I don’t think I’ve ever been excited to start school back up after Christmas break.
Until now.
Part of me is dreading getting up for an 8:30 class four days a week and doing countless hours of homework and studying, but for the most part, I cannot wait to get back to Hope in a couple of days. I’m even looking forward to my classes, as weird as that seems. Some of my classes this semester are continuations of classes I had last semester, like music theory and aural skills. Others are totally different, like German (so pumped!) and macroeconomics. I feel like I have a very cool mix of classes this semester, so I think it will keep me super interested and excited as I deal with what seems like a ridiculous load of credit hours. I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited about a set of classes in my entire life. The only thing that would make it better is if I could have fit in an education class with a field placement with a music teacher… But that would put me at 25 credit hours so I guess I can deal with waiting one more semester for that.
I am also so so so excited to go back and see my friends! Since I live in Dykstra, which is a cluster layout, I literally just have to walk out my door and there is almost always a friend out there to talk to. It’s definitely something I’ve taken advantage of while I’ve been at school. Having to actually make plans with people while I’ve been home for Christmas break just seems weird since hanging out kind of just happens at school. Anyway, I’ve really been missing my friends from Hope and I am so pumped to see them in two days! They’re all so great and I can’t wait to make more memories with them this semester!
I’m also looking forward to continuing my voice lessons this semester. I had so much fun with them last semester and I really feel like they’re paying off and I’m growing as a musician so hopefully that will continue into the spring! I love to sing and knowing you’re improving at one of your favorite things in the world is just one of the best feelings.
I think I also speak for a lot of Hope students when I say WE CAN’T WAIT FOR CHAPEL. Chapel is so great and I can’t wait to get back into it next semester. It’s so cool to worship with such a huge group of my peers. I think Hope’s chapel is especially outstanding because it’s not required, but it’s packed every single time. I think that says a lot about Hope’s student body and where individuals’ priorities are. That was one thing that really impressed me when I first visited Hope my junior year of high school and it’s still one of my favorite things about the school and our student body!
Probably most importantly, the closest good frozen yogurt place to my house is an hour away so I’m feeling a little deprived. Looking forward to some Orange Leaf and Peachwave fro-yo when I get back to Holland!
Oh, and I almost forgot! Ingrid Michaelson, Bob Goff, and Andrew Ripp are all coming to Hope this semester so I’m super excited about every single one of those! They’re going to be so great!
I am also really hoping to get to meet more prospective students this semester! If you’re on campus, I would love to meet you and answer any questions, show you around, grab lunch in Phelps, or whatever! I love to talk about Hope and share my experience with people, especially high schoolers! Please feel free to drop me an email at kathryn.krieger@hope.edu, tweet @hopekathryn17, or comment here! Thanks so much for reading!
“I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”
Philippians 3:12-14