Moving Up and Moving On

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.