Diary of a College Senior: The Semester Begins

Written by: Ellie Willson

August 23, 2023 
Today my mom and I drove 576 miles from Olathe, KS to Nashville for my last move-in day of college ever.

Just last week I officially registered to take the LSAT this October, hoping to get a good enough score to get into law school once I graduate this upcoming May 2024. I said goodbye to my family and pets before starting the nine-hour drive, but the farewells felt less permanent than in the years before. This is likely because I know I will be coming home to them, at least semi-permanently, in just a few short months.

Now, as I sit in my brand new apartment on the top floor of a brand new building that the school boasts has ‘the best view on campus,’ I am taking time to soak it all in. As much as I cannot wait to graduate and move on to bigger and better things, I know this year will fly by.

As the great Ferris Bueller once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” And I know that I don’t want to miss a second of my last year at Trevecca Nazarene University. 
  
August 29, 2023 
Today was the first day of classes. It’s a Tuesday and I only have one class in my T/Th block, so it felt like a good way to slowly get my brain back into school mode. My class, feature writing, sounds super exciting. I have already begun brainstorming ideas for my final story, but I can’t tell you what I’m thinking yet or it’ll ruin the surprise. 

This year I am also managing the brand new STUNT team, which is a newer NCAA sport that consists of the technical elements of cheerleading put into a four-quarter format rather than a performance format. I spent time today texting our freshmen (there are 19 of them!) checking in to see how they’re doing. 

I remember my first semester of college well, including how hard it could be at times. As much as I loved making new friends, living independently for the first time and having classes throughout the day rather than back-to-back, I sometimes found myself missing home and having lots of questions.  

When one of our athletes expressed worries about her classes, I told her that each semester of college gets that much better. This caused me to look back at my experience thus far. I’m graduating a year early, meaning I only had three years at Trevecca rather than the usual four or even five. Despite my abbreviated time at the University, the years have been filled with so much personal and professional growth, navigating complex relationships and overcoming personal barriers. I will leave with much more than a degree, and I can’t wait to see what I learn this year both in and out of the classroom. 

Time to move forward bravely and see what God has planned for me this year.