It has been entirely too long since I have taken the time to sit down and hash out some of what my life has been these past few months. So much has changed.
For starters I finished my freshman year of college at Samford University and it was wonderful! I survived Chemistry, loved Anatomy, and tolerated my Cultural Perspectives class. I even got 49 out of the required 60 convo credits taken care of. I applied for and was accepted to be a RA on campus and ended the year on cloud nine. Then summer came.
I went home for two weeks before I went to North Dakota for six. I had a job with a childcare facility aligned for my six weeks in the arctic north. They had informed me that I would be able to work full time and I was super excited! However, when I arrived I was informed that there were only four days that they might possibly need my help. WHAT?! Only four days when I had been promised full time? Incidentally they never got in contact with me again. I guess they didn't actually need me for those four days after all. I did end up getting a job though.
The job I got was at a bird shop. I know, I went from supposed to be working at a childcare facility to cleaning poop off of bird cages! In the words of Emily Finlay, "That would only happen to Lauren." And thus is my life. The job wasn't all bad. My boss was great and the hours were flexible. I'm just being dramatic. The next huge change of the summer came soon after.
I had a sit down chat with my parents and we came to the realization that continuing to attend Samford was no longer financially possible. I was devastated!! Samford had become my home! What would I say to all of my friends? Why was this happening? All I can say is that I had to trust that God's hand was in this change and trust that he would sustain my life like He had proved faithful to do in the past. The next step was to find a new University.
Now in Bismarck there just so happens to be a University up on the hill above the house here. I went in for a tour and decided that it would be the best option for the continuation of my nursing education. This decision meant that I needed to enroll in a two week CNA program and move from sunny, delightful, humid Florida to freaking North Dakota! Who does that? Oh yes, that's right, Lauren does.
So that's what I did. I packed up my life in Florida, notified Samford and all my friends that I would not be returning and enrolled in a new University and moved to North Dakota. Now I'm about to start my fourth week of classes and my friend count is zero. I just haven't really had any opportunities to meet and talk with people and form friendships. I'm not going to lie, it kind of sucks, but I know that it will just take time.
I found a church that I really love and am trying to get involved there. I know that God has His hand in all this and that brings me great comfort. My life is nothing like I ever would have thought it would be at this point, but the only way to go from here is forward. And that is what I fully intend to do. I'm still working at the bird shop and I'm still trying to do my very best in all the courses I'm taking. Just one day at a time and one foot in front of the other, that's my game plan.
