time is ticking.

I don't know how much more time I have left here at Penn.
I’ve been told since however long ago, that college will be the best time of my life. And it’s almost over.

The past few years have been a roller coaster ride. Not just your standard one with uniform ups and downs, but the one with all the tricks: the loop-de-loops, twists and turns, stomach-dropping plunges, and butterfly-filled ascents. And all of it has produced someone who is finally beginning to understand that she is an individual so flawed; yet amazingly loved.

The concept of grace. Of not only being shown mercy, but additionally given a gift that is completely undeserved. I sometimes still have trouble wrapping my mind around how God could love one so messed up as I. And for a while, I don't think I believed it could be true. My head knew it, but my heart didn't. However, when I think back to those who have left their mark on the Grauman's Theatre of my life, I can't help to think that the collection of handprints impressed there are a testament to His great love and faithfulness to me. God used these hands to mold and shape. To push and nudge. To slap me upside the head when I needed to wake up, and pick me up when I didn't have the strength. These people came with no respect for or adherence to my agenda that mapped out what I was supposed to learn, who I was supposed to learn from, and when I was supposed to learn them. From whatever location on the globe, from whatever path they were walking when they came to a crossroads with mine, through whatever means of communication available at the time, they spoke, acted or listened. Many times a combination of the three. And together, you stitched together a patchwork me.

If I need any evidence of how much God has blessed me, I need look only as far as my last Gchat conversation, text message, FB comment, phone call, or the last time I sat down with a cup of tea at Capogiro’s. There was a person behind each encounter. A person God handpicked, regardless of circumstances or flaws, to help me experience a little of Him, as we are like cracked, broken mirrors that still manage to capture and reflect a little of His light to each other.

Thank you. All of you. With whom I’ve laughed, cried, fought, and had those deep conversations that take all night. I can look back at my college career and honestly say that it was, “the best time of my life,” despite all the u-turning I’ve had to do. But I hesitate to end it at that. I hope that my statement carries a second part that makes it say that college has been “the best time of my life so far.”

So I ask you, my friends and family, to help make the rest of this semester, this year, the next 2-60 years, be what God tirelessly strives to make it be: the best time of my life.

P.S. Oi! Those in Philly!! Time is ticking! I still haven’t jammed on the steps of the Art Museum, taken a late-night walk down Schuylkill’s boathouse row, or lay down in the Quad to watch the stars. I still want to play endless games of Nertz, fail at making potluck dishes, lose my voice at NRB, eat unhealthily large portions of meat, make fun of you to the point you get legitimately upset at me, and pull all-nighters in Meyerson. There’s so much left to do, and though we might not get to it all now, hopefully some day we will. Whether I’m back in Philly next semester or not, whether we have a lot or a little bit of time to make these memories, know that you’re already part of this obnoxiously loud, more-than-slightly guy-ish, joyful sister’s heart. And though the number of memories made while apart may increase in the future, know that the number of memories to share about when we meet again will have increased as well.


much love~ ^^