Monday, 07 May 2007

Lots of looking forward

As soon as I left Hope again for home, I realized that my classmates and I are the seniors. I have one year remaining before I declare myself an educated person. That's a bit frightening.

There are some things that make me happy about that. I'm almost ready to begin student teaching. As scary as that sounds to me right now, I realize that's what I've prepared to do. The kind of enjoyment I took out of my field placement for Secondary Block is encouraging me that I'm in the right field. Mom seemed earlier in my college career to be a little less sure she wanted me to go into teaching music, but in a phone conversation this semester, she said, "You sure enjoy what you're doing, don't you?" I was excited to hear that from one of my parents, who know me better than just about anyone. I may be 21, but I still need my family's support.

The living situation is finally something that I know I'll definitely enjoy next year, as I've told countless friends. Some people asked me why I'm not living in Kraker or Brownstone since I have a massive number of credits. The answer is quite simple: I don't require swanky digs to enjoy where I'm living. I'm out of the dormitories, the location is still close to Nykerk, I'm excited to live with my roommates, and my roommates are excited, too. That sort of thing matters more to me. I'm still not sure I quite believe that I'll be living with Ryan, Matt, Zach, Nik, and Nate. Everyone I talked to said I practically have a dream team of roommates. So if you guys are reading this, take that as a compliment. I'm looking forward to an awesome year next year.

In the meantime, I'm looking forward to summer. If all pans out at the resort again (I hope), I'll have a great job that I'll be able to work at for the entire summer. I'm looking forward to conducting the Treble Choir at the Holland HS Choral Concert, too. I think it says something that a field placement managed to get me to come back after the academic year at Hope ends. It'll be a good teaching experience as well as for conducting. Who knows if I'll make any trips to Holland later into the summer, but I'm getting awfully tempted by Jon's open-ended invite. "You're welcome at the house anytime" sounds awfully similar to the standing invitation from Uncle Wade & Aunt Kris. Since this is Jon & Nate I'm talking about, I might have to make the trip. Plus Pastor Brian reminded me at my last service there to stop by Engedi if I'm in Holland on a Sunday. When I have two close friends, a place to stay, and my church waiting for me, I'm tempted. And then there's everything else: I'm playing piano at Becky & Kevin's wedding... are they really getting married this soon? I'm thinking about putting my Simon Cowell hat back on and judging at the LHS Talent Show again this year. And Ben's talking about coming up to Ludington later this summer... andandand... SO MUCH TO THINK ABOUT!

I think in the meantime, I'll spend my time getting caught up on some much-needed sleep, hugging those three kitties I've missed so much while I stressed myself to unhealthy levels, and getting back into the swing of RPG's (my not-anymore closet habit) with Jordan and the other "heretics."

Summer's here, and boy does it feel good.

(I'm re-reading Blue Like Jazz. It's still a good book.)

Currently Reading Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality By Donald Miller see related