One Down, Five to Go!

Well, I have finished my first semester of seminary school! It was a great semester, and whenever people ask me about Duke Div, I am all smiles. I learned so much, was challenged in so many ways, and I think I've finally proven to myself that I am able to be at this prestigious institution and hold my own. I'm proud of myself for what I have accomplished, and I'm very much looking forward to next semester!

While driving to campus for a friend's birthday celebration on Thursday, I reflected on the differences between this M.Div program and my MAT program. I remember my first semester of my MAT like it was yesterday (in fact I've been thinking a lot about my kiddos the past couple of days...). Student teaching was an experience like none other. My brain has never worked so hard- from 7am until 3pm my brain never rested. It was mentally exhausting because I had to constantly think about what I was going to do next. I had 7th and 8th graders for 74-minute periods. I had to keep it interesting or they may have revolted :-) Hence why there was always lots of singing (in French and Spanish you can do that!), lots of hands on activities, and lots of different shorter lessons within the bigger period. I loved student teaching, and I loved my kids. I had so much fun with all of them. 

My experiences student teaching and writing up my MAT project were incredibly challenging for me. I was stretched further than I thought was possible, and yet came out of it ok. ;-) But when I compare my studies at HWS with the ones at Duke, I find myself thinking that my MAT was easier. Then I wondered... why? Community is very important to me. I often need to be surrounded with people I love in order to feel fully comfortable in a place (or degree program). The fact that I was able to stay at HWS for my MAT made that transition so much easier. The fact that I lived with my "college mom" Lesley, made my living situation ideal. I was able to stay with my church family at St. Peter's, and my professors were all there supporting me. I didn't have to start from scratch with friends, professors, and "extended family." This, above all else, is why I think I consider my MAT to be "easier."

My M.Div so far has been a very very different graduate school experience. There was a lot more reading and writing about subjects that I had never encountered before. With my MAT, I had been preparing for it for a couple years by taking various teaching classes. I knew what I was getting myself into. Not so with the M.Div. I struggled with understanding the various theologians and biblical scholars we learned about. I struggled with finding that community that is so important to who I am. It can be hard at Duke to find this community- I've heard this from upper-class students too. If you don't want the community-feel, you can easily avoid it. I have heard people say they are not here to make friends, they are here to learn. To each his own, but I could never do that. Learning and community go hand in hand for me, especially when ultimately what we're learning about is how to be leaders in the Body of Christ; learning how to create meaningful community in our future churches. I feel like you have to participate in this type of community in order to try and foster it in the future.

By the end of the semester, I felt like I was surrounded with people with whom I felt a mutual support and love. The epitome of this feeling was right before our first (and notoriously hardest) final- Early and Medieval Church History. The first-years had just come out of the Eucharist service ("to remember why we're here"), and on our way down to our classroom, so many of our second- and third-year friends where there cheering us on. Legitimately cheering. I was toward the end of the line of first-years, and people were still clapping for us, high-fiving us, and hugging us. I was brought to tears because of the outpouring of love and support that I felt in that moment. Being able to see upper-class friends from Bridge, the Anglican/Episcopal House, and Choir right before the exam, knowing that they were praying for me, feeling that community; it was the best thing for me in that moment. It was beautiful, and I can't wait to do it next year for the newbies. (Well, I can wait, I don't want this next year to go by too fast!) It was such a great way to start off finals week.

These past few days I have been particularly grateful for my friends. Grateful for my study buddies, my prayer buddies, my party-ing buddies ;-)  Friday was a tough day for many people, myself included, and the best way to end the day was to have my close friends over and to give them gifts that I knit them with love. I was grateful to be surrounded by them and be able to begin break with their company.

Here are some pictures (because what would a blog post be without pictures??) 

The "tree" I made, with awesome home-made ornaments from Ashley and Clara!!

Tree with gifts underneath :-)

Brent enjoying his washcloth with his lovely wife Natalie

I think T.J. likes his hat!

Kat with fingerless gloves and Michelle with the washcloth!

Andrew and Rachel with their washcloths

With that, I will stop writing. I could write a lot more about my thoughts right now, but I will spare you :-) I am so happy to have one semester of Div School under my belt, but I do hope time slows down just a tad, or else I'll be done before I know it! I'm looking forward to spending the next few weeks with my family in Framingham, and I hope the time will be rejuvenating and refreshing. 

Here is a song for y'all. I got to see Pentatonix in concert a few weekends ago- they are incredible. This is a nice Advent song from their PTXmas cd. Enjoy :-)

 

Peace, Love, Smiles, and Hugs (because I want to hug y'all)
Christa