There was a speaker in chapel the other day that talked about the concept of "home." He brought up the point that the majority of great stories have some concept of being lost and finding home. Think "Harry Potter," "Divergent," etc. It got me thinking about my own journey this year in finding my place.
The majority of college students have felt alone or lost at some point. Whether it's due to homesickness, lack of community or loss of purpose, adjusting to being away from home is never easy, even for the most independent souls. Personally, I had been on some kind of sports team for as long as I could remember. Volleyball was my passion all through high school, and my energy was directed towards bettering myself for my sport. The hours of workouts and games were what I lived for. It was where I found my joy, purpose and friends that were more like family. Deciding against taking a scholarship to play volleyball or going to the school that I had fallen in love with proved to be the hardest decision I have ever had to make. In the end, I felt that God was drawing me to Baylor. I have never once regretted my decision, but there are no words to express the emptiness I felt with out it in my life.
When I started my first semester in Waco, I was desperately searching for somewhere to belong. I knew that I wanted to rush in the spring so, knowing that I would have a busy schedule the following semester, I didn't do very much. I wouldn't advise anyone to go about it this way. I was left feeling purposeless and alone. Growing up, I was always incredibly sure of myself and who I was. I hardly ever struggled with confidence. But there's something about being just another nameless face in a sea of 16,000 people that can make you lose yourself. For the first time ever, I had no idea who I was.
Going into rush, I was hopeful. I thought that maybe, just maybe, I would find somewhere to belong. My expectations were entirely blown out of the water by what I found in Alpha Chi Omega. I didn't just find somewhere to belong. I found a home. A family. A place where I can live and thrive and be celebrated for everything that I am. Now, being well into our new member period, I can testify that it's actually impossible to be lonely. I feel full and complete and free. I found my new "team."
Reading this, I could see how it sounds like I found my identity in my letters. However, in my case, I don't look at it as my identity being my letters. My letters, and everything they stand for, only serve to remind me of who I am as an individual.
That's what home is, right? The place where you know who you are without a doubt. I was lost and now I'm found. And that's a darn good story if I ever heard one.
