Posts Tagged ‘yosemite’

APU Dictionary

Megan Wednesday, March 9th, 2011

Alpha: A group you will be placed in the day you move in that includes a sophomore (sometimes a junior) alpha leader and about 8-12 other freshmen. You will all be in the same beginnings class (its a 350 person class that usually just has people speak about current issues) and you will meet one other time during the week to get to know each other and have fun. Its a great way to meet people and as awkward as it may feel as first everyone really does end up loving the program.

Biola: ……..

Communiversity: Community + Diversity, a program that plans events and makes the school fun (simply said).

Cookie Mill: One of our popular off-campus food options. They have amazing ice cream sandwiches with your choice of ice cream and cookies for cheap. It is right by the Mods (next to Stater Brothers), so it is in easy walking distance.

Crazy 8: A team of 8 extremely school spirited students that hype up the crowd and the athletes at sporting events.

Donut Man: A donut shop down the street (a car ride away, not really walk-able distance) that has the GREATEST donuts on the planet. It is basically legendary here at APU. Its open 24/7 and usually anytime you go there you will see other APU students.

D-Group “Discipleship Group:” A group that you can choose to be placed in that meets one time per week for 1-2 hours and talks about life. Some have Bible studies, some just hang out, some read a book together, it all depends on the group. Usually its 4-6ish people and they always have an upperclassman as a leader. It’s always same-sex groups. I am in one currently (I just started it this semester) and it is an amazing way to feel connected to the community here and feel as if you always have people to go to if you need anything. I always look forward to hanging out with my girls.

“Freddy” Cougar: The lovely school mascot!

GYRAD: “Get your roommate a date.” Self explanatory?

High Sierra: A “study abroad” opportunity in Yosemite for all majors that is mainly done by freshmen and sophomores (but juniors still do it sometimes!). It creates a very tight knit family and provides so many opportunities to do anything and everything in nature you could ever desire! I have many friends that have done it or are there now and they ALL claim it to be one of the greatest experiences of their lives.

Intermurals: Sports teams set up by us students! Currently, a lot of the girls on my hall are on a soccer team together and they love it.

Kaleo: A Wednesday night option for Chapel that is LOVED on this campus. It is a more intimate setting, less people, and the sermons usually relate and build off each other. I would highly recommend going when you start attending APU because if not when you do end up going to Kaleo you will wish you went from the very beginning (my roommate made that mistake haha).

Liturgical: Another Chapel option some Thursday nights that provides a service similar to Mass (lots of hymns) where it is very personal. I have never been, but many of my friends go and LOVE it.

Mods: A (mainly) sophomore living area that looks like little houses all around the area behind Trinity and Engstrom and the Baseball field.

My Tie: Often done in Freshmen living areas, all the guys will put a tie in a hat and the girls will pick one. Whatever tie you pick is your date for the night.

Resident Advisor: An upperclassman that lives on each hall (and mod or apartment complex) and regulates all their residents and plans events to bond the living communities. They also have a roommate (the RAR, Resident Advisor Roommate).

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My Crazy, Busy, Action Packed, Glorious Semester Part 3

Staphon Friday, February 25th, 2011
Next Episode: IMT and the Prelude to Ring By Spring
Being the Media & Design Manager for IMT Student Services has been such a blast this semester. Our techs this year have been such a blessing to my Manager Team and I and I have seen so much growth in them. They all put forth a lot of effort and were simply phenomenal. We had our fair share of snags with our on campus computing this semester, but each problem had to go up against a fantastic team of awesome techs who pummeled the problem as quickly as possible as soon as it arose. Being on this side of the battle was awesome to see, and students on the other side have no idea what we had to go up against, but should know how hard we worked to make sure technology was acting right. If you see a tech around campus, you should definitely thank them for making it possible to continue watching Youtube Videos and to read Amazing Blogs by APU Students.

Ok, now what you have all been waiting for; RING BY SPRING!

So before I went to Yosemite, I decided that it would be the perfect time to critically think about whether or not I wanted to ask Sheley to marry me and if so, was now the right time. I sought help from her father, Dave Price, Pastor of Rolling Hills Church in Danville California, however, I had to do it in a very unconventional way: Facebook Message.

Ok OK OK! I Know, Shush, Hold on! I know it looks bad, but it actually wasn’t! Him and I have had a rather good relationship in the past year and I have had quite a few casual conversation with her parents about marriage before and the attitude towards it was always positive (or in her mom’s case, anxious). So in the message I clearly stated that I assumed I had permission, however, if I didn’t he could just shut me up now and we could be done with this conversation.

The main reason for the message was to ask for support in my prayers about this. His response was overly helpful. He confirmed his blessing, sent me various bible verses to read, and told me that he and Debbie would be praying with me. As soon as I got onto the trail, I began praying, however, it wasn’t very normal.

I have always felt so much closer to God whenever I am out in the wilderness. I ask for answers and I get answers. Responses are usually very quick, but this response was the quickest I had ever gotten. As soon as I began praying, I was slapped in the face with a resounding ‘YES!’ I  tried to start over, again and again “YES!” Frustrated, I decided to just try again later.

