It’s crazy to think that just a year ago, I was staying the night on campus in a total stranger’s dorm and getting to know the campus that I’d soon come to love. A year from now, the high school students who were here Sunday and Monday could be reflecting on the same memories that I am today.
The campus was buzzing from the tail end of the weekend into the start of the school week with prospective students checking out Tabor’s classes and lifestyle. It felt a little more cramped around some of the central spots on campus like the Schlict, Java Jays, and especially the cafeteria. At lunch Monday, I was lucky to find my friends and I a small table way in the back of the room because it was so packed. While it was a little more frustrating than usual to navigate campus, it was interesting to see a set of faces around that I didn’t recognize for a change.
My roommate and I decided to host one of the prospective students in our dorm Sunday night. We got to go with her to a couple of her scheduled activities, and it was strange actually knowing people personally who were running the events and current students who were attending as well. Even as all three of us were getting ready for bed that night, I got to tell our visitor all about the college and answer a lot of the questions that she had. I liked being someone with the knowledge and (a slice of) wisdom giving advice to someone who could benefit from my experiences.
I also got to have lunch with another prospective student and her mom. It was really nice to sit down to a meal together and just tell my story and all about daily life at Tabor. Being able to brag on Tabor to non-students but also recognize that it’s not a perfect school is something that I’ve really come to enjoy. I am loving life here, and I hope that others will be able to love it, too.
In a very short year, I’ve gained a great deal of perspective on the entire adventure that is college. From deciding which one I was going to attend, to applying to every scholarship I could, to learning the ins and outs of Tabor, this year has probably been one of the most informative years of my life. In my life, I had people who supported me and helped to lead me in the direction God had for my collegiate life. I strive to be one of those people for any prospective student that I might meet.