Posts Tagged ‘undergrad experience’

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On Why I Chose APU

Rheanna Thursday, October 21st, 2010

The first time I met Jon Wallace, president of APU, I told him I was planning on attending Biola.

You may not know that Biola and APU are intense rival colleges. For years, there have been pranks and friendly competition traded back and forth between the two schools.

I didn’t know this as a senior in high school; I also didn’t know who Jon Wallace was. He was just an old friend of my parents who seemed to have an unusually high interest in where I was going to college.

I did, eventually, see the light and ultimately decided to apply to APU. Jon Wallace either forgot about this little incident or he was gracious enough to pretend he had forgotten, because three years later, I am about a month and a half into my senior year here at APU.

And I’m glad I ended up at APU. I’m not trying to say that choosing another school would have been a bad decision or would have had a negative impact on my life in any way. Actually, I firmly believe that it doesn’t really matter which school you end up at; all that matters is what you make of whatever environment you choose.

I remember being in high school and being terrified that I would make the wrong decision as to where I went to college. I remember weighing the pros and cons in my mind over and over until I was so confused about how to make this decision that it gave me a never-ending headache. I was absolutely convinced that there was one particular choice that God wanted me to make and if I could just think about it enough, I would figure it out.

But then I had a high school Bible teacher talk to me about God’s will. He said, “As long as you are striving to be in the center of God’s will, you will not make a bad decision.” This completely changed my approach to choosing a college. Rather than focusing on where God wanted me to be, I began to focus on where I could use my talents and honor God to the best of my ability.

So I chose APU. Not because it was the more Christ-like school, but because the strong English program and the focus on missions and the larger student body and all the beautiful trees on campus appealed to me. I could have served God just as well at Biola or Westmont or even a secular school, but I chose APU because it seemed the most me.

I am so grateful to have a God who gives me the freedom to make these kinds of decisions.

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Making “The College Experience” Your Own.

Megan Thursday, October 21st, 2010

In high school, I thoroughly remember all the clubs, organizations, and opportunities that arose to be involved in. However, it was rare that many people actually DID THEM. Going into college, I promised myself I would not stick to that same mindset that all of those opportunities are unimportant and “boring.” I knew that I wanted to be involved, and somehow influential in other peoples lives. But I didn’t know how. I have to say though, all of the opportunities that APU places in the palm of every single students hand are worthwhile. I would fair to say that they give you too many opportunities (if thats possible?). I have spent many nights debating what things I wanted to do the most, because I am often in the dilemma of being overly committed to too many things.

There are opportunities straight out of freshmen year, ranging from being an Ambassador (hosting students that attend the amazing All Access Weekends and hosting other prospective students) to being in a D-Group (Discipleship Group with peers to have Bible studies, pray, and grow in your faith) to tutoring kids in the area to serving in missions trips to reaching out to the elderly community to Mexico Outreach trips to getting a mentor.

During my first week here at APU, I found out about a group called Young Life. It immediately was a huge tug at my heart and it was something I knew I would thrive in. Young Life is a non-denominational Christian ministry that reaches out to teenagers in a way thats authentic and approachable. Its similar to what most teenagers know to be “youth group,” except its less formal and more based around being crazy, having fun, and hanging out with the youth. I started getting involved and learning about it and next thing you know, I am now a leader at one of the Young Life groups at a nearby high school. The other Young Life leaders are extraordinary and super stoked about their faith. This program has given me the opportunity to reach into other kids lives the way that people reach into my own life. Its awesome to get opportunities to give back what you have already been blessed with.

Bonfire with Young Life!

Bonfire with Young Life!

I would encourage you to be in prayer and consider what things you want to be involved with once you come to APU. You will never in your life get the kind of opportunities as you do in college. College is a time of really figuring out who you are and where you want to go in your life. It is a time of defining your faith and growing in your friendships. All of these opportunities that APU gives you once you arrive on campus only ENHANCE all the things you hope to gain out of college.

