Megan’s Archive

Almost a JUNIOR… already?

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

I can’t believe that finals are in a few weeks and then this school year is officially over. My first two years of college have FLOWN by. It seems like just yesterday I was sitting in my room during senior year of high school wishing I was just at APU already. And I can honestly say that this school, the academics, the things I am involved in, and most of all, the people have never let me down. To come to APU will go down in my life as one of the most important and one of the best decisions I have ever made.

I think in honor of a new class of students coming soon, I will make a list of all the things that I basically see when I look back on these past two years.

1. I see a really faithful, loving, encouraging God. A God that believes in me and entrusts with me BIG things.

I am sadly taking my very last required Bible course this semester. It is a class that undoubtably has changed my perspective on Jesus and the Bible. This class is absolutely WORTH the hundreds and hundreds of dollars APU students pay for one class. I am realizing looking back at the 5 Bible Classes I’ve taken that I am so lucky to get to take these classes with the faculty that APU has. As a girl that has only ever been to public schools, learning about the Bible in school is just about the coolest thing ever.

2. I see the Alpha Program. The people that I met in it, the leaders that I have been blessed with through it, the people that have encouraged me and made me into a better follower of Christ, friend, and leader. This program is bigger then just freshmen orientation, it is a life changer.

3. I see three incredible people that I have lived with. The two girls I live with now and the one I was randomly assigned with freshmen year are three of my dearest and best friends. I could talk about them forever. I am grateful to be able to be in Christian community with girls that is so intentional. Living with people can either be horrible or extremely beneficial and even more fun. Mine was the second.

4. I see a mission trip to Tanzania that changed my life.

5. I see art classes that made me a better Christian artist and designer.

6. I see the tight-knit community that can be found at APU if you seek and desire it.

7. I see a lot of quiet time with Jesus. A lot of struggling through passages in the Bible with Him, a lot of praying through rough stuff, and then a lot of meditating on His Word.

Then I see a lot of loud time with Jesus. Spontaneous, good-hearted dance parties with friends during procrastination for long essays and studying. Dinners at the Caf with a ton of friends talking about what God is doing in our lives. D-Group meetings and alpha meetings filled with endless laughter that I know brings joy to the Lord. I think I have seen how both being quiet and being loud and crazy can draw you nearer to Jesus. He is as real in fellowship as He is in Chapel and Church and individual prayer.

8. I see a lot of adventures spontaneously late at night with friends. The kind of moments that make you grateful for life. Going to get mashed potatoes at KFC, donut man trips, going to a beautiful cliff overlooking the city and talking about life, driving around Pasadena blasting music, going to see a movie or getting sushi with the roommate. So many moments and so few pictures. That is when you know it was a great night, when you forget to take any pictures cause you are having too much fun with friends that mean the world to you.

9. I see the people that I have been blessed to have as neighbors both this year and last year. It is easy to love your neighbor when your neighbors RULE.

10. I see learning what it looks like to be a leader. Learning what you want out to get our of life. Learning how to best use your passions and skills and major to serve the Kingdom. Learning what you are doing wrong in friendships and what you are doing right. Learning the benefit of being vulnerable. Learning how quickly deep friendships can be built. Learning that you can do so much more then you think you can. Learning the blessings of living in America and being able to be educated at APU. Basically- I have learned a lot.

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This Past Year With Jesus.

Friday, February 17th, 2012

I remember coming into APU and wondering where I would be at spiritually if I went here. (After all, I did give up my dream of moving to New York City and attending an Art School in favor of a Christian University that I thought I would really grow spiritually in.) I remember recently laughing at how I used to say I would NEVER in a million years go to a school that was Christian, I was so used to attending secular schools and being the odd one out. Now, I can NEVER imagine myself attending a university that is not APU, that does not uphold Christian values and morals.

This past year and a half of being at APU I really have experienced Jesus in new ways (to say the least). If you want to send me an email, a comment, or anything like that, I would love to expand on other things God has shown me. This blog doesn’t even cover near a tenth of it.

