Today, the sense of culmination reached its highest yet as our group of fifteen friends had our final after-church brunch in the DC, which we stretched out for more than two hours. At its conclusion, our group was reduced to simply standing in a circle outside the DC until nobody could think of anything else to say, and we simply stood there looking at each other, none of us wanting to end what has been an incredible year of intimate growth.
And now, the time has come for the community to disband for the summer. While most are excited for the events their summers have in store, everyone is simultaneously filled with a great sense of loss. Before us lies a three month span during which we will not see the people we've grown so close to. Being freshmen, none of us have experienced this break, and we can't foresee what it will be like coming back. Will it be the same? Are we going to be able to just pick up where we left off? I'm almost certain that those questions will be answered in the affirmative, but nonetheless everyone is sad to see the year end.
After all, the end of this year marks the conclusion of the first quarter of the game. We're done with the first lap of the mile. This leaves us with only three more to labor through and enjoy before our separation will most likely be permanent. As a result, each moment we have together holds all the more weight.
After such an amazing first year, it's impossible not to wonder what the next three may hold. Can it really get better than this?
So far, life really has gotten better at each stage. The last two years of high school, I saw tremendous growth in my life, starting the process of learning how to interact with others and really embracing the challenge of academics. This year, growth occurred at an even faster pace.
I came into college wanting to “expand my horizons and experience some new things”, moving forward in my personal development. I'm pleased to say that I think I was successful.
I moved to a new place where I was totally alone and knew no one. I broke my comfort zone, forcing myself to meet new people, finding a church, and getting plugged into community. I talked to a bunch of homeless dudes until I found one who had served in the army. I was challenged intellectually as I had never been, and I experienced an entirely new dynamic with my family. I destroyed whatever was left of my comfort zone by swing dancing. I gave a spiritual talk for the first time. I found the fascinating science of biophotonics. I discovered true joy to the soundtrack of a vomiting roommate. I was baptized. I experienced Pascha. I lived through Picnic Day, watching my peers get stumbling drunk. I became an MC. I gained an appreciation of modern art. And I came out of the whole thing with an incredible group of friends that have changed my life.
And it is thus that I mark an end to this first chapter of my college experience. At this point, seeing the incredible progress of this first year, I can only imagine what new things I will experience in the next chapter. Will friends be just as amazing? Will life as an RA be as crazy and entertaining as I think it will be? Will Catalyst continue to grow? I don't even know all of the questions to ask, simply because I cannot predict what next year will hold. I am excited to discover it though.
I hope you'll continue following along on this journey, because the traffic on this blog is a large part of my inspiration to go out and do crazy things, and it keeps me thinking of how to push boundaries. For that, I would like to thank those of you who read the blog.
In just a few days, after finishing finals, I will begin my journey back home for the summer. Since I will be personally interacting with the majority of my readers, I will be shifting away from personal updates and moving more toward practical and spiritual musings. When life in Davis resumes, I will return to personal narrative and the action will recommence.
And now, as with so many things this time of year, it is time to conclude. It's been a life-changing year, and I hope you'll stick around to see the next chapter of the story.