Posts Tagged ‘Roommates’

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Almost a JUNIOR… already?

Megan 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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Note to Self

Megan 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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I’m a sophomore?

Megan Monday, October 3rd, 2011

Without further ado, I will be continuing my blogging adventures throughout SOPHOMORE YEAR! (WOOOO)

Meghan, myself, and Melody. My beautiful fellow alpha leaders.

To catch you up on life (or to introduce myself if this is the first post of mine you are reading)… My name is Megan and I am a sophomore graphic design major. You can read all of my previous posts to get a good grasp on what I was involved in last year and what my life “looked like.” Basically, I was living in Trinity Hall with the most amazing hallmates (two of which are my roommates this year). I was involved in Young Life first semester and second semester I joined a D-Group and started attending meetings for a Focus International mission trip through the Office of World Missions (to Tanzania). I loved my experience with the Alpha program, and due to that I applied and was accepted to be an Alpha Leader for this semester. IT IS SUCH A BLESSING. Say hello to my incredible alphies:

So far, even though this year has already flooded me with busyness, I am LOVING this new change of pace as a sophomore. My roommates are two of the most amazing, Godly women around and it is such a blessing to be able to seek God together and know that they are always supporting me and uplifting me. My R.A. (Resident Advisor) is incredible, my D-Group is continuing into this year and is always such an encouragement, and the bond that I have formed with the other alpha leaders is indescribable. I am realizing the blessings of a small community such as APU, I am reaping the benefits of being able to pour into so many peoples lives and to be poured into by so many great people.

It is crazy to me that it has been over a year since I moved in to Azusa, California and this place became home. It became home quick, might I add. It is funny that it is such a random, little-known city yet holds so much importance in my life. This place used to hold potential, and now it holds growth, change, purpose, relationships, and passion. This place, Azusa Pacific University, and this city, holds a lot.

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Some Last Thoughts

Megan Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

Next weeks marks finals week, and the last week of my freshmen year of college. The days keep going by faster and as much as I am excited for what next year and my entire future will look like, I find myself wishing time would somehow go by slower.

So here marks my freshmen year in a nutshell:

So excited to be moving into my new home!

Move-In day almost felt like it was straight out of a Hilary Duff movie (and I love Hilary Duff movies). Absolute madness, but one of the best days of my life. My stuff was moved in in no time and meeting my roommate was priceless.

Alpha Group 35!

My Alpha Group I met shortly after moving in and I had absolutely no idea what an alpha group even was. Come to find out, APU definitely prides itself on the whole Alpha experience, with a very good reason to. In the beginning, being with a group of 8 strangers was awkward (predictably), but by the end of Alpha I found myself wishing it would never end. Now I am going to be an Alpha Leader myself next year and could not be any more excited about it! It is one of the many ways that they help you transition easily to college life and meet new people you might not ordinarily meet.

Such a fun All-Access weekend!

Being an ambassador this year was the first commitment I made when I arrived at APU. It gave me the opportunity to host prospective students multiple times per year and be a part of All-Access weekends. It was such a blessing being able to see people fall in love with APU as I have. I cannot explain how many smiles and laughs I had during those weekends.

Young Life leaders!

Being a part of Young Life first semester was an experience I will never forget. I made priceless friendships and was able to serve God in the most amazing way. It was a new opportunity for me to put myself out there and love on high schoolers that were open to the Gospel.

Then, as God led me to no longer be a part of Young Life He led me toward being a part of the Office of World Mission’s Focus International mission teams. I found out at the beginning of second semester I would be going to Tanzania. I cannot explain how much God has been real to me through being able to be a part of this mission team. It has been without a doubt, one of the biggest blessings of being here at APU and I haven’t even left for the trip yet (it is in three weeks, crazy!). I never in a million years thought I would ever be going to Africa, it was never in my plan. But I realized that almost everything I have been changed by at APU was not originally in my plan. God’s plan is so much greater.

My hall in Trinity, Fourth South has been a huge part of my experience at APU as well. I have made so many life-long friends and I have learned so much by being able to live on my own and be a part of such a great community.

Spontaneous trip to The Hat with 4th South girls!

Last, but definitely not least, the courses that I have taken at APU so far have honestly changed my perspective on education altogether. I have had professors that changed my life because they changed my perspective on things in ways I never knew possible. Also, being a graphic design major, I am finally able to take design and art classes and it has been so much fun! I cannot explain how great it feels to finally be able to be educated in what I love. Also, words cannot do justice for how great of a blessing it is being educated by Christian professors. Each class (yes, even p.e., math, english, etc.) works faith and Christianity into its curriculum, which is amazing.

I think that everyone that knows me would know how much I would attest to APU being the greatest decision I have ever made. This year has been a crazy whirlwind of a year, but I have grown so much as a person and as a follower of Christ that I wouldn’t change it for the world.

If I were to give advice to incoming students at APU it would be to put yourself out there and do things that you never planned on doing. Enjoy living in the dorm while it lasts, because if you make the most of that experience, it will be one of the best experiences of your life. Don’t stress out, be excited for this year to come. And whatever you do, during the school year even though school can be stressful and overwhelming don’t let it get you to the point where you stop enjoying being here. Going to college is not forced, it is a privilege. Be excited, because a year from now, your life will be so different! The way that the community works here, and the way that God is present here, is enough to change your life alone.

