Three and a half years ago, I was sitting in my college advisor's office talking about what classes I wanted to take for Spring of 2017. During our conversation he started telling me about the various off-campus programs Calvin was apart of too, one of which being the Chicago Semester. I grew up right outside of Chicago in a suburb called, Des Plaines. It's about thirty minutes from downtown and five minutes from O'Hare airport- the third busiest airport in the United States. Naturally, as a typical homesick freshman, I decided I was going to do it... my last semester of college. I made up my mind in his office, and all throughout college had the 'Chicago Semester' in the back of my mind as how I was going to finish my college career.
Freshmen year went by, sophomore year went by, junior year went by; every semester I made more and more friends, got closer and closer to the friends I had, and grew to love Calvin College and the state of Michigan more and more. If you told me in October of 2016, when I was a freshman at Calvin, that I was going to be looking forward to going back to school in August of 2019, I would have said you were crazy and didn't know what you were talking about. But that's God for you. "Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails," Proverbs 19:21.
I always knew I was going to do the Chicago Semester, even though my reasoning and purpose for doing so has changed. When I first decided I was going to do it freshman year, it was because I was a homesick freshman who wanted nothing more than to be with her family in the place she knew as home. As college went on, my purpose for Chicago Semester turned into taking advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live in a reasonably priced apartment in one of the most expensive areas in Chicago, have an internship that would build and strengthen my communications skills (I'm a communications/film and media major) and give me the chance to see what it's like to do what my sister and I always wondered- live and work in downtown Chicago.
As a second semester senior in college, I have no idea where God is going to lead me after I graduate. My time in Michigan has opened my eyes to the idea of starting my life post-graduation in Michigan-even though I always assumed I would end up back in Chicago. And I'll be honest, I had no idea it was going to be so hard to say goodbye to my friends in Michigan when the time came. However, while I don't know what God is going to use me for after I graduate, I do know that right now, He has me here, in Chicago, Illinois, and that it's not a mistake. If I was never supposed to go to Chicago, He would not have allowed me to go. Therefore, I am so looking forward to the friendships and experiences I am going to have while here in Chicago :)
So here I am! My amazing mom and I moved my things into my Gold Coast apartment last Saturday, January 11, where I met my two other roommates (and now great friends) Emily and Retasya. It's only been a week but it feels like we have done much more than a week's worth of activities. Between orientation (with information, tours of the city and lots of good food), classes and everyone's internship starting, we are definitely appreciative to be able to enjoy the weekend. My roommates and I are all more introverted than extroverted, so we enjoy exploring a little, but then coming back to our cozy apartment to just hang out :)
This semester I will be interning with the non-profit, Girls on the Run, as their communications intern. I'll be doing a lot of social media, writing and video work for them, and couldn't be more excited. My supervisor and team couldn't be more supportive and encouraging to me, and I am so excited to have my own space to do my work for the first time. My commute to work is about a twenty-five minute walk or a five minute bus ride. Depending on the weather, I like to walk to work when I can :)
This weekend my roommates and I went to Moody Church and then we went out to lunch. We're excited to have Martin Luther King Day off to spend more time exploring and relaxing after a long week of moving in, orientation, class and work. I will be using my blog to document my Chicago adventures from now until the end of April, so be sure to subscribe if you want to read along with me on my journey. I plan on posting every Sunday :) As I said before, I'm excited for the new friends and opportunities I will have this semester, as well as for my friends in Michigan to come and visit me (and I them in Michigan). 2020 is going to be a big year- both with new things and a practice in trust.
My word for 2020 wasn't hard to come up with- trust. It's definitely not east, but I'm praying for God's help with it everyday.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
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