Room 218 changed me for the Better

The blog I said I was going to write at the beginning of the semester, boy was I wrong.  At least I have finally gotten around to it.

Four months ago I unloaded my entire life into a 16’ by 9’ room and had no idea how to deal with it.  I was scared, anxious, excited and ready to start a new journey, but I was not sure how to go about doing so.  I knew I needed to rely on God to get me through it.  And now, today, as I say goodbye to room 218 and Columbia Hall for five or so weeks, I am able to look back and see a tremendous growth in myself.  Not only as an 18 year old college student, but as a follower of Jesus Christ.

The first weekend was miserable.  I called my friends from home hundreds of times and would constantly FaceTime my parents.  The thoughts going through my head were words from Satan; telling me I couldn’t do it and would end up leaving and going home.  Although I would have never admitted that then.  I hated being in my room, I felt like I was trapped.  So I met one of my best friends, Abby.  God knew what he was doing when he placed her across the hall from me.   Everyone told me it would be a point of adjustment, but never in a million years did I think I would have had such a hard time with moving away from home.  Abby became my best friend within the first couple of days (I didn’t really give her a choice, I practically lived in her room every day).  It took me awhile to realize that God was getting me through the tough times.  The times I couldn’t sleep, or would wake up panicking not knowing where I was.  Needless to say it was rough start.  But then I met the ever so lovely, Johnna (who is always late).

After classes finally started, things began to ease up a bit.  I was still missing my friends from home like crazy and wanted to know what they were doing every second of everyday (I might have been a little jealous too when they made other friends...oops) but that's what college is all about.  I started doing devotions every morning and spent a good 25-30 minutes in God’s presence.  Spending time with God starts my day off on the right foot, knowing that every step of the way Jesus will be walking with me.  The first three hour lecture I had, I sat next to Johnna (whom I was already friends with on Facebook) and introduced myself.  Who knew that we would immediately connect and discuss our faith?  (Another one of God’s intentions that I overlooked in the moment).  That night Johnna drug me to CRU – a Christian group on campus.  There we stood, as awkward freshmen, not knowing anyone, but for some reason God gave me a boost and I began introducing myself to anyone who I came in contact with.  I was scared to death, but God put Johnna in my life to drag my butt to CRU that first Wednesday of college. There I made some amazing friends and it would soon turn into a lot of opportunities for me. 

I began to see the beauty in things I used to overlook.  Like the way the sunset would sit perfectly overtop of Carver Hall.  And eventually the array of colors that the trees began to show.  God started showing up in places I had never seen before.  CRU became my second family.  I started going to bible studies and sharing my faith more than I ever had before.  God gave me the strength and knowledge to be confident in my beliefs and faith. 

I met other people on the floor, Katie and Maddy Wallace (who after this semester is transferring to West Chester L) and they became some of my best friends too.  My roommate, Reaghan, and I started to get to know each other a little bit more and created a unique friendship that I could not have with anyone else.  I am more outgoing then I ever thought I could be, more happy and bubbly because the Spirit of the Heavenly Father lives within me.  I truly can attest that God has changed my life for the better.

So, here I am.  Leaving room 218, and moving into room 221 next semester with one of my new best friends, Katie.  Looking back, I can say that I am not the same person who walked into Columbia Hall on August 20^th, I am a much more confident follower of Christ and a happier person in general.  I am now able to see the good because of God. I gained knowledge, experienced different things, and made life-long friends. 

I cannot wait to come back in however many weeks and see what else God will do in my life.  The five weeks I am home, will be so rewarding, but I will be so anxious to get back to Bloomsburg, because I have finally made it a home away from home.

Keara