Lastly, I want to say THANK YOU to all my readers for taking the time to keep updated on my experience here at APU! I appreciate it more then you’ll ever know!! If you have any questions feel free to comment and I would love to answer you! God bless.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” -Romans 8:28

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one. more. month.

Megan Monday, April 11th, 2011

One more month of my freshmen year. The last time I will ever be a freshmen… in my life. Crazy. This year has seriously flown by faster then I ever thought it would. I feel like I just got here, move-in day seems like it was just yesterday. By far, it has been the best year of my life. I have met people that I can’t imagine living life without. I have met people that have inspired me, encouraged me, and shown me what it means to pursue Christ with all of your being. There are people that I can never repay for the way that they have poured into my life. I have grown as a person, and even more so I have grown in my relationship with God. The way I have experienced God while being here is extraordinary.

It is insane to think of how originally APU was not on my rater of colleges at all. I had a whole different plan, but this was God’s plan for me. And it is infinitely better then any other place I could have ended up. This is my home now, these people are like family. This community is like family. For some people, picking a college is all about the city your in, or the look of the campus, or how great their food is, or even how good the school name will look on your resume. While I would fare to say that there are so many schools that rank better at those things then APU, I would also fare to say that in terms of community and the people, APU ranks number one. I could never imagine myself anywhere else, surrounded by any other group of individuals.

Besides school ending next month, I have a little over one more month until I leave for my mission trip to Tanzania. It is surreal at this point. The way that God has opened doors for this trip, prepared me and equipped me personally for this trip, and bonded my team is just so amazing. It has been a true testimony to how God will get you somewhere if He really wants you there. God really wants me there. If I ended up at any other place, I would not be going on this mission trip in a month. And that in itself is just a weird thought. This mission trip IS where I am supposed to be, and APU got me here. I haven’t even been on the trip yet and I already cannot imagine my life without it.

One more month until I move out of the dorms. Oh boy, that’s going to be a sad day. I will miss spontaneous trips to ‘The Hat’ or ‘Donut Man’ or ‘In-N-Out.’ I will miss beach days with my hall and waking up at 3AM to pillow fights outside and girls screaming in the hall (I know, weird thing to miss right?). I will miss Monday night cramming into a room and watching The Bachelor. I will miss constantly having my door open and never being able to get homework done because people walk in every 2 seconds. I will miss moving my mattress into other rooms and having sleepovers. I will miss spontaneous dance parties and movie nights. I will miss getting ready for GYRAD and walking into the bathroom every morning to see the whole bathroom filled with girls getting ready. I will miss spending hours on end in the study room during finals, but never having a dull moment because there are 10 other girls studying in there too. I will miss never having to be alone, unless I choose to be. I will miss sitting out on Trinity Lawn doing homework on a beautiful sunny day. I will miss every single thing about living in the dorms, it was hands-down one of the greatest parts of my freshmen year. Some of the girls on my hall will be my friends for eternity (seriously).

But there are so many things to look forward to:

  • I am going to be an ALPHA LEADER next year, which I could not be any more excited about. I am so blessed to be able to pour into the lives of incoming freshmen. I can only hope that I influence the lives of my “alphies” as my alpha leader influenced my own.
  • Next year I will be living in an apartment with two of the girls on my hall. They are some of the most caring, encouraging, and fun girls I have ever met. I can’t wait.
  • My schedule of classes for next semester…. THREE art classes. So stoked.
  • Spring Semester I am planning on studying abroad (either South Africa, England, Italy, or London!)
  • Much far into the future… my Junior year… I am going to pursue being an R.A. for the freshmen in the dorms.

If you are going to be a freshmen at APU next year I have one piece of advice for you… GET EXCITED. Your life will be changed and will look nothing like what it does right now (in a good way). You will grow, learn, experience things you never imagined you would, and make friendships that will last a lifetime. Looking back, I enjoyed high school, but college is a new level of enjoyment.

If you are not going to be a freshmen at APU next year, GET EXCITED ANYWAYS. Be in prayer about where God is leading you, be pursuing Him, and rejoice in all that you do have right now.

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A Birthday and A Roadtrip

Megan Tuesday, March 1st, 2011

Last month, a couple friends and I decided that a road trip was much needed with all the craziness of school. So often we are so busy with homework and all the activities at school that we don’t get to actually GET AWAY much. We took a free day and drove about three hours to Salvation Mountain, a beautiful man-made mountain of art created by a guy that’s crazy about Jesus and Jesus’ love. I have to say, it blew my mind, and as an artist myself it was a huge inspiration of how our faith and our art can go hand in hand. All of my friends that went absolutely loved it as well. Pictures don’t do it justice, but all you prospective students- when you get a chance to attend APU it is a must see work of art that can end up being an amazing road trip with friends. It’s pretty liberating just being able to jump into your car with four friends and drive off for a day’s adventure.

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Then, earlier this month as a little celebration for my birthday I went out to dinner with a couple of my closest friends at school to Bucca Di Beppo. I don’t know how its possible for dinner to be that much fun but it was either the amazing Italian food or the great company, its a toss up.

Later that night I rang in my birthday with driving half way to San Diego to pick up a hall mate with some of my friends blasting the song by 50 Cent that says “we gonna party like its your birthday.”

Then I woke up to my roommate carrying in a chocolate cake singing Happy Birthday. As simple as this whole birthday sounds, it was wonderful. I came to the conclusion that good company is all you need to have an amazing birthday. Here’s to my 19th year of life!

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