I almost wish that I had more time to spend here at EMU. This is mostly true because I have no idea how to be an actual adult and am scared to death of trying. However, it is time for me to be hurled into the deep end of the world and try to stay afloat. It will be a challenge, but I believe that the growing up I was able to achieve while here is enough of a stepping stone to get me to where I want to be. 

My freshman year I was incredibly nervous about coming here. I had been around Harrisonburg many times before as my siblings, parents, and grandparents came to EMU, but I was not sure that I would enjoy it here after Pittsburgh. I did not know anyone and am not really a party guy so meeting people is not my style. In the words of younger me, “I felt like a psychedelic sheep in a herd of white ones.” I had grown up in a city doing hoodlum things with my friends and suddenly I was in the middle of the country surrounded by “religious people”. Thankfully my younger self was being incredibly overdramatic. I quickly found friends that have supported me through these four years and will hopefully be around for life. I could not ask for better ones.

Although I was raised Mennonite, I have not been religious in many years. I went to church until I was sixteen and taught myself enough to realize I did not believe in God. However, at the time I came here it was not that I did not believe in God, it was that I hated God and anyone who believed. I had negative experiences with my home church and became militantly atheist. I often argued with Christians for hours about how they were wrong, and they should feel stupid because of it. Looking back, I regret the aggression of my younger self. I could have made a fair few more friends if he would have listened a little bit more, or at least less enemies. I still identify as atheist, but the anger at my home church and my generalizations about Christians have faded away. I recognize that Christianity has the potential to do so much good in the world and has merely been perverted by humanity to be used for judging others and waging wars. To anyone that I offended during my time here, I truly am sorry.

I would like to end this rambling thought train with a bit of appreciation. Thank you to all of my professors that helped me become the person I am today. Whether I had you for one class or many, you all made a difference in my life. Specifically, I would like to thank Andrew Suderman for my theological education and making me realize that Jesus was a pretty cool guy. I would also like to thank Chad Gusler, Kirsten Beachy, and David Brennan for my growth as a writer. They have supported me through some difficult times and helped me grow into my craft. I appreciate all that you have done for me over the years, including putting up with my incessant procrastination. All the best EMU, cheers.