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7 Reasons to Get Involved During Freshmen Year

1. You get to meet a LOT of new people- amazing people- that you might not get a change to meet otherwise

2. With all the schoolwork, tests, and essays, its a good way to set time aside for something you really enjoy

3. How involved you are is often said to “make or break” your experience during college

4. A requirement for graduation is Ministry and Service (MAS) credits, which you probably should start from the get-go, or risk a very overwhelming senior year

5. There are enough opportunities to be able to get involved with something your really passionate about, and with the stresses of college, that passion is necessary to push you along

6. Being involved is a huge way to grow in your relationship with God- being able to serve others as Jesus did and use your strengths to benefit the community of APU and Azusa alike

7. Its fun

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The One Where I Talk About God’s Presence

Hannah Wednesday, October 6th, 2010

This week has been pretty consistent with the norm for a week at APU. The chapels have been great. The classes have been challenging yet very interesting. The weather’s been totally unpredictable. We go from scorching hot to raining and cold in less than a week. It’s actually pretty exciting, I never know what I’ll wake up to. I had another test in anatomy. I went to Kaleo tonight (the Wednesday night chapel). I spent some quality time laughing with my roommates this morning over facility management’s entertainment/possible annoyance with the completely avoidable flood in our bathroom.

In all the norm however, God has put a few things on my heart this week that I would love to share. One thing about APU that I personally don’t believe you could find anywhere else are people who truly brighten your day every time you cross paths. When I was first touring the school before I came here, I immediately noticed something different about APU’s campus. People smile at you and say hello when you walk by, and open doors for you. This is a different kind of Christian university, there’s something so special about it.

My family goes to a Christian camp on Catalina Island every summer called Campus by the Sea (aka CBS). This is where I could say I first began having an interest in attending Azusa Pacific. The summer before my senior year in high school, one of my long time girl friends was talking about possibly going to APU for college. I would say that the kind of people who run and go to CBS are role models for me in my aspiration to be the best Christian girl I can. This may seem irrelevant to what I was saying about APU being a special place, however, it was kind of the deciding factor for me choosing to come here for college. I absolutely love going to CBS every summer for one reason. You can truly feel God’s presence there. When I stepped foot on APU’s campus as a little tour student, this same feeling of God’s presence washed over me with an intensity I never could have imagined.

His presence on this campus is ever more and more obvious to me every day. It pours from the Upper Turner Campus Center and Felix Event Center during chapels. It’s ever present in the classrooms. But most significantly, I experience God’s presence and love every single day in the students and faculty.

I was having lunch with three of my friends on Tuesday afternoon. I don’t know why this day stuck out so much for me as being one where I knew God was present. Danielle is probably one of the most caring and selfless people I have ever met. She is there for me every single time I’m feeling down, or just need to talk. Mitch is such a huge support. He pushes me to do my best, and walks alongside me in pursuing my faith and life goals. Jeffrey is just such a joy. His bubbly personality and overflowing happiness with life is contagious to everyone around him. As we talked, I felt so much love and care just overflowing from each of their hearts. I had been having a fairly stressful day, and my lunch with them put me at complete peace. These are the Christians I want to be like. I thank God every day for calling me to a school where its normal to have friends like these. I don’t think you can find these kind of people or these kind of Christ-centered friendships everywhere. APU is a God filled school. I hope you have the chance to experience the environment I have the privilege of living in every day.

Some of my good friends :)

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The Art Wound

Staphon Friday, September 25th, 2009

I have realized over my time in taking art classes here at APU, that there are some horrible elementary school teachers. From what I have fathomed, (since my teachers were awesome (two of them even graduated from APU)) there are teachers out there that tell kids things like “Oh that drawing isn’t very good.” Or “That doesn’t look like a boat.” or any other comment that made the child think “Oh, I’m no good at art.” and then 20 years later, they take an art class and you can see the talent is there, and could have been mastered by now, but it has been shot down.

I remember something my 3D Design Professor (And Chairman of the Art Department) Bill Catling once said which was “Bad teachers will be judged harder than everyone else for corrupting the minds of the young.” Or something along those lines. I absolutely love talking to our Professors, they are the ones all teachers should be compared against as a great example of how to sculpt the minds of students.

So for those of you going into teaching, watch what you say! Don’t kill creativity.

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