From the desk of Celia Tucker, Academic Counselor:

Let’s just say that feeding sting rays, riding looping roller coasters, and exploring college campuses are all amazing adventures. On the bus at 5:45, at HBU at 10:00, eating lunch at 11:15, on the bus at 12:30, at The University of Houston at 1:00, on the bus at 3:30, at Kemah Island at 4:30, riding, being dropped from the sky, being turned upside down and backwards, screaming, laughing, totally losing our stomachs (literally for some…), shopping, eating, talking, back on the bus at 9:00, at the hotel at 9:30, coffee, hot chocolate, tea, and buying out the hotel snack store, curfew, prayer, devotional at 11:00, breakfast starting at 6:00, load bus by 9:30, at Texas A & M Galveston by 10:00, lunch at 11:00, on the bus at 12:00, treat at Buc-ee’s, at Brook Hill at 5:17.

Are you tired yet? Let me tell you that the Senior Class of 2018 was just getting started. They are amazing individuals. Energy times 100. I found myself not being able to keep up. I could eat 1 snack—they could eat 3; I could ride the rides one time—they rode them 6 million times; I was full after eating dinner—they ate dinner and then wiped out the hotel snack bar; I was wobbly and a little green after Kemah Island—they were perky, rosy pink, and healthy (well maybe some had a tint of green…but not for long…they recover so quickly); they were masters at this word brain game—I could not figure out what word had six letters and fit in the blanks; they had their second wind and were going to try and stay awake all night—I cannot even spell the word “stayawakeallnight”–when debriefing about colleges and answering random questions their answers were so interesting and varied—I might change my mind about my favorite Bible story after hearing some of theirs; they had definite likes and dislikes about the campuses we visited—their reasons made such sense; they knew what was coming next in the Minions movie and Inside Out—both movies were brand new for me; I’m telling you again, I found myself not being able to keep up. Their energy level is amazing.

One thing that became so clear as we traveled from campus to campus is how much influence tour guides have over whether students like or dislike a campus—whether students want to be part of the campus or have no interest—or whether students want to follow in their footsteps or stay away. Guides that are sold on their schools, the ones that truly believe in their colleges or universities, the ones that make it clear that they made the right choice are the ones that get the positive campus reviews from the students. HHHmmm, I thought. That totally relates to my walk as a Christian. As people watch me live my life would they want what I have? Would they want to follow in my footsteps? Would they want to follow the One that I follow? How do I represent Jesus? It is obvious that I am absolutely sold on Him to the point they want Him, too? Am I keeping up with Him or lagging behind?

Another thing that became clear to me on this trip is how blessed I am by your children.

Here’s to keeping up.