don’t matter, but once you’re older and all of you are separated that’s when the test of true friendship occurs. Even though some friendships from high school didn’t last, I’m extremely grateful for the new ones that I’ve made.

It’s easy to take the little things in life like having running water, being able to get around, knowing how to read, for granted, but don’t take people for granted. Friendships aren’t litte things. God created us as social beings and He knew we would need each other to make it trough this crazy thing called life.

So stop whatever you’re doing right now and take time to tell your friends and loved ones that you appreciate them being in your life.

Widows Ministry 2011

This past week, I had the amazing opportunity to begin Spring Break by participating in Widows Ministry. Each spring, Erskine students who are part of the Barn join Bill May in his constant efforts to care for widows and widowers who live in the areas near Erskine. Years ago, Bill’s grandfather modeled true religion for his grandson when he took Bill with him to work on various projects for the numerous widows who called on him when they needed help. After the death of his father and grandfather, Bill took up the work that they had begun, and in recent years he has even begun to invite college students to join him in caring for these wonderful friends.

During the week, we Erskine students were blessed to get to know numerous different widows and widowers, visiting with them and hearing their stories. As young people, we so often forget to take the time to learn from and spend time with the elderly; and in doing so, we both neglect what James calls “religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless” and forfeit a wonderful opportunity to learn from those older and wiser than we are. Friends and I were incredibly blessed, for example, by the bubbling cheerfulness and sweet spirit of Mrs. Sadie, who enjoyed watching a couple of us play the piano and thanked us heartily for taking the time to come see her. We also enjoyed a pound cake made by one ninety-two year old widower while we listened to fascinating stories about his life and experiences as a black man living through the Civil Rights Movement.

We were also able to undertake various tasks, such as clear-coating a ramp and pruning bushes. And in between our visits, of course, we enjoyed what Bill wisely said everyone loves—food and fellowship! One of the greatest things about Widows Ministry is that the relationships we established over the past few days are ones which we can continue to cultivate during the school year as we seek to live out James 1:27. This video might give you an idea of some of what the week was like.

A Month Later: A Few Reflections

Well, it’s been just over a month since I got back from Spain, so I figured I should write a blog.  I admit that I have been avoiding doing this, and I couldn’t figure out why at first, but I think it’s because I haven’t wanted to sit down and compare Spain to Erskine, because I love them both so dearly.

First, I had a wonderful, quick, ten day vacation at home with my family for the holidays, but even though I had the initial shock of being back in the United States and missing Spain, it wasn’t until coming back to Due West that I really felt the difference.  For one thing, I was ready to be home with my family for Christmas, because no matter how happy I was in Spain, I still felt the need to be back in Charleston to celebrate fully.  I also had so much going on – Christmas, New Year’s Eve, my birthday, a couple of meetings with friends, appointments, unpacking, packing back up again, etc. – that I was pretty focused and distracted.

So then it was time to go back to college.

We’ve got three days left of J-term, which means that and I’ve been back for three weeks, and it has gone by so quickly.  Although nothing major has changed about Erskine externally (besides some fixed sidewalks and rearranged furniture), a lot has changed in the semester of my absence: some faculty changes for me, an entirely new class of freshmen who I am slowly getting to know, people have changed. . . and I have changed.  A lot.

Although I didn’t feel like I had an entirely life-changing experience that turned me into a completely new person, I realize now how much I have changed internally.  More than anything, my perspective has changed a lot, in many ways.  I feel like I have a much clearer view of things in life – my priorities, and a healthy balance of everything.  For example, I really value the relationships in my life more now, as a combination of being away from everyone and seeing how much importance the Spanish place on the people in their lives.

I also find myself comparing people and culture here to Spain, which doesn’t help with missing it.  I like to think that I don’t miss Alicante as much – that I am happy and getting used to being back – though it can vary a lot by the day.  I suppose overall it is better, but there are some days when I just ache to be back over there.  But regardless, I still am very glad to be back in Due West, believe it or not, because the Erskine family is just something unique that I dearly missed in Spain.  Too bad I can’t just take all of my family and good friends over there with me.

For now I’m just looking forward to jumping into the regular spring semester, being involved in all of my music and theatre again, and remembering to be thankful for what time I did have in Spain, and everything that it taught me.

Only at Erskine

The titular phrase of this post is one that we here at Erskine sometimes say, during those inevitable moments of frustration which are part of life, in a less-than-affectionate tone. I had an experience today, however, which brought a huge grin to my face and caused me to voice that phrase with a far more wonted tone of delight and affection.

This afternoon, you see, I went into the kitchen to make my daily cup of tea—yes, I should have been British—and while I was heating it, I walked over to the vending machine to ascertain the cost of a bottle of water. Three members of the Erskine Maintenance Staff happened to be in the kitchen at the time, and one of these friendly janitors, upon observing my perusal of the vending machine, asked me in a jovial tone whether I wanted to get something. I said I did and that I was about to go to my room to get some change.

In response, he pulled out his wallet and handed me a dollar and twenty-five cents, despite my appreciative but embarrassed insistence that he didn’t need to do that! As he put the money in my hand, he looked at me with a sage twinkle in his eye and said, “Well there are lots of things in life we don’t have to do that we do anyway.” And I couldn’t argue with that. So I got a bottle of water and left Robinson kitchen with a big smile on my face, blessed to be a part of a community that doesn’t extend only to the student body, but rather includes everyone, from the president to the staff. Only at Erskine.