Falcon Footnotes

We live on a very diverse Earth. Travel 90 miles to the east of Messiah and you are in the midst of the inner city of Philadelphia, a place so close, yet the two places and the people within them seem almost completely unrelated. Imagine, then, how much more different societies must be in different countries, on different continents, so very far away. Whether it be food, clothing, or music, each culture  has a completely different perspective on life, and God created each to be beautiful in its own diverse way. Recently, Messiah has given students an opportunity to experience and learn about these many differences, enriching our own lives and opening our minds. Through events such as the International Banquet, a celebration of the nations represented by Messiah’s current students, and a Global Chapel service, highlighting different languages and styles of praise to God, students were presented with just a small exposure to different cultures. Participating in these events has been a wonderful learning experience, and I am so grateful that Messiah has shared them with me.

College is hard. I’m not going to lie to you and pretend that it is all late night movies, games, and lounging campus with friends- its tough too. Finding the time to fit exams, projects, papers, and jobs into all that social time can be challenging (ok..so it MIGHT  be the other way around…). The wonderful thing about being here at Messiah, however, is that through it all- the stress, the fatigue, the work- God never ceases to be present. Just as the work load feels a little bit too heavy, a chapel service snatches your attention and focuses it back where it needs to be- right on God. When fear and anxiety seem overwhelming before one of your hardest tests of the semester, a professor prays for you, giving your learning up to God, and asking for his guidance through it. And just like that, the weight is lifted. Sure, there are still tests to take and essays to write, but it is all for the glory of God, and with Him, we can do anything! What could  be more motivating than that?

The weekend strikes, classes stop for two precious days and the hours feel like they are filled with endless possibilities… but what to do? Well, why not pass some time watching movies RIGHT on Messiah’s campus? What can be better then new movies coming just a three minute walk from your dorm every weekend? Nothing…except the best part: THEY ARE ONLY A DOLLAR! How can you pass on everything the popular flicks to acclaimed but little known films for just one dollar? The answer: simple- you can’t. Parmer Cinema is Messiah’s own movie theater and with SAB’s “Lost Film”  collection it is constantly providing all different types of movies for student’s viewing pleasures, perfect for fun and nice for your wallet- just what we college students need!

As the cold, blustery winds of winter die down, the snow melts away, and the cold steadily turns to a warmth, Messiah is once again brought alive. Green sprouts from the ground and trees, flowers pop up, blue stretches across the sky, and the sun finally sheds its light on our eagerly anticipating student body. As the days stretch longer we are all once again why we chose to attend a school wish such a beautiful campus. From the banks of the Yellow Breeches to Miller Meadow,  students enjoy the warm air around campus, whether it be a quick nap outside in the sun, or some studying under the shade of one of the many trees.  Every which way is another group of students soaking in the surroundings and its hard not to think “how could I be anywhere else but here?”

Recently our student chaplain team devoted our morning chapel to a beautiful message about the wonder of God’s grace. With the entirety of the onlooking students sitting on the floor in a circle around a cross, the team read the haunting words of members of our student body who anonymously shared their struggles, fears, worries, and regrets. The message that followed was a reminder that God’s grace covers us all as we are, the struggling, messy, imperfect parts of his creation.We were reminded that we as followers of christ, and as a united student body should show love to everyone, so that every conversation might be full of the trust and honesty that we value in our closest friendships. Inspired by this, my friends and I have been encouraged to open up to each other and be honest about our struggles and emotions, and with the reminder of God’s grace and the trust that exists on our campus we have been able to grow closer together. Messiah’s student lead chapel services are an inspiration to the students, and it was wonderful to see the impact in my own life.

