Absorbency
At a leadership conference I was blessed to attend, the speaker told us to soak up the week like a sponge. He said that we would get out of the week what we put in, and so he encouraged us to make the most of every moment and take as much of it in as we possibly could. I took that to heart, and brought that philosophy with me ever since that week.
When I landed at University of Jamestown, I was so excited and ready to soak every bit of the experience in. After two and a half years, here are some things I’ve absorbed.
LOVE
I have experienced an immense amount of love at University of Jamestown, not only from my fellow students, but from faculty, staff, and administration. People genuinely care about me and for me. Whether it be the dining staff remembering my name, or my professors freely giving up their time to have a conversation with me, love has been at the core of so many of my experiences here.
PASSION
If you have ever attended a choir concert, a basketball game, a theatre performance, a football game, or been around during water elimination, you know what I mean when I say that UJ has passion. Something magic happens when people do what they are passionate about and that is a daily occurrence at UJ. I feel so tremendously blessed to get to learn from professors that are passionate about the subject they teach and the students they teach it to. I feel honored to participate alongside fellow students that have a passion for performing. And I feel inspired when I watch someone put in their whole effort into their passion and hear it pay off when the Newman bells ring.
COMMUNITY
I decided to make this one separate from love, but they have many things in common. I have experienced community like I never have before at UJ. Students know each other and want to know how they’re doing. Amidst all the busyness, I see the population of UJ come together to support each other in our many activities. Since the day I arrived as a freshman, I have felt extremely grateful for the community here. To be able to walk into the caf alone, confident that there will be someone to sit next to if I want. To be able to find other people choosing to be in community on a Tuesday night, when schedules are already so full. All these things make me proud to be a part of the Jimmie community.
I’m glad that I chose such a phenomenal place to be a sponge in.
