Wow, 2011 already? Time just seems to be flying. Sadly, I haven't been on here much in the past month. I kept meaning to blog over break, but when I figured out that Christmas break 2010 would be my last long-term break until Christmas break 2011, I decided to spend my time with loved ones (great choice!), relaxing, and taking a step back from the technology world. Thank goodness I did, because I find myself already missing the life unconnected.
So many wonderful things happened in 2010 that I am eager to see what the year 2011 has in store for me. I've been a "Christian" throughout my life, but in the past few years, I've been growing closer to God as I wrestle with myself and His plan for me.
The Passion 2010 conference was a terrific way to start off 2010 and I am sad to have missed it this year. The people I met, the things I learned, and the emotions I experienced on that trip were truly life-changing. The planning, time, thought, and prayer that goes into that conference each year is incredible and I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to attend the 2010 session with such wonderful people all around me. It was a great way to begin my last semester of undergrad.
After a fun but stressful last semester with family and friends, I finished up at Grand Valley with a Bachelor of Art's degree in Psychology on May 1st. Scared about what was next but excited for whatever was ahead, it felt good to be done. I applied to both GVSU and WMU for their Master of Social Work (MSW) programs and began the wait to hear back from the schools. I moved home and job-searched most of the summer, to no avail. It was easy to be disappointed and discouraged, as I was simply looking for a summer job, but I was able to find one at Menard's and worked part-time as a cashier from July to October.
Throughout the summer, I was blessed to have the opportunity to visit Jake at least once a month in his hometown. His family was so loving and welcoming to me, as they opened their home and extra bedroom so I could stay and visit. It has been such a blessing to be able to spend time with each member of the Sciacchitano family and get know them better. Visiting Jake and his family, as well as spending time with my own, brought some bright spots into challenging summer I faced.
I was accepted to both WMU and GVSU's MSW programs and decided to return to Grand Valley, as their program is more catered to what I would like to do (clinical/counseling). I liked WMU's program also, but found GVSU's advanced generalist program to be the experience I was looking for. At GVSU, MSW students serve three semesters at a field internship with the same organization, and GV is not a "track" program, as WMU is. Though I know what I would like to do in social work (ideally), I believe it to be important that an MSW student is not simply competent in their area of practice, but also in other areas. I have a micro focus, simply meaning I would like to work with individuals or groups on a more personal, face-to-face level. I am thankful, however, to take classes that also teach me about the macro aspects of social work so that I may grasp a better understanding of the field as a whole.
I applied to several Graduate Assistant (GA) positions over the summer and beginning of fall semester but was denied several times. It felt cruel to me that each time I would be so hopeful, only to be disappointed and feel let down. I didn't understand at the time, but God always has a plan.
I began my first semester in the MSW program by living at home, working at Menards, and commuting three days a week to classes. My wonderful friends offered their extra rooms, beds, and couches to me and at different points, I took them up on their offers. I don't usually like to depend on others, but it was a terrific blessing to me that I was able to spend some quality time with loving friends and have a place to stay, as well as to avoid driving around all the time. I am deeply grateful for those friends allowing me to enter their homes and apartments and share some time with them. Though life was very crazy with commuting, staying all over the place, working, and taking classes, it was a great experience and I learned a lot about people from it.
Through a good friend I met in class, I was referred to a GA position at GVSU's Johnson Center for Philanthropy. Doubtful that I would get the position but still willing to try, I submitted a letter of interest to the person in charge of hiring. Interested, he responded to my letter with a request of a resume and cover letter. I began to get a bit excited but still looked at the situation realistically, thinking it was unlikely that I would be the person they were looking for. I sent both documents to him and scheduled an interview. I was nervous, but just before entering the building for my interview, I finally gave the position and its possibilities over to God completely. In all of the earlier GA positions I applied for, I prayed that God would grant me the opportunity to have one of these positions. One in particular felt so right, but never happened. It was so disappointing to see another opportunity pass me by. I realize now, looking back on it, that I never really gave God the option of not giving me what I wanted. Disappointment is a bitter pill to swallow sometimes and I am so thankful that I finally surrendered to God. I went into the interview with a clear mind and expectations that whatever happened would happen and be God's will for me.
