Tag Archives: houston

Commencement

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I’ve been home almost a week now, and I still haven’t written about graduation. But that’s because it’s difficult to write about a place and people that you love, and yet won’t be seeing for awhile. That’s kind of what this blog started out as: a way to reminisce about Paris, a place I love and enjoy so much. But even though I spent a lot of time in Paris and grew to love it even more than before, Rice is different in that I’ve cultivated so many friendships there, I’ve learned so much about the world and myself, and even though Houston isn’t my favorite place, it can be because of the people there.

Graduation took place this past Saturday, on May 11th. For months, my roommates, friends, and I had been talking about the weather, hoping that it wouldn’t be rainy or humid or hot. If anyone knows Houston, the weather can be four different things before 5 PM. And, since Rice holds their graduation outside, there are bound to be times when things just don’t work out. A few days before, the weather said it would be raining the whole morning of graduation, and then stop right after at noon. I thought to myself, “Really? Really?!” I didn’t want my family to be separated (each graduate gets two “Inclement Weather” tickets if the graduation has to be held inside, because there’s not enough space for everyone’s family and friends to fit in Tudor Fieldhouse, which is why it’s held outside on the quad) on a day that was meant to be spent together with one’s closest family and friends.

So I prayed that it wouldn’t rain. My parents prayed…everyone I knew was praying that the rain would hold off until after the ceremony! And what happened? On Saturday, not only did it not rain during the ceremony, but I didn’t see a drop of rain all day long. It made my graduation day such a blessing, and allowed me to focus on my last day at Rice.

It was a whirlwind of beautiful, hot weather, family, friends, smiles, and tears, and one that I wouldn’t change for anything. Congratulations to Rice’s 100th graduating class, the amazing Class of 2013!

Seasons Change

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This past weekend, my suite mates and I took senior pictures together on campus to commemorate our senior year at Rice. It was a lovely time – at first I thought it would be a bit stressful with so many things to look after, but our wonderful photographer, Alison Chang, of alison wanderland photography was so calm and kind, funny and creative, that she quickly banished any thoughts of “Oh my goodness! Must. Make. Sure. Hair is in place at. All. Times” from my head. Below I share my absolute favorites from the shoot. I hope you enjoy them as much as we did taking them.

 

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*The post title is a reference to a song I really enjoy called Seasons Change by Corinne Bailey Rae. And indeed, as we draw toward the last week of classes, I can slowly feel our seasons changing.

Emptying Tomorrow of Its Sorrow

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Looking at a friend’s blog a week or so ago, I was struck by the sheer simplicity and truth emanating from a quote she posted by Corrie ten Boom: “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.”

So poignant and true. Worry serves to take away our time from accomplishing what we should be doing now. We spend that time thinking of what we can’t do at the moment, rather than what we can do. Before you know it, you look at the clock, and somehow, time’s already passed by and more worry sets in as you realize that now, you really really must buckle down or be sorry. It’s a great reminder to me during these last two weeks of school and finals. Anytime I start to panic and think of the massive amounts of work due, I pray first to myself, “Jesus, help me. I need You.” And then I remember this quote and release any worries from my mind and get down to business. A sure way to release worries is in busying myself with what needs to be done. Accomplishing a long night of studying is exhausting, yet rewarding, because I know I’ve done my best to finish what is required of me.

It’s a blessing to know that on Friday, I will look back on this week and know without a shadow of doubt that releasing my worries to God and trusting Him was the only way I made it through.

Plus, worrying isn’t fun! It keeps one from enjoying life’s spontaneity because constant thoughts of “what if” cloud clear, thoughtful judgement and decisions.
And that just dumps sorrow on one’s tomorrow instead.