Just to clarify, I wasn’t frustrated because I didn’t want to, I was frustrated because I wanted to carefully consider all possibilities and analyze everything before making the decision with the Lord, and no offense to the big man on high, but he was being a little rude.

Later on the trip, I decided to try again. This is how I see the conversation playing out.

“Ok Lord… I come before you again to talk about…”
“YES!”
“NO! LET ME FINISH!”
“Haha, I’m just messing with you Staphon. But you don’t have to go through this whole analysis thing, you have already analyzed it, your plan is perfect, your timing, it will work, I promise. Just do it!”
“… Ok Lord.”
“…Is that all?”
“Well… I’m not entirely convinced…. oK… I want to believe you. This is the biggest decision ever! And I know I’m not supposed to ask you to do things like this but… If you really think its a good idea… just drop a star… Just one… wait no… I’m sorry, I shouldn’t ask for things like…”

One Star Fell.

I waited.

No more dropped the whole night.

“Thank you.” I smiled and went to sleep.

The next day I messaged my parents and her parents and asked for help finding a ring.

To Be Continued…

Next up, the exciting conclusion to My Crazy, Busy, Action Packed, Glorious Semester!

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APU Track and Field Retreat

Staphon Wednesday, January 19th, 2011

This past weekend, our APU track team went up to Yosemite for a retreat. This is my 5th year going and… you know what, here is a video blog about the whole trip!

YouTube Preview Image

This was my first time doing a video blog, sorry about the quality, I’ll get it right on the next run for sure! But I think you got the general idea of what happened.

Aside from the hike, we had a lot of team bonding experiences, including a worship session around a bon fire on Star Rock under a full moon and a bajillion and two stars up above us. It will definitely be another great memory added to my chapter covering the last 4 years being on the APU Track Team.

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When we say we barely have free time in College, we mean it!

JP Park Monday, October 12th, 2009

Hey, its J.P again!! Sorry I haven’t been blogging much, but as the title says, College is extremely busy!!!!

In case some of you readers don’t know already, I’m studying in the mountains near Yosemite for a semester long program called “High Sierra”, which is sort of like a study abroad program. For my Leadership class I have here at the “satellite campus”(campus that is not on the legit APU college) the 22 students here had to go on a 6 day trek in Ansel Adams(sp?) which is part of Yosemite. For 6 straight days, we have no classes, no internet, no phones, no showers, and worst of all, NO TOILETS!! It was a great experience; One of those things that you do once n a life time.My trek group for the grueling 6 day trek consisted of 9 other classmates and professors.

Here are some pictures from my 6 day trek!Me on the 6 day trek for High Sierra

Looking out to YosemiteSLab Lake in Yosemite

Some people from my trek group summiting a mountain!!

Some people from my trek group summiting a mountain!!

The 6 day trek was tons of fun!! I had a “Solo”, where I was by myself in the wilderness with only my sleeping bag and a few other things. I spent 24 hours by myself, and chose to fast the whole day by choice. In the 24 hours while I was on my “solo” time during trek, I have never felt more closer to God in my entire life. I spent the whole day in solitude, and spent a lot of the day appreciating God’s majestic creation and basking in the sun by the lake(a picture of it is above here).

Now, I’m back on campus with the 22 or so other students, and have been trying to transition back to the groove of the dreaded 6 classes I’m taking here at High Sierra. Don’t get me wrong, I love the classes that Azusa Pacific offers and I learn tremendously. The teachers here are amazing and are like mentors. A few of them that I can name off the top of my head are Dave Williams, Mike Robbins, and Tom Dunn. They are some rad professors!

I have had a difficult time trying to juggle my time wisely. In college, countless temptations get thrown your way and at times, it will be very difficult to turn them down. Instead of doing homework, I’m tempted to hang out with friends, watch a movie, play a game or sport, or even procrastinate on facebook! I barely seem to have time to call my parents and siblings back in Virginia, and even my roommate back on the APU campus.

All in all, College is the most amazing place on Earth, besides a church of course. :) I have met some quality friends here, and I have learned so much just as a person, and also as a Christian.

To close off, I’ll just explain what I did today to give you a taste of what college life is kind of like:

I woke up around 11 am because I didn’t have any  classes today, and then chilled with a few friends until it was time for lunch. I didn’t get a chance to eat breakfast since I woke up so late(Breakfast is around 8am here at the High Sierra). Then, my friend Rachel Eblin trimmed my hair with her own personal hair cuttery kit. After my trim, I went on a mini “field trip” with about 8 other students to Starbucks to study/work on homework. We could of just stayed on campus, but the track team from Azusa Pacific is here at High Sierra for a team building weekend or something, so there is constantly a lot of noise because of how much fun their having. The few of us who couldn’t concentrate, and the students who wanted to leave campus for a while decided to go to Starbucks and I got a lot of work done. It’s relaxing to get away from campus and the whole college environment for a while and just relax.

Right now, it’s about midnight and I’m typing this blog in the dining hall, which is filled with at least half of the guys and girls from the APU track team. I’m about to work on some homework(story of my life) and get some sleep.

I plan to blog more often, sorry for the abscence. Like I said, I barely have any free time, but I’ll make this blog job one of my priorities. :)

Night, J.P

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