A new semester. Freshmen come in, eager to get to know new people, concerned about their major, wondering whether or not to switch classes, and trying to navigate their way through Phelps Dining Hall.
Wait, I’m doing all those things, too. I kind of feel like a freshman again because this year has been such a fresh new start. I came into this school year with completely different goals and a new outlook from last year. I don’t just want to get good grades and meet different people (although I want to do those things too!); I want to live into the plans that God is calling me to. I want to fall in love with the things that I’m studying. I want to pour into people and build stronger relationships than I ever have. I want my heart to break for what breaks God’s heart. I want to dive deeply into Scripture and theology and history and learning everything I can about who God is and what he has done and what he is doing. I want this year to look so different than last year did (even though last year was great too!).
One thing that’s very new this year is my major. At the end of last year, I was declared as a music major, planning to pursue a ministry minor. However, before I declared my major, and several times after as well, majoring in religion kept popping into my mind. I kept telling myself that I was a music major and that I was at peace about it, but deep down I knew it wasn’t true. Religion came into my mind over and over. Finally, the first night that residents were staying in the residence halls, I decided to jump. I looked at the religion department offerings in the Hope course catalog and stumbled upon a major called Ethics, Culture, And Social Witness and immediately knew that’s exactly what I needed to do. I finally felt like I was saying, “Okay, God. I don’t know what you’re doing, but I’m going to go for it.” On Monday, I went into the Registrar and dropped all my classes and picked up all new ones. I continued having to rearrange a little bit after classes started, but I finally got everything sorted out and I’m so happy! I love my classes and I am learning about so many things that I’m incredibly interested in. Hope’s music department is also super great and I gained so much knowledge there, but I know that by choosing to study religion, I’m finally doing what God is leading me to. I am still a music minor (which I have 98% done!) and I’m also still taking voice lessons and involved in Chapel Choir, so I kind of feel like I’m getting the best of both worlds. It’s so great!
It’s also been so great to see how friendships, both old and new, have already progressed throughout the school year. I have found friends in the Dykstra RAs that were exactly what I needed and I am so thankful for them! I’ve also been able to spend time with the girls who lived in my cluster last year and it’s been so great to reconnect with them. They’re so wonderful and I’m so glad I got to spend so much time with them last year and that our friendship is carrying over into meals at Phelps, coffee dates, and room visits! It’s been so great to get to know residents all around Dykstra, too. There are so many girls, so it’s definitely difficult to connect with everyone, but it’s been great to put names with faces and have quick conversations here and there with lots of people. I love the social aspect of Dykstra!
Here’s a picture from when I was on duty Wednesday night! I got to spend time with so many great people – old friends and new! 🙂
I’m so excited for this year and all my new adventures! Keep up with me on Twitter by following @hopekathryn17, on Instagram at @kathrynekrieger, or by sending me an email at kathryn.krieger@hope.edu! Thank you for reading!
“And the one sitting on the throne said, ‘Look, I am making everything new!’ And then he said to me, ‘Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.'”
– Revelation 21:5