I have experienced Jesus through community and relationships. I would be lying if I gave the impression that everyone here has it all together, that everyone is on the straight and narrow path, and that everyone is walking the perfect Christian walk. It would be the farthest thing from the truth. But there ARE most definitely some of the most SOLID, faithful followers of Christ here. I have never felt so encouraged and loved then I feel on this campus daily. I used to have a rather short list of people that I would go to whenever I needed someone, a short list of people I trust and respect with everything inside of me. Now the list has grown to be increasingly long. When I need someone, I struggle with the thought of who to call first, there are just honestly too many options.

I have become ever so present of this world, the issues in it, and how blessed I am to be where I am at. I used to seek thankfulness and admire people that saw the glass half full. Now I live thankfulness and my glass is always overflowing. Through being able to serve in Tanzania this past summer for 2 months specifically, I have viewed life so differently then before. Life is so beautiful. Also, through classes I am taking right now I am learning and seeking the bigger picture.

Jesus has taught me patience and what it looks like to be fully consumed in HIM. To be honest, the whole ‘Ring by Spring’ philosophy is very much true. There are a lot of people in long-term relationships and a plethora of engaged and married upperclassman. However, I think that taking each day moment by moment is really important to me and has really been something God has shown to me. I think a fair amount of people (even me sometimes) get caught up the future, so much so that they forget how privileged we are to be right where we are at.

I have learned what leadership looks like in my life and how important it is to me. (God is still teaching me a lot on that as well.) God has shown me what obedience looks like, what it feels like to rely on Him 100% and have no comfort to fall back on except Him. There have been moments of breaking down and feeling like I am on top of the world, God has been in the midst of all of those.

I have found joy in brokenness. I have realized that Christ really does use the most unworthy, the weakest of us to glorify Him and bring Heaven down on this Earth. I have sought and found Fruits of the Spirit that I never thought were possible to see outpouring in my life. I have seen Christ change my heart in ways that only can be possible from the God of the Universe. I have seen the church in the most beautiful form, and it did not take place in a typical church building as one might expect. I have experienced God every single day, and I think that before coming here I could not exactly say that. God’s beauty is so evident here. I truly feel that there is no better place to be right now in my life than this place I attend school and live. How lucky am I?

My life is so different, my faith is so different, from where I was before I came here. I had no idea all this would happen to the extent that it has. My walk with God is so much more intimate, God is so much more personal. I am now intentionally reading the Bible so much more, I yearn for it and nothing fills me like God’s Word does.

I think that there is such beauty and honesty in people’s walks with God at APU. So many incredible people with so many different stories. I can’t explain the encouragement I have found in peers, professors, and leaders of mine here.

But I encourage you to not wait until you step foot in college to be where you want to be with God. Meet God where you are at, seek God day to day, and when you finally set foot at APU take that for what it is as well. God is just as real here as He is where you are at.

This is an excerpt from a journal entry I wrote during my senior year of high school. (Incase you were wondering, the fire has definitely kept growing. Praise God for this answered prayer!)

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My life lately (ft. Instagram)

Saturday, December 24th, 2011

This past semester has been a whirlwind of growing, new experiences, surprises, and so much joy. It has FLOWN by so fast and the reality is hitting me that I only have three semesters left. Needless to say, I am making the most of every single day that is left of college.

I am currently at home for Christmas Break trying to fill myself up with things to do and people to catch up with, so that time flies between now and being back at school in a little over a week. I MISS APU. I am so not used to sleeping in a room alone with no one to talk to at 1am when I can’t fall asleep. I am so not used to showers with pressure, full size beds, cable television, and my MOMS home cooked meals (I can’t complain about any of that though haha).

