Earlier this month I had the privilege to spend some quality
time with some of the coolest people I know.
We literally just sat around and talked for hours and hours, and it was SO good.
These girls have become so dear to me and I don’t know where
I would be without them. They have faithfully stood by me when things were hard
and everything seemed lost. They've
laughed with me and encouraged me and I have been both inspired and humbled by
their faith. I honestly don’t know where I would be without them!
So you can imagine my anguish when I realized that this was one of the last few weekends we would be spending together at Austin College.
You see, Susie will be studying abroad this semester,
Kelsey’s studying abroad in the spring, and it’s my senior year…
For those of you who don’t already know, I will be
graduating in May—yes, a whole year early. So this is my last year as a student
here. The thought is both terrifying and
exhilarating and like almost every other thing about my college experience thus
far, when I was first told I could graduate early I did not want to do it.
When I met with my mentor at the end of last semester to
register for Fall classes, she explained that I only need 8 more credits (2
semesters) to graduate and had 16 spots (4 semesters) to do so. As I left her
office I burst into tears. I LOVE this school. (If only I were pre-med I would
be the Austin College poster child. True story.) Leaving a YEAR early was the
just about the last thing I wanted to do.
So in typical Alena fashion (you would think by now I would
get it!) I looked for any other option. Study abroad? Add another major? They
were all good options, but deep down I knew that wasn't what I was supposed to
do.
Even as I was moving back into the dorm—I mean “residence
hall” for my second year as an RA, I was having trouble wrapping my mind around
the fact that I would be leaving the place and people I so dearly loved. But a
funny thing’s begun to happen. Every day is an affirmation that I am exactly
where I’m supposed to be doing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing. A few years ago, I did NOT want to attend
Austin College. The Lord knew better. I did NOT want to be an RA. God knew
better. I did NOT want to graduate early, but God knows better!
As someone who likes to be in control, that’s a scary thing
to admit. It terrifies me that I don’t know the plan for after graduation. It
freaks me out that I cannot see what the next step for my life is, but at the
same time I have this unexplainable peace.
I know God will take care of me. I know that I serve a God who has
promised never to leave me.
So I’m cherishing these moments—time goes SO fast—and
looking forward to the next adventure.