Nikki Evans, ’14

From the desk of Ginger Bell, Director of Family and Alumni Relations:

Nikki Evans, ’14, came to Brook Hill as a shy little girl in the Lower School.  But, after 9 years in the Brook Hill family, she left us as a confident young lady. In the 2 years she has been gone, Nikki has continued to mature and gain wisdom on living life well.  She recently wrote a piece of encouragement to others facing the end of the high school years and the beginning of “adulthood” and college.  She agreed to let me share it with you in the hopes others might learn from her experience.  I know I could have benefited from this advice way back when I was facing the same situation.  So, we might call this wisdom for the ages.

To any friends who may not know where they’re going to college yet: Don’t stress about choosing the “right” one. There are several out there that will be good for you. And what’s the worst thing that can happen if you make the wrong choice? You pack up, go home, and choose again.

I know because I started out with a choice that didn’t fit me at the time. And I’ll be honest; it was a hard semester. I lost track of how many times I called my dad crying about wanting to go home.… But you know the rest of the story? I made it. And even if that happens (which it probably won’t), you’ll make it, too.

So, if the worst possible thing happens and you do choose wrong and have a hard semester, you know what happens? You learn. You learn how to deal with hard things. You learn how to hang on and not give up. You learn how to have hope even when things aren’t easy. You learn how to cling to Jesus and trust Him to bring you through anything. And then He does bring you through it. Every time. Always.
And then you get to choose again.

So don’t stress about it. It’s going to be okay. I promise. Yes, try to choose a school that’s a good fit for you… but don’t stress yourself out about it. No matter what, everything is going to be okay ?