Intentionality with relationships

6th Year of TCU's "Afternoon Tea" put on by our vice chancellor & Student Development Services (SDS) to welcome those not choosing Panhellenic/Greek life.

Sophomore year.  Crazy stuff.  Last year, I made the decision to not go through the recruitment process to get into a sorority.  I wasn't too worried about it because I was never interested in being in one, but I did feel an uneasiness in that I was doing something wrong by not going through it.  The week before school has an atmosphere that shouts Greek life as 50 percent of girls at TCU choose to undergo this process.  I felt as if I was limiting myself from the number of people I would be able to meet and make relationships with.  However, I quickly realized that all of this uneasiness was completely unnecessary.

TCU offers a bunch of "Frogs First" activities for first year students so that they become more acclimated to TCU's values and what the school is all about.  One of the events I went to as a baby frog was this Afternoon tea.  It was held for all of those not going through recruitment.  You get to dress up in cute pastel dresses, drink tea, and eat endless amounts of sandwiches, scones, and dessert over sweet, sweet camaraderie with other first year students and table captains (upperclassmen) you just met.  

This was one of the moments where I felt wanted, loved, and included.  This was also a moment where I was overwhelmed with a deep sense of gratitude and certainty that I made the right choice to come to TCU.

Now I'm a sophomore and I was given the amazing opportunity to step into bigger shoes and be a table captain leading a table of first year students.  I got to meet gals that were as nervous as I was my freshman year and I was able to assure them that they are so wanted here.  

Reflecting on these past weeks of RA training, I have realized how busy I am going to be this year with being an RA while also juggling being a student at TCU, a spin instructor and program assistant at the rec center, a worker at Cyclebar, and training to be a Cyclestar(instructor) at Cyclebar.  I keep telling myself I can do it, but I think that the best thing I can do is simply live in the moment and indulge in the sweet experiences right in front of me such as this Afternoon tea; I must simply worry about the other things as they come my way later because I'll miss the things right in front of me.

I have to be okay with not being superman and keep telling myself not just what my values are, but also what my purpose in life is:

I want to live a life of relationship.  I want to love others the way my God does for me everyday despite my sin and brokenness.  I want to serve others and be a resource to students at TCU by being a helpful hand or a listener when needed. 

I have to be okay with taking naps this year because sometimes my body is going to need it.  I have to be okay with saying no sometimes because I can't do it all.  This year is going to be filled with experiences both exhilarating and exhausting, and I want to take all of them with an open mind, big heart, and clear purpose. I am ready to give all my uneasiness of failing classes and experiencing hardships to the Lord who is able to take my burdens and give me complete joy.  Just because I am an introvert (People don't believe me, but I get my energy from being by myself) does not mean that I don't care for relationships.  Sometimes the best way I can care for others is by writing a card in my room to someone I am thankful for.  Writing down why I am so blessed to have a loved one in my life can be cultivating my relationship without them even being with me.

Sophomore year.  It's gonna be a good one, a crazy one, a hard one, and a growing one.  I pray that the Lord will give me strength to prioritize him through the relationships I make as an RA in Foster, a worker at Cyclebar, a member of my church, a student at TCU, and a friend to all.  Relationships are what life is all about, and I hope I can develop intentional and true ones this year.

when you meet your best friend at an Afternoon Tea :)