Anyways, here is my recap of what these past few weeks have looked like for me:

Alpha banquet marked the end of an experience I will never forget and I will hold so close to my heart forever. My beautiful AC leader Taylor (the one on the right) is literarily a God-send and has blessed my life in so many ways. The whole night was exceptional and such a blast seeing everyone so dressed up and getting to have our last spontaneous dance party all together. It is crazy to think of my life in July without this whole experience and all these people that have so greatly impacted my life.

The good news is though… dun dun dun… I was given the position of Alpha Coordinator for the 2011-2012 Alpha Leaders. WOAHHH. I basically have to pinch myself daily about it because I am still in shock. After lots of screams, happy tears, and freak out moments, I am blessed and blown away that I can say that my Alpha experience is surely not over with yet! And now I get to witness a bunch of incredible soon-to-be alpha leaders grow in community, relationships, and most importantly, with the Lord. HOW LUCKY AM I? I will have the honor to lead 10-12ish Alpha Leaders throughout the next year. I never thought that this whole opportunity would come up, I had other plans that I was pretty set on because I thought that the position of AC was too out of my comfort zone, and too difficult to get (a ton of really incredible people applied). However, God (in typical God fashion) gave me the thing I was the most uncomfortable with and I can truly say that I have never been more thankful that God’s plan much prevails my own. I am nervous, anxious, but so completely filled with joy and excitement about whatever God is going to do with my future.

My two wonderful roommates and Santa Clause hanging out at Christmas Chaos (the annual event thrown by RezLife before all the crazy finals begins).

What happens when its 11pm, your craving In-N-Out, and you have way too many finals to study for? You beg your roommates to go to In-N-Out with you and you bring your books, notes, and laptops. Boom. Life of a college student.

The best way to take a long (and much needed) break from finals- go to Starbucks, then go with your AC group to a street of homes decorated beautifully for Christmas, then finish the night off with Chipotle and the greatest group of people. I mean, if you are going to procrastinate, at least make it memorable :)

Last thing to do before I leave APU for Winter Vacation: go out and eat Sushi with my roommate. Check.

Last thing to stick in my car before driving home: MY PET FISH. I received him as a gift from my lovely alphie when my last fish died prematurely, I named him Al- suits him well. You can see I am enjoying not driving home alone… I just wonder if Al is.

 

I wish you all a Merry Christmas! I sure am excited to celebrate the best (and my most favorite) birthday of the year! God bless.

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” Proverbs 19:21

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Note to Self

Monday, November 21st, 2011

I could reiterate this fact a million times, as much as I have said it plenty before, the statement stands true that I could not imagine myself anywhere else besides right where I am. As we are nearing the end (sort of) of the Fall semester I am still astonished at how fast this past year and 3 months has FLOWN by. I feel like it was just yesterday I was stepping into a university (and a whole ‘nother world it seemed) of things that were so new to me. I thought lately about what I would tell myself 15 months ago as I was nearing move in day at APU, if I knew what I know now.

This post is pretty out of line of what I usually post, more deep perhaps, but nonetheless I felt it may be beneficial/exciting for those that are thinking about coming to APU or maybe even JUST found out they got accepted to APU for next school year (Congratulations by the way!) Know that everyones experience here differs, I tried to encapsulate the fact that I would not be myself without being here, yet it hasn’t always been the easiest of times. Life is life, after all. I do know though that if you end up here by the hand of God, view it as a blessing on the daily, and seek out why He wants you here, you will never be disappointed. NEVER. And you will be like me in the fact that you will never go a day wondering how life would have been if you ended up somewhere else. You will never have wanted to end up elsewhere.

Dear Self,

You are stepping into the future that you yourself never had planned in your wildest dreams, it can only be said to be God’s hand at work instead of your own. You had your own plan for your life, God said no, and as much as it didn’t make sense and it was tough to release your grip on your own life plans, it will make sense in a couple months time as to why you are at APU and not anywhere else. As nervous, anxious, and overwhelmed as you are, rejoice and yet be still because all that nervousness will fade once you truly come to grasp how great of a blessing God is about to place in your hands.