I ended up acing the interview and was offered the position on the spot! Thank you Jesus! I still cannot believe that I have been blessed to be working as a GA for almost five months now. I am so thrilled and thankful for this position, as it completely covers my first year of graduate school tuition, with a terrific stipend on top of my tuition paid! God is so good!
I continued commuting for awhile, until my wonderful boyfriend mentioned to a mutual friend that I was looking for a place to live. She needed a roommate for the place she was offered to rent and we decided to live together. After some waiting and figuring some things out, we were cleared to move in. The place she had found through another mutual friend was, again, above and beyond anything I could have expected God to do for me! I've always wanted to live on a lake and guess what? Our apartment is a finished basement floor all to ourselves (our own rooms, bathroom, pantry, living room, and kitchen area) looking out onto a small, but beautiful lake. It's incredibly reasonably priced...practically a steal on our end, and we are able to use their washer/dryer and stove without any problems. We pay one, very low price every month and that's that. Wow God. Why are you so good to me? I still say to my roommate that I cannot believe we were blessed with this place. Our landlords are terrific, sweet people and have been so wonderful to us. Our apartment is truly a home away from home for me, located between downtown GR (about 15 minutes away) and Allendale (about 8 minutes away) in Jenison. I love my roommate and enjoy quality time with her whenever possible (not often enough!). This location is great because I am able to get to my classes and work in little time and still live fairly close to the love of my life, who is a Resident Assistant (RA) on the Allendale campus. God is so good. Seems to be a theme in my life...;)
The first semester of grad school was really tough and stressful, but with a lot of prayer, late nights, and the support of wonderful family, my boyfriend, friends, and classmates, I made it through with great grades and a sane mind. (Woot!) =) Christmas break was a very much needed break and it was wonderful to spend time with my family and Jake and his family. Family is so important to both of us (which I am grateful for) so it meant a lot to be able to spend time with everyone I love dearly. We even got to spend NYE together for the first time! The time we had together before beginning school again was, as I have said before, a blessing for me. It is what I will be clinging to throughout this next year as things change and life gets a bit more challenging.
As I begin this next semester (four more to go!), I hope to enjoy the time I have with Jake, family, and friends. I am hoping to study abroad for the first time in May (1st-15th) on a School of Social Work trip to Ireland. The country is beautiful and I hope to experience it and the culture firsthand. Ireland is one of my "bucket list" locations so I am excited for this possibility (brought to you by: God's provisions through a wonderful place to live and a GA position. Thanks be to Him!). Jake is nervous, as the women in movies who travel to Ireland usually fall in love with Irish men and live "happily ever after." However, I think he knows that there's no one else for me and though the accent is indeed attractive, no man could steal me from him. I'm his...and he's "stuck" with me (thankfully he doesn't seem to mind at all! ;) haha).
I'll celebrate 2 years with my best friend in March of this year. It's crazy to think about because in some ways, it seems like we just started talking the other day, while in other, more important ways, it feels like we've known and loved each other forever. I am so thankful for his presence in my life and feel incredibly blessed that he chooses to do life with me. Such wonderful things are ahead for us and while I greatly wish time would speed up, I am happy for the time we have together now.
2011 is shaping up to be an exciting and challenging year for me. Things I planned on are changing and things I did not expect are shaping up. I am excited to face the year ahead, but realize I cannot do so without God. He has blessed me so much in this life and I am excited to walk the rest of it with Him. I am eager to grow in my relationship with God and want to learn more about how to be more like Christ. I hope to look back on 2011 as the clock ticks down with a smile and my best friend's arm around me, remembering both the wonderful times and the hard, thankful to be alive and in God's hands.
Love, peace, and joy,
Amanda
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