So, you’ve made it through high school and are headed to college. Congrats! We’re so excited to be with you on your journey over the next four years. Here’s a few tips to help you out:
Don’t be afraid to ask upperclassmen for help. Trust me, we’ve all gotten lost in the maze that is Reese Phifer or couldn’t figure out which building was the SEC or SERC. Grab someone (who doesn’t have in headphones) and ask them for directions -- we’re more than willing to point you in the right direction.
Take advantage of your unlimited meal-swipes. You can have breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and supper if you feel like it. Just maybe make sure to use your free gym membership as well and take a Daze class or two.
You’re here for a reason. You may not know it now, but you are.
In Esther, we see a teenage girl uprooted from her home and placed on a throne next to the king in a city she had never visited. She didn’t know why God placed her there for a long time, but patiently waited anyway. It wasn’t until she was confronted with a plot to wipe out the Jewish people, her people, that her uncle gave her this piece of advice:
“If you keep silent at this time, liberation and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father’s house will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this.”
It took a long time for Esther to find her purpose, and it may take just as long for you to figure out your purpose on UA’s campus. Perhaps you’re here to get the skills you need to invent something great, to cure diseases or to write the most beautiful poem the world has ever read. Perhaps you’re here to meet the love of your life or to find the people who will be your lifelong friends. Or perhaps you’re here to strengthen your relationship with the Lord and learn things about Him you would have never learned otherwise.
Whatever the case, you’re here. And we’re praying that whatever purpose God has for you at UA, you enjoy the journey.
We hope you enjoy the rest of your summer and cannot wait to meet you in the fall! Roll tide, friends!
Sara Beth Bolin // @sbbolin
Senior // Franklin, TN
Journalism + Political Science + Anthropology