You are entering into a world of self discovery, growth, leadership, incredible friendships, and learning. You are going to step into the school as one person and step out of it another person entirely. God is going to use you in ways that you cannot even fathom right now. You are going to struggle, fall short, endure hard (and sometimes long) trials, but at the other end is such a hope and restoration found in Christ. He is going to bless you with a community of friends, of sisters and brothers, of FAMILY, that will never let you feel like you are doing life on your own. They will encourage you, uplift you, motivate you, inspire you, and love on you endlessly. You will be poured into at this university more then ever before, and you will be given amble opportunities (that you will take) to pour into others.

You will learn the definition of success that turns out to be one you could have never foreseen it being. You will live out that success by experiencing true joy and developing even more of a genuine, real faith.

You will allow yourself to be vulnerable with people like never before, you will serve until you have run dry and then serve some more, you will travel the one place you never planned to (Africa), and you will see sides of California that you never thought existed through a leadership position you never would imagine you are about to be blessed with (Alpha).

God will teach you what a woman of God looks like, what a man of God looks like, and what your life may look like in the end. You will be overcome with stressful exams, tough classes, endless projects, and long essays. But you WILL look back time and time again and realize how blessed you are for the education you are receiving. You will be blessed with an incredible roommate freshmen year that only God could have hand picked for you and you will be blessed sophomore year with two incredibly Godly woman to love and pour into your life. Why you ever stressed out with who you were going to live with is beyond me.

Please make the most of your time at home, days that you are stressed and miss your family you will wish you did. Please eat a lot of home-cooked meals and build the high school friendships you desire wholeheartedly to keep. Please don’t stress out about making friends, because when you set your two feet on APU’s campus you will never have to worry about who to sit next to at lunch or who you can come to during hard times. You may grow distant from high school friends you never ever thought you would, but you will grow immensely close to the most incredible friends that you could not (even in your wildest of dreams) have picked out for yourself. You will never have to sit at lunch alone (expect random people to sit next to you because they will here) and you will rarely even have to open your own doors (thats what happens when your surrounded with men that know the name of Jesus).

Please pray that your stress and anxiety would be replaced with peace. There is no use in stressing out about being about to enter into the most incredible, life-changing years of your life.

Love, Self

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Oh yeah, I’m here for academics.

Monday, November 7th, 2011

SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN

invading the freshmen dance parties,

being weird with my roommates,

being consumed in how great Alpha is,

dressing up for living area events,

going out to dinner with incredible people,

and welcoming freshmen like a bunch of crazy people…

I have realized the truth of the matter. (Dun Dun Dunnnn) I’m here for school.

Sure, all the money your parents will be shelling out is not purely for academics, but a good chunk of it is. (Who knew a piece of paper at the end of 4 years could be so expensive!) As much as I feel it is more beneficial spending a night pouring into the lives of people and being behind in class the next day, at the same time I have had far too many lessons from God in how blessed I am to be educated here to push aside homework. (AKA: Teaching English in Tanzania this past summer and hearing student after student profess their career aspirations to me, it was 99.9% of the time one of three things: either a doctor, a pilot [so they can travel and see America], or a teacher. The options and opportunities are endless here but in other places it is not so much so.)

On another note, reality hit me when I checked where I am academically and realized that I only have a mere 40 units left until I can graduate. That translates to approximately 13 units a semester (my current load is 17 units) to graduate in the Spring of 2013… aka a YEAR early. So the question is, do I skip junior year or lack a senior year? Crazy right.

This reality check resulted in me seeking out internship opportunities and long story short, God TOTALLY provided and I am now a Set Design and Styling Intern as a beautiful store called Ruche. (Check it out all you girls that love vintage/girly/bohemian, anthropology/urban outfitters-esq clothes).

At least that took a load off my shoulders in regards to stressing about getting out there and being involved in “real world” design.

So all you high schoolers out there: GET PUMPED for how fun college WILL be but realize the real reasons you are here before it gets too late to raise that gpa and find those internships.

