The End
May 11, 2006
A little over a week ago, I completed my first year at EMU! Unbelievable! The year flew by so fast! Since that first awkward day in August, so much has changed. My room (and Emily's) went from a divided room with an imaginary line down the middle to a homey, shared room where there was no differentiation between my things and hers. I switched from looking at the paperback First-Year Look Book that we got at orientation to looking at Facebook. My major changed from Spanish to Biology. The number of times I checked my mailbox each day went from four or five to one (and some days I even forgot to check it!). I went from a visitor to a regular student attender on the Lindale Mennonite Church attendance records. The people who started out as my hallmates, orientation group members, classmates, and professors have become my friends and family.
Some things have stayed the same. The cafeteria food hasn't changed throughout the year...cereal is still the food of choice on Sunday evening dinner. Eight o'clock a.m. is still too early to pay attention. Half-off Sunday and Wednesday nights at IHOP are still well-attended. Dirty dishes still stack up in the sinks (even after threats and fines from upset CA's). People still lay out on the quad in the sun and try to study, because studying is still almost impossible to accomplish anything with all of the distractions.
It's impossible to think of my favorite experience at EMU, because so many little things came together to make this first year great. I've narrowed my list down to ten memories from EMU. No doubt I've forgotten some really wonderful things, but off the top of my head, each item on the list was a highlight. Not only are these ten great things that happened to me, but they are also ten reasons that you should come to EMU!
10. Hiking around Skyline Drive for several hours after dark, wondering whether or not we would EVER find the car again, then wondering if Mike would get sprayed by a skunk as Rachael and I were getting into the car. Going off the trail to experience the waterfall up close was well worth being lost...
9. Playing whiffleball in the overflow parking lot after being forcibly removed from the basketball courts by security at precisely 11:00 p.m.
8. Attending EMU athletic events! The trip to Virginia Beach to watch the ODAC soccer tournament was great-the drive, the game, and even the four trips through the Arby's drive-through with Jenna, Briana, and Amy.
7. Winning the Rec Sports pool tournament, though I had played pool about three times total througout the previous two years. After playing almost every intramural sport (so much fun!), I was thrilled to finally get a Rec Sports champion T-shirt.
6. Visiting the homes and families or my friends to spend the night or just have a meal in Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Harrisonburg.
5. Short-notice campfires, picnics, Wal-Mart trips, and board games such as Monopoly, Settlers, Catch Phrase, Taboo, and Battle of the Sexes.
4. Going to many concerts throughout the year-Shapiro, David Crowder, Rascal Flatts, Shekinah, Sons of the Day, and the EMU music program concerts.
3. Leading Celebration, the student-led worship service on Sunday nights, with Rachael, Andrew, Mitch, Jackson, and Brad. I am proud to call these very talented musicians my friends.
2. Taking a spring break trip to Kentucky with eleven other students to serve the people. We worked hard, but we had so much fun both on the job and during our free time.
1. Enjoying Harrisonburg dining attractions (Kline’s, El Charro, Dave’s Taverna, IHOP), or, when we were feeling cheap, taking a trip to the Food Lion grocery store and cooking for ourselves.
This list or the pictures that accompany it don’t do justice to the memories that I have from this year. I’m very excited to be home and see all of my friends and family, but I already miss my family and friends back at EMU. By August, I’m sure that I will be more than ready to return to EMU for year number two. My experience has been amazing and I hope that I’ve given you a good taste of the school, but I hope that you come check out Harrisonburg for yourself-even if you don't come as a student, stop by EMU for a game, visit, or concert. Blessings.
