One Year

Brandon Hunter
Greenville, SC
Sophomore

One Year!

That is all it took for me to be done with my first year of college. One year! That is all it took for me to make new and great friends. One year! That is all it took for me to find new hobbies. One year! That is all it took for me to find myself. One year! That is all it took for God to break me.

Coming to college was something that I was ready for, I mean who is not ready to go to college? Once everything started and I got used to all of the great things college brought to me, I began to forget what I really lived for. In the beginning of my freshman year, I was scared. I didn't know anyone and was new to everything. The first thing I did was ask God, "is this where you want me to be?" I didn't understand what God was doing in my life. I didn't know if God had put me in the right place or not.

As I went on asking God to somehow show me if this was the right place, He did better. He showed me that he will place me where He feels is best, and that He has a plan for me and that I need to trust in Him, because He will not lead me to the wrong path. There is one quote that I just heard that goes right with this point of my life.

“I tend to live the way I drive. I want to get from point A to point B in the shortest amount of time and by the easiest route possible. But I’ve come to realize that getting where God wants me to go isn’t nearly as important as becoming who God wants me to be in the process. And God seems to be far less concerned with where I’m going than with who I’m becoming."
--Mark Batterson

I know that I was living life in the fast lane. I was too busy worrying about other things and making more time for things that could wait rather than making time for God. The time I did spend with God I was asking Him what it was that He wanted from me. But as Mark Batterson puts it, where God wants me to go isn't nearly as important as becoming who God wants me to be in the process. If I would have seen this quote some months ago, I know that I would be closer to God. The course God has taken me on over the past year has put me in a spot that I would not trade for the world. This year, I have never felt so close to God. Out of all the things that have happened this year, and all of the homework and all of the extracurricular activities I have participated in, I have come to realize that God is bigger than anything that I do, and that I want to live for him more and more every day.

Over a year, I have completed college courses. Over a year, I have lost my best friend due to moving of schools. Over a year, I have had to step up to do things that I would have never done one year ago. Over a year, I have gotten to know a God who tells the wind when to blow. Over a year God, has opened a book for me that challenges me to live and not to worry.

Freshman Year Tips

Paulia Hughes
Sophomore
Union, SC

These are some lessons I learned during my Freshman year at SMC. I hope they help you!

1. More than likely there is going to be someone @ your college that you attended high school with if you attend a school closer to home….(Yeah they had the same idea as you). Branch out from the people you knew from high school and try to introduce yourself to a new person every once in a while. Make friends. If you weren’t the person you wanted to be in high school, re-invent yourself. This is your opportunity to be the YOU who you have always wanted to be - maybe not necessarily the popular kid, but someone who is comfortable with him/herself. Most importantly, make friends. You may want someone to accompany you to breakfast/lunch/dinner/Wal-mart/library/clubbing (if that is your thing), etc. Have someone you can call on or talk to if you are upset or lonely and homesick.

2. Be careful with your finances. I know I sound like a parent right now, but now that I look back at all the money I spent getting my nails done, buying clothes, and eating at fast food establishments my freshman year…..I think "WOW, Paulia look at how wasteful you were." Now that our country is in an economic crisis, I see how hard it is for my friends to obtain a summer job and for me to even get suitable hours at my own job

3. College is not code for PARTYTIME 24/7. Yur parents didn’t send you here to become Paris Hilton; they want you to get an education. Students party, so go ahead have fun - most students do; just remember that you must plan time to study. There are students on the President’s and Dean’s List who are not nerds; they're just well-balanced. We….ugh... they go out and have fun too - it may not be extreme keg-stand type of fun but those people do have a social life. They do activities with their friends. Try to do homework between classes when it is fresh on your mind and study for tests a few days in advance; this will give you great practice for your exams during the end of the semester.

4. In high school, you could say I was the Extracurricular Queen! It seemed like I had a million honor cords during graduation, but college made me realize that if you are involved in at least one extracurricular it is okay, you have more important things to do. I thought to myself “Hey Paulia, college isn’t high school it may not be as easy” (I went to Union County. It isn’t a piece of cake if you get the right teachers) - you need to get your priorities in order: studying then extracurricular & athletic activities. Find your niche - something you are good at - and stick with it, have fun, and remember: school work first. I happen to be a bit of a yearbook geek, so that is what I primarily focused on extracurricular wise my first year of college.

5. College isn’t Fashion Week in NYC; you don’t want to primarily focus on your appearance. Your appearance is important, but waking up every morning caking on make-up and getting your hair brushed or gelled just right aren’t necessary, especially if you have an 8 o'clock class which is so gruesome. (Note to readers: get to your advisor quickly. You do not want an 8 o'clock class especially if you were that person pulling onto your high school campus on two wheels trying to make it before the bell). Buy some nice sweat pants, tee shirts, sneakers/Sperry boating shoes…whatever you consider comfortable walking around in; it is okay not to be runway ready every morning you are heading to class. (You will notice everyone dressing nice and being perfectly groomed the first couple weeks of school, after that BEWARE of pajamas or unruly hair in class!)

6. Sit in the front of your classes and look attentive. Trust me, professors will remember your name or face and will probably be more willing to help you if you are struggling in their course. I dub the front seats the “A+ seats”.

7. College has been the greatest experience of my life. I did not realize that I could learn so much while having so much fun. The friendships you will make will last a lifetime.