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The Purpose of Alpha

Wednesday, October 12th, 2011

Before I came into APU I remember reading on an APU blog about a girls experience meeting her alpha group. I had no idea what she was talking about and disregarded it completely. Ha. It is funny how the one thing I didn’t pay attention to at APU turned out to be the most influential.

Freshmen Year Alpha Group during Paint Wars

Rewind back 13 months, I came into APU knowing next to no one. The first night of college I got placed in a group of freshmen with one “alpha leader.” Looking back, I had no clue how this program would change my life completely. Most universities offer a program that helps you transition, typically though it lasts a mere weekend or the first week of school. Ours lasts three months to however long you want. This program alone tells a great deal about APU’s desire to form community (remember that word, you’ll hear it at a lot at APU) and build meaningful, genuine relationships.

My alpha group freshmen year was one of the first solid groups of people I got to know at APU. And my relationship with my alpha leader continues even into this school year. She is one of the greatest blessings of APU thus far and has poured into my life more then I ever expected. I know out of the list of the people I can go to if I ever need anything, she is at the top.

Some of my Alphies during our "Paint War"

Once my Alpha Group ended I sought out following in my wonderful alpha leaders footsteps and becoming an alpha leader myself. As luck would have it, I got the position and have had the privilege to get to know 7 wonderful freshmen and help them through their transition to APU.

City Links with part of my Alpha group!

Also, once you begin your role as an alpha leader you get put in an “alpha coordinator” (AC) group with a bunch of other alpha leaders and a former alpha leader (a junior).

The 2011-2012 Alpha Leaders!

My AC group consists of 4 of the most entertaining, genuine guys at APU (for real) and 8 incredible women of God. I don’t think I could have ever forseen how much these relationships would alter my view of so many things. I don’t think I could have ever forseen how being a leader would draw me nearer to God and help me discover even more so who I am in Christ.

My AC Group during Bridges (part of Alpha Training)

The purpose of an Alpha Group is not to torture you into being in an awkward group of freshmen that are forced to be together many times during a three month span. It is intended to build this wonderful community at APU and give you people that you can connect with and “do life” beside. The worst thing that could happen at college is to come in knowing no one and weeks later still feel like you don’t know anyone. With Alpha that is marked as impossible.

Also, I feel that with being an alpha leader it makes it impossible to not be madly in love with the school I ended up at. I not only get to meet with my wonderful “alphies” every week but I get to meet with my AC group once a week and build those great relationships.

Actually, “great” isn’t even a proper word to describe the relationships I have built in my AC group. It is more then a group, it is a family. Within the first 3 days of getting to know each other once we came back to school for Alpha Leader training, we were inseparable. It can best be described as Heaven sent, because I feel as if God was the only one that could have picked such a perfectly knit group of 13 people. 13 people with a heart for freshmen, APU, people in general, and GOD. 13 people that love loving and encouraging people. 13 people with the greatest senses of humor and 13 people that manage to have the best time together possible. The 2 hour meetings once a week are not enough time spent with these amazing people.

My AC Girls. SO much love.

The purpose of being an alpha leader is not only to grow as a person and as a leader, but to realize what it looks like to pour into people without ceasing and to have others pour into you. The purpose of being an alpha leader is all about the RELATIONSHIPS. The relationships I have built during the 2 months I have known the other alpha leaders in my AC group are just as strong, if not stronger, then some of the 8+ year relationships I have back home. There is something about the vulnerability, growth, love, and encouragement that grows on in an AC group that builds a relationship so much faster then they are ordinarily built.

AC Retreat in Big Bear

I could go on for ages about how much being an alpha leader and being in an alpha group upon entry at APU has changed things in my life, but you wouldn’t understand until you have experienced it first hand.

I encourage you prospective students, while deciding on a school to attend to discover programs and ways to get involved with the community at the school you are looking into. At so many schools you are just another face in the crowd. Here, you aren’t.

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