Every February 14th love sweeps the nation as couples and loved ones come out of the woodwork to celebrate the day that was designed especially for them (thank you hallmark). Here at Messiah, the sweetheart fever is no exception, although the fun is able to reach couples and singles alike. Students are treated to pink and red heart-shaped, well.. everything, starting with the wonderful Valentines Day Dinner served in Lottie Nelson Dining Hall. This year our dinner fell on a Thursday, and we the students enjoyed everything from steak, lobster, and potatoes, to fresh fruit, rich cakes, and candy hearts galore. Lottie shut itself down in the afternoon to set up the fun decorations, table cloths, center pieces, and even prepare live entertaining, (yes, we the students were serenaded throughout the meal by a violin playing and keyboarding duo). Luckily all of the fun didn’t stop then, as the Lil’ Sibs valentines weekend started up, with everything from midnight ice skating, to cookie decorating (appropriately frosted in red and pink) and bingo for an ipod in the union. With all of the little sibs running around, a sold out Owl City conctert, the musical performance, and a specially selected movie playing for just a dollar at Parmer theater, this fun weekend had so much to offer. Valentines day became an entire weekend event, showing once again that Messiah knows how to celebrate!

College is an amazing time to enjoy new experiences, meet new people, and try new things. One of the most unique and life altering new experiences offered at Messiah is the chance to study abroad. With programs in over 40 different locations, Messiah sends students all around the world, either for an entire semester of adventures, or a month long j-term or may-term experience. I recently was privledged to have the chance to travel to Ghana in Africa on one of Messiah’s J-Term cross cultural courses, and I can easily say it is one of the most amazing experiences I have had in my life. We travelled all around the country of Ghana, which is located on the western coast of Africa, experiencing the sights, the culture, and the people- all for class credit! I got the opportunity to meet a group of Messiah students whom I would have probably never met, and travel with them, building fantastic friendships as we went. Ordinarily getting to travel as we did just wouldnt have been possible, but with Messiah’s extensive options all I had to do was apply and I was able to have this amazing experience. Few other schools that I have heard of offer opportunities like this, and I feel so blessed that I was given this chance at a month long adventure of a life time.

Amidst the national champ soccer and softball players, star swimmers, and stellar…well pretty much any type of “ballers” here on Messiahs campus, its pretty easy for a non-athlete like me to have some serious feelings of inferiority. Look left- a soccer game is being played on a nearby field, turn right and a Frisbee is being passed amongst friends, all within a setting of joggers and bikers at every glance. When I first got onto campus, having not played any sport seriously in years, I was.. overwhelmed to say the least. I was certain I was the only person on campus who was not a super jock – and I did not like that one bit. So, when recreational sports opened up, I jumped on the chance to finally do something with myself, and my eyes were opened to the opportunities to stay active here on campus. From rec sports and my Rec-Soccer team “the Underdogs” (which was NOT an understatement), to the sand and indoor volleyball leagues, to the gym which is open every day (practically ALL day), it became easier to find chances and reasons to get fit. Don’t worry- I’m still not close to the level of our fantastic athletes- but hitting up the gym and embracing all Messiah has to offer athletically- has become a fun part of my life here on campus, which I never believed would happen. I’m happy to say that I no longer feel like the lone non-athlete and my inferiority complex is all but gone!

I remember- just days before leaving for Messiah last year- running from room to room of my house yelling until I finally found my sister and forced her to listen to me worry, stress, and whine about how I would surely get lost, fail all of my classes, and absolultely NEVER make any real friends. I had been certain that I would be able to make friends, but in those last few days my normal confidence was completely gone. Was I going to be that one girl without anyone to talk to, eat with, or laugh with? And even if I did manage to make a few friends, would we ever actually have a real, deep, God-centered friendships? Well, it is a year later, and I somehow managed to not be that friendless girl. Not only that, but I have found that the frienships I have made here at Messiah are beyond what I would have ever hoped for- especially spiritually. I was reminded of this when, in one four hour period yesterday, I had three separate conversations, with three different groups of friends, about God, faith, and love. These conversations weren’t for class, but just the what happened when we were together, and it was awesome. I guess that just comes from friendships that are centered on shared beliefs like the ones I have here at Messiah. God has been working in my life so much in this past year, and I know that the community of my friends here at Messiah are a huge part of that.