Two Years Later

Two years ago I embarked on my journey through college.

It seems odd for me to think about how I’m halfway done, and my university days are nearly over. That means I’m growing up… and I don’t feel old enough to be a grown up yet.

Thinking back to move-in day, I remember how scared and nervous I felt as a freshman. I was terrified, and my university was only a 20 minute drive from home.

I was scared that I wouldn’t make friends. I was scared I would do poorly in class. I was scared I would get lost on campus. Simply put: I was scared.

A year ago, I wrote this post reflecting on my freshman year. I also wrote down the top 10 memories of my freshman year.

Sophomore year though?

Haha, sophomore year was nothing like I would have expected.

One of my best friends told me in August that she wasn’t coming back to my university that fall. It was a complete shock to me. The two of us were going to live together someday. We were going to hang out all the time until then. I didn’t understand why God would be sending her somewhere else.

I spent the first half of the semester alone in my room, hiding from everyone, becoming depressed.

Then halfway through the semester, my other best friend told me she was leaving at Christmas break to go to a community college in her hometown. Another heartbreak. I was glad I had time to process her leaving, but it didn’t make the transition any easier.

And then there was the car wreck..

In September I had a major car wreck. My poor car, “Princess Adah” was totaled. I got to take my first trip in an ambulance to the emergency room and got to wear a stiff neck thingy while they ran tests on me.

When the tests came back, there was nothing wrong. Hallelujah! The doctors were shocked when they heard that I had hit a guy who was making an illegal U-turn while I was going the speed limit of 60 miles per hour. I easily could have been seriously injured, or worse.

I knew I’d be okay though, as I slammed on the breaks as I hit the big truck. I knew God would protect me as the airbags of my car deployed and as I was flung back against my seat, my ponytail holder soaring out of my hair (totally should have washed my hair the day before, just saying. My hair was a greasy mess.)

And God did protect me.

And not only that, but He provided an excellent reminder that I did still have friends around and people who care about me. The sheer number of people who showed up at that ER to support me and the number of encouraging texts I received still to this day humble me.

It snapped me out of my depression and self-pity.

My car may have died, but I was certainly blessed. (I could barely move for about a week after the fact, but no major damage. And thankfully everyone in the other car were completely fine.)

And then in the spring…

I joined a small group at my church. And I absolutely love it. It’s a multi-generational small group, so I’m getting to know some of the older people at my church in addition to the kids I work with on Wednesday nights. They are all so sweet and I love hearing different perspectives as we read through the Bible together.

I signed up to go on a mission trip through my university, and I had meetings for that every week. I made some great friends there and I love my team so much. My team had biweekly get-together’s throughout the semester which was great for building new friendships. I also learned so much about God and my relationship with Him through the meetings. I learned that spiritual warfare is real, and I haven’t even gone on the trip yet!

And my roommate and her boyfriend got engaged this past semester, which is super exciting! :) Yay!!

Despite these few happy aspects, my spring semester was no picnic. I had to adjust to both of the best friends I made freshman year being hours away from me. I’ve had long distant friendships before, but for some reason, these seemed different.

Like I said in my letter to you the other day, I lost my job this semester. I had been nannying for this family for two and a half years and their two boys seemed like two additional little brothers to me. I still see them sometimes, but, man, I miss them a lot.

Sophomore year definitely had more lows than highs, and I’m looking forward to what junior year brings.

I’m going to be living with one of my dearest friends ever, whom I have been friends with since 7th grade. We’re both super excited to be roommates!! :) :)

There is a possibility for another study abroad trip May 2017 that I may get to go on, and if so that helps me push my graduation date up a semester.

Beyond that? I have no idea what junior year will bring. I just know that I’m gonna trust God through whatever adventures and heartaches He brings my way.

God’s got this.

Posted by Kara Beth & filed under My Life. This post has 4 comments.