College graduation: one year later

Commencement 2010 is just over a month away at PLNU, and it feels strange that I will be attending it as an alum. Until last year, I always attended in anticipation of someday being there myself. And then last year, there I was, shaking Bobby B's hand myself. It was the beginning of a new chapter in life for me.

Shaking hands with Mr. President

Since then, I have moved twice, had two different jobs, and still haven't figured out exactly where my life is headed. A lot has happened in the last year. I recently took part in an incredible mission trip to northern Uganda where a group of American doctors and professionals provided medical care, clean water wells, and food for the people there, many of them victims of Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army.

Helping take blood pressure and temperature in Gulu, Uganda

Most of my time since graduation has been spent in Ocean Beach, a lively community right next to Point Loma. My roommate works at PLNU and I am on campus frequently for events and to see friends. Amidst all that has happened in the last year, I can say without a doubt that I still feel a part of the PLNU community. When I drive onto campus, I still see familiar, smiling faces and sense God's presence as much as ever. With everything that has changed around me, it's nice to have a "constant" like PLNU (shout out to all the LOST fans out there!)

The day that I graduated, I didn't know how it would feel to return to campus once students were back, once classes had started again, when for the first time that I could remember, I wasn't a student in one of them. I thought I might feel like I didn't quite belong, like Preview Days or something - like I was just a visitor. But instead, it felt a lot like going to visit home when I was away at college. Like even though I don't live in this place anymore, whenever I visit it, I still feel at home. That's exactly how it felt, and it still does.

A lot has happened in a year. College flew by, but the year after has felt like a few weeks. Some friends have moved away, others have stayed, others are about to make that choice when they graduate in a month. Many of them have gotten engaged or married (ring by spring!!). But whatever happens in the next year, it's nice to know that PLNU will always be a place I can call home.

With the junior/senior roommates: Chip, Calen, James, and myself

Check out the archive below for blogs I wrote during my senior year at Loma!