Life is all about who you share it with. In college, you will develop new friendships that will carry you through the good times and bad, lasting throughout your whole life. You will realize how important those who look out for you are. In college, your friends become a part of your family and your family becomes a part of your rock-solid foundation, supporting you as you head into your future.
Sharing is caring...
During Intervarsity on Monday night, instead of having our usual community group where we go over a Bible passage together, we went to Yogurtland! After filling up our bowls with the most delicious combinations of flavors and toppings, we dragged our chairs together in a circle and we talked. We shared our biggest struggles of the year, our summer plans, our excitement for break, and our sadness to leave USD behind for three whole months. With our year coming to a close, it was good to have a time to really look back on everything that happened, both good and bad.
Looking back...
When I arrived on move-in day, I knew nobody. I had to put myself out there, attending club meetings and other events where nothing was familiar. At the time I was so nervous and just downright scared out of my pants! As the weeks went on, I got to know more and more people, some better than others. I started off a stranger going to Intervarsity, and now a lot of my closest friends I made through that group of wonderful people. As you get ready to leave home and start something very unfamiliar, be ready to be open minded, put yourself out there, and GET EXCITED! Remember that everyone is going to be in the same position as you. You will all be able to look back and laugh at how awkward your first moments together were after you travel a few months down the road. One of my best friends here (and sorority sister), Colleen, and I always joke about how we were hardly friends at the beginning of the year and how the rest of us girls were jealous of her because the boys loved hanging out with her! Now here we are a few months later swapping boy stories, fashion advice (hers!), and laughing our brains out together over what dorks we can be.
So what have I been up to last week? Besides school work that is....
I spent a lot of time in Aromas sipping my iced green teas or caramel macciatos and trying to get whatever homework I had done. Most of this time got interrupted when my friend Marcus came over and sat down and we would talk about everything from what animal we are to the Bible to logic class to healing from heartbreaks. I love Aromas because there is almost always someone there that I know who can sit down and just talk with me or sit there in silence as we both study (though silence is a rare occurrence). Monday was community group like I said earlier, and my weekly Kappa meeting. Tuesday was my day of relaxation because I wasn't feeling all too well: I hung out in bed a lot and watched a few episodes of Greek on Hulu, made a friendship bracelet for fun, and read some Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. On Wednesday I had ritual review for Kappa Kappa Gamma. While I can't tell you the details of that event, I can tell you that it was a neat experience to learn more details behind the history of my sorority that has been around since 1870! I also had an RHA (Residence Hall Association) meeting where we finalized some plans for fun events for our dorm before the end of the year. Thursday was Intervarsity large group where our guest speaker Scott Schimmel talked about how to chose your career path and make the most of your life. We finished out the great night by heading over to Fiji yogurt and just enjoyed each other's company and continued to talk about what we had learned that night. Friday was the best of all.....
KAPPA MOM'S WEEKEND!!!!!
My mom and two sisters Kendall and Sydney arrived bright and early on Friday morning from Colorado! (That is my mommy and I in the photo above!) I showed them around the school so they could see where I study, sleep, eat, and play. I also introduced them to my friends and we spent some time hanging out back in my favorite campus spot, Aromas. For lunch, we headed to none other than In-n-Out Burger (where I also discovered they are bringing in a Colorado favorite, Noodles&Co, right across the street!). That night we had a delicious Mexican food dinner at Casa Guadalajara in Old Town with the other Kappas and their moms/friends/sisters. Below: Colleen, Audrey, and I pose with our moms and my sisters Kendall and Sydney after an amazing meal.
The next day was quite an adventure! We went down to La Jolla where we went sea kayaking! It was so much fun, gliding over the ocean and looking at sea caves, sea lions, and the view from the water. Here we are just floating our cares away in one of the most beautiful places in the world, no big deal ;)
On Sunday morning, we enjoyed a nice stroll along La Jolla shores, taking in the scenery and watching the surfers ride the waves. I then took my mom and sisters to my church, Flood. We finished up our time together with a yummy lunch in Seaport Village and a walk along the waterfront there, followed by another Yogurtland run. I love San Diego... Below: Us in Seaport Village. A cute little doggie is trying to jump in our picture! (His head is by Kendall's leg on the right)
It was such a relaxing weekend, taking a mini-vacation from school and spending some quality time with my mom and sisters (both blood related and sorority!). Now its time for some homework so that I can get a head start on the week to come! Good luck to all as you finalize your college decisions, I hope USD is your school of choice :)
Love & Froyo,
Avery
