goodbye waterloo...

seems like yesterday i was a froshie moving into waterloo college hall. now i'm graduating and moving out of the town which, over the past four years, has become my "home". it feels so surreal.

back in first year my floor don gave us all a sheet of blue paper with a poem written on it. i don't really remember what it said, but i do remember the last line which read, "university is about learning: learning how to live."

that statement is so true. many lessons were learned during my four years here. i'm thankful for all the experiences, good and bad, i've had during university as they have all impacted the way i live now in one way or another. some experiences were tougher to go through than others, but i can say that i've learned something from all of them and in the end, that's what's most important. anyway, these are a few of the lessons that God has taught me along the way. :)

top five life lessons i've learned in university:
5. learn to let things go: you can't hang onto everything, that will only eat you from the inside out. pick your battles wisely.
4. think before you speak: not only can words really build someone up, they can hurt a reputation, break a heart, and even destroy a person if you're not careful.
3. balance: balance is key. all work and no play is boring, but all play and no work is just dumb.
2. know your limits: have a clear idea of what your limits are and stick to them. some compromises just aren't worth it.
1. be REAL: don't be afraid to be yourself. people can usually tell when someone is being phony or trying too hard. eventually everyone's true colours shine through no matter how hard people might try to hide them. just be yourself and when you do, you'll know that the people who like you, like you for being you. :)

door number two is closed too.

i love music, i really do. i'm soon-to-be graduating with a BMT (bachelor of music therapy) & BA Psych, and in retrospect i'm glad that i chose the option i did, but the road to where i'm at now has been tough, long, and full of resistance...from me.

i realized today that throughout my whole life, i've constantly tried to run away from music. i've tried different things, but i've never been able distance myself from it. in elementary school i did this by refusing to fill out the arts york program applications until the morning of the day it was due (and even so it was only because liz made me); in high school i did this by originally applying for only science programs; and in university it was applying to masters programs in speech-language pathology for post-grad education.

well, all my attempts failed: i ended up going to unionville high school for their arts york piano program, then going to wilfrid laurier university for music (then eventually music therapy), and i didn't get into any of the schools i applied to for speech-language pathology. i don't believe in coincidences, so it's not by chance that any of these things happened. with all that in mind, i can't help but ask myself why i'm so reluctant to enter into the music field when He has guided me this far, and has equipped me with musical skills.

to make a long explanation short, i'm scared.

just call me Jonah. maybe this, my not getting into speech, was my big fish...

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
- Jeremiah 29:11

...but even jonah eventually learned that with God's help he could overcome his own personal baggage and follow God's plan for his life right? i suppose now it's my turn.

where You lead me, i will follow...

lccf grad night 2006.

9 grads + the greatest fellowship + the greatest alumni + great videos + awesome performances by froshies, tracy, and sam (euni and allie) + honest and from the heart sharing + cake + craziness in the caf + jamming and signage of books = a night to remember.

thanks so much everyone for making this night so incredibly special. thanks for all the preparation, thought, sweat, and love that went into making this night happen; i wouldn't have changed a thing. this community is SO special. i've said this before a million times, but i'll say it again: i love you all so much. :)