It’s hard to believe I’m gearing up for finals. It seems so surreal to be heading into my senior year. It really does feel like I moved in to Bethel full of nervousness and uncertainties just a little while ago. I have so much gratitude to the Lord for leading me to this wonderful college. The academics have been great, the people I’ve met have changed my life, and most importantly, God met with me. He has shown me this is not just a school, it is a place of worship!

I am excitedly heading into my final week here. The feeling is, as everyone always mentions, bittersweet. Still, I’m thankful for this year, which has been a wonderful testament of God’s goodness each month, week, and day. I can honestly say that I am wrapping this year up with satisfaction with my work.

This is my final blog entry for the year. To those who have regularly read my blog: I thank you. Some students on campus have commented that at times my blog posts have encouraged them and kept them going. I appreciate those kind words so much, and I pray that anyone reading this would feel a sense of God’s joy and love in their hearts.

God bless,

Daniel

I started it out with lots of work. On Monday, I presented my final creative project in Mass Media, which came in the form of ten poems for a total of 32 pages! It was a big project, and my presentation took up a lot of time, but I felt really good about it, and enjoyed creating/presenting it!

Between work and homework and classes, I worked for 14.5 hours on Monday! WOW…too much.

But after that it got a bit easier. I still had papers to write, finals to study for, and homework to do, but it all winded down to the 2 p.m. class yesterday, which was officially my last class of the entire school year. It felt a bit unreal. I was really glad to have finished strong, though. I’ve gotten two grades back so far (because some of my finals were done this week rather than the actual week of finals. This is to accommodate the students busy-ness at the end of the semester) and they were both A’s. I’m very excited about that.

Now it’s on to finals week. I pray that God will bless the Bethel students’ final stretch, and help everyone (myself included!) to work diligently for His glory.

• I got up to 34 MPH on a longboard! I went out with a couple of Bethel friends and pulled that one off. Not super notable, but interesting, nonetheless.

• Palm Sunday’s worship yesterday was great! I was encouraged and found some insights into Palm Sunday that I never had.

• I managed to not fall victim to any April Fool’s day jokes! (Believe it or not, for me this is somewhat of a miracle.)

• Easter Break is only three days away. I’m excited, but these three days might be pretty jam-packed.

• We had a great Deeper Life Conference, and I was challenged to delve further into my relationship with the Lord.

This week has been a good one! Plenty of warm weather and good moods to go around. I got a chance to take some photos for the Beacon/my photojournalism class. I included them in a photo essay that I called “Signs of Spring.” If you’re part of the Bethel community and you have a second, you should check it out at the Beacon. For those who don’t know, Spring is far and away my favorite season. The sense of new life and fresh perspective brings a new light (both literally and metaphorically!) to the year. I’m so glad it’s that time of year again!

The plans for this weekend are being put into place. I’m hoping to go to the senior thesis art show tonight, and head over to Sufficient Grounds for their open mic night. Also, there’s a “Michiana Elite Bird Fair,” coming to Bethel tomorrow, put on by Royal Wings Aviary. I don’t know a whole lot about it, but rumor has it there will be quite the display of birds. It sounds interesting, and I might be heading that way! There is some more information on it at the following link: http://www.bethelcollege.edu/news/2012/bethel-hosts-michiana-elite-bird-fair.html

I know it may be hard to realize through the text of a blog entry, but I do hope that if you are reading this you realize that I am so often grateful to God for the opportunities he has given me here at Bethel. I sincerely believe that God has orchestrated my time here in a way that has led to my spiritual, social, and emotional benefit. I praise God for the joy He has set in my heart, and I truly do pray for those who read my blog. May God bless you, and have a wonderful weekend!

   In any case, I will work to glorify God through my skating. I received the board that I will race on from my skateboard sponsor, Gravity skateboards/longboards. If all goes well, I will be officially signing up for the race this month.

   That’s all for now. Praying myself through this week…excited to see what’s next. Photos of Spring at Bethel coming next week, so keep reading this blog.

                We went longboarding, visited downtown, and lots of other things. It ended up being a great time with a good group of friends. I’m really grateful to God for the chance to have some time off, even if it was just one weekend.

                Not much else is going on other than that. I’ve been enjoying my classes overall, and everything else is going quite well. It’s a good semester, and I’m pumped to see what else happens in it. God is good, and He has been faithful.

So Spring Break starts today. I’m extremely excited for the chance to get a little break from classes. This marks the halfway-point in this semester, and I feel as though I’ve done really well so far. I’m glad because I really believe I have given (and will continue to give) my all in my classes this semester.

In one class in particular, Mass Media, I was assigned a project that entails a creative undertaking of some kind. We are to create some sort of artistic project that will reflect who we are in Christ and lead others more toward Christ. The rules for this project are pretty minimal, and I like that. Unlike some others, I prefer when the rules are few and the freedom to do as we choose is wide open. Especially with a creative project, I think it’s important to give some freedom and not micromanage. Well, my professor is doing just that!

So I am turning in a small paper regarding what my project will be once it is completed. As a writer, I’ve decided that I will write a story. I’ve already started it and I’m really pumped about the beginning I’ve gotten. So far, it includes all manner of things, including quite a bit of light-verse poetry. I’ve come to realize that I really enjoy non-linear, playful writing as my own unique style. I can’t wait to see how it turns out!

Not much else to say for this week. I’m heading home today, along with two other Bethel students and friends of mine. One is coming home with me to spend the weekend while the other is just hitching a ride. I’m looking forward to the long break ahead, and praise God for rest and encouragement!

-Daniel

First place included was a group of students including a friend of mine. They sang and beat-boxed. Definitely a nice and cool sound! Second place was a couple of guys who performed an original song, and also a cover of “Pumped Up Kicks,” by Foster the People. That cover was actually my favorite song of the evening.

I had a really good time at the Battle of the Bands and got a few good shots. I’ll turn them in for photojournalism this Tuesday, and I’m excited about that. It’s hard to believe that there is only one week left until Spring Break. The first half of the semester is drawing to a close, which means midterms are soon upon us. I’ll have to continue studying for those, but so far everything has been coming along nicely. The weekend is here, but after a good week, I already feel pretty relaxed and refreshed! Praise God!

-Daniel

It’s been pretty eventful. I am working on designing a flyer for Orbit, the record shop that I am doing some public relations work with this semester. I have also written them a 30-second radio spot to use. It will air relatively soon, hopefully! I am excited about this, and I like that this has worked out.

Also, I have been working on writing a lot of poetry lately. It’s all in what I would call the “rough-draft” stage, for sure. But even still, it’s a lot of fun, and I’ve been glad to have the chance to write again. Sometimes I have a hard time feeling inspired, and lately it’s been a bit easier, so I’m grateful for that.

I’m home for this weekend, back in Fort Wayne. It is nice to have some time to see my family again, and I’m looking forward to the rest that comes with weekends. Lord-willing, I will be able to hit the next week with enough momentum to really get a lot of things done and still enjoy my time. God is good!

Daniel

I also started doing some P.R. for a record shop right near campus called Orbit Music and Movies. I can’t wait to get into this more, but for now I’m planning some ideas, and I’m going to meet with the owner tomorrow to shoot them past him. Hopefully he will like what I have planned!

I am trying to “keep the plates spinning” so to speak, juggling all of my obligations. It’s been a good semester. My brother came up for the weekend, because he was already planning on being in the area for a job interview. He graduated in December from Bethel with a degree in Biblical Studies.

Everything is going well, and I hope and pray it is well on your end, too.

God bless,

Daniel