December marks one year since I have moved to Fayetteville. In the past year, I have changed significantly. That meaning my spiritual life, my independence, and the people I surround myself with.
Arkansas Tech was phenomenal to me. I joined the best sisterhood I could have asked for, Zeta Tau Alpha. With that, I met my very best friends. Most of which I am still very close to today. I was on Student Government Association as a Senator-At-Large, and I was a Resident Assistant at South Hall. I had all of these things going for me, but I was in a rut. I was in bed all of the time sitting in the dark. I cried at the drop of a hat. I never wanted to go anywhere, not even initiation for my most precious little. I just remember crying in the back room with my Big telling her how I was just miserable. I knew then that something had to change.
Moving to Fayetteville was a shock to everyone, including myself, but mainly my mother. I decided last October that I was going to finally make the move that I had always wanted to do. Going against my families wishes, I applied to the U of A, found an apartment with roommates, found a job, and got all of my classes switched over from ATU. The day after Christmas it really all happened. I had help loading up my car, and then drove to Fayetteville by myself to move into my apartment.
I knew moving was not going to be an easy task. I told my parents that when I went, I was going to learn how to become financially independent (except for gas and insurance). And even without those two things, it was hard, but I did it. I set my mind to it, worked hard at my job and got a promotion. I paid my bills on time. I still struggle with one main thing: saving. That one needs some practice.
My first semester of college up here was rough. I told everyone it was great, but it was not all that and a can of beans. I was alone all of the time. I only knew two people up here at the time, and I thought I was just going to be lonely all of the time. I lived with three girls who were all in sororities at the time, so they were constantly going to mixers, having people over, exc. And I felt like that weird roommate that was a loner (which was probably true).
I finally started going out more and meeting more people. But with me going out more means me drinking more, and participating in behavior that just wasn’t like me. At the end of last semester I started getting back into my devotionals and that is when it all seemed to take a turn for the better.
This semester, I have new roommates who push me to become a better version of myself. I have gotten more involved in my relationship with Christ, and I actually want to be a shining light on others. About three weeks ago, I surrendered my life to Christ. There has been temptations since then to fall back into my old habits, but with an amazing roommate and an awesome support system, it isn’t as easy to get sucked back in.
The people at Cross Church are seriously incredible. They know you by name and genuinely want to gain a relationship with you and help you grow with Christ. That is one of the main things that draws me back to them each coming week. I feel at home when I am there. I feel that all of the people surrounding me love me, even if I have never seen them before. And that is a feeling I haven’t gotten anywhere else.
So in the past year I have..
- Gained incredible friends
- Made a real connection with Christ
- Let God make me a better person
- Learned my way around Fayetteville
- Found a church home
- Gotten used to the HUGE class sizes
- Learned how to be financially independent
- Kept a steady job for a year
- Gotten over broken hearts
- Memorized the U of A campus (it was tricky)
- But most importantly, I have found that my one true love is Christ.
C3 works on my heart every Wednesday. And tonight was just the same. It is now time to step up my God Game and to make Him my Lord and Savior. Lord of everything in my life. He has control, and He will provide if you trust in Him.
