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Kayla
Member
| Joined: | Mon Jul 30th, 2007 |
| Location: | Emmitsburg, Maryland USA |
| Posts: | 364 |
| First Name: | Kayla | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Atheist, kind-of Mormon, Catholic |
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Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 01:56 pm |
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Wow, time sure does fly as you get older. I can hardly believe that I am four and a half hours away from being completely done with my freshman year of college. It's been an amazing ride and I thank God for every minute of it. I can't even begin to say how much I've learned and grown through this year. It's spectacular, really.
So, I finish my last final in a few hours, and then I will have all of Thursday and Friday to clean and pack (while everyone else continues to take finals). I'll go to a friend's house for Friday night and then I fly out Saturday evening, making my way back west and arriving "home" Saturday night.
Feels weird, though. I feel like I have two "homes." My home-home, which is back home. And my home, which is here.
I don't know if I really want to leave, to be completely honest. I love it here. I mean, I miss my family and friends back home but... I feel like that's an old life. I've grown so much here and changed so much that going back is going to be difficult. Because everyone else is going to think I'm still the same old Kayla they knew before I headed out for college. But I'm not. I'm really not.
I've been really spoiled here, I think. With amazing friends whom I love dearly and an awesome Catholic atmosphere. I mean, it's not everywhere that you can go to daily Mass, walk around campus and see statues of saints, pass two chapels (three if you really wanted to) in the span of five minutes, see & talk to priests/seminarians/religious who are walking around in their clerics and habits, have two hour long conversations about the theology of the body.... I mean, it's like Heaven. I can walk one hundred feet and sit in the chapel.
And it's going to be weird going home to a family who is anything but Catholic and a community that is anti-religion. I've been so engulfed by it all; and now I will be thrust into a completely opposite way of life. I pray that I have the strength to persevere and not allow this to affect me spiritually. I mean, it's easier to live out the faith completely and totally when you're surrounded by other people doing the same. When you can look and see hundreds of young men giving their lives completely over to the service of God. What a wonderful witness and one that is much needed: to see that it's okay and good and normal to live your life dedicated to God. Back home you don't really see that.
Then, there's my parish, which is apparentally undergoing a lot of changes in a short amount of time. Our pastor is being transfered, our youth minister is leaving, and we just lost our DRE (called to active duty). And I don't even feel at home in my parish anyways, mostly because I've been gone for so long. I was there for only a few months after my baptism, then I left for college. Those whom I knew (adults at least) and now gone or will be gone: our priest, youth minister, and DRE (he ran the RCIA). It's sad.
I need to get a job and I have no idea what to look for.
Four months away from my friends.
Eh. I don't want to go home. 
____________________
I believe, Lord, help my unbelief.
Jesus, I trust in You!
There's not a lot of job security for us after death. I suppose that's one advantage of being a philosopher. - Peter Kreeft
http://kayla23mount.blogspot.com/
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Annie
Banned
| Joined: | Wed Feb 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | Columbus, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 734 |
| First Name: | Annie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nothing, Quaker, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Catholic |
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Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 02:14 pm |
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| Get a factory job if you can, gives you time to reflect by yourself rather than dealing with people all day and having to smile when you don't feel like it.
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Annie
Ora et labora
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kimdyuma
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Arizona USA |
| Posts: | 785 |
| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | cradle Anglican, Episcopal /Catholic-04/07/07 |
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Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 02:20 pm |
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| You will do fine Kayla, Congratulations. Go home and volunteer to help with RCIA. If there is a Rosary group join it. You will feel at home sooner than you know. As for living with secularist mindset- it is difficult, just don't always feel like you have to be on the defense- just tell them all "THIS is what I choose to believe" and don't argue with them.
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Adopt from your local Humane Society- Please spay or neuter your pets
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5157 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 05:32 pm |
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Kayla wrote: Four months away from my friends.
Er, uh,  , I wasn't aware we were going anywhere! We're always available for a  and a  and a little  and  and some  and  and maybe even an occasional  !!
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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rbo4u2
Member
| Joined: | Tue Jan 16th, 2007 |
| Location: | Sunnyvale, California USA |
| Posts: | 396 |
| First Name: | Rich | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Formerly Christian & Missionary Alliance then became Presbyterian |
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Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 08:02 pm |
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Congrats on a successful year Kayla. Hang in there. Just check in here and we'll all be here to give you support and love. Besides, you need some of us "oldsters" to help you on your journey. Keep checking in and keep praying the rosary. Your "Mom" will be with you. And keep inviting the Holy Spirit to be with you so that you have Mary and her spouse guiding you along the way. Wow...what a life of love that's got to be.
So hang in there. Enjoy your vacation. Take it from an old timer. Time will fly faster than you think.
Rich
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EMarshallBuckles
Member
| Joined: | Mon Nov 19th, 2007 |
| Location: | Rockville (Near Richmond), Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 584 |
| First Name: | Marshall | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Christian Church,Episcopal Church,Baptist denomination,learning about RCC |
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Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 03:45 am |
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| Kayla, your parents and family should be very proud of you! I know that I would be proud of you if I was one of your parents! You are an outstanding young lady! May God bless and protect you throughout the summer and throughout the years ahead! And I expect to hear or read great things about you! Attachment: softball.jpg (Downloaded 58 times)
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Modern disciple
Member
| Joined: | Tue Apr 22nd, 2008 |
| Location: | Philippines |
| Posts: | 19 |
| First Name: | Reeno | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic since birth til death |
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Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 07:41 am |
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| Kayla the real challenge is coming and I hope you will influence them. God bless!
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Dave Armstrong
Network Apologist
| Joined: | Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 |
| Location: | Melvindale, Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 1509 |
| First Name: | Dave | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Evangelical (1977): Diverse Protestant Influences / Catholic in 1990 |
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Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 07:46 pm |
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Thanks for your reflections, Kayla, and congrats on completing your first year of college.
The challenge of the summer will be good for you, I think: an instance of the ongoing task of being in the world but not of it. It's a lifelong struggle. You'll do fine. You've grown spiritually and intellectually at college; now you gotta go "out" and be a Catholic among a lot of non-Catholics. That's good. The world needs young people like you, as an example of a Better Way. Go with God!
____________________
I'm happy to offer whatever theological & personal assistance I can. My blog, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, contains 2000+ papers & web pages (absolutely free) & 16 apologetic books (for sale):
http://www.biblicalcatholic.com/
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Pani Rose
Member
| Joined: | Fri Oct 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Irondale, Alabama USA |
| Posts: | 408 |
| First Name: | Rose | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Ruthenian Byzantine in a Melkite Greek Catholic Parish, raised ... |
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Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 09:12 pm |
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Congratulations!
God makes a way where there seems to be no way. Enjoy and say Jesus, YOU DO IT!
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tedjenczewski
Member
| Joined: | Thu May 10th, 2007 |
| Location: | Richmond, Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 222 |
| First Name: | Ted | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic, Presbyterian, Catholic |
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Posted: Fri May 9th, 2008 02:54 am |
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| God bless you Kayla. You are in the world but not of the world. You have been called. You have been chosen. We rejoice in you with all the angels and saints in heaven.
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"...the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth." 1Tim 3, 15
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jacki
Member
| Joined: | Sun Oct 7th, 2007 |
| Location: | Essex, England, United Kingdom |
| Posts: | 63 |
| First Name: | jacki | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | baptised in the church of england (I am a brit) ... |
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Posted: Sun May 11th, 2008 07:38 pm |
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| here in England there is no such thing as a Catholic University. My daughter is about to start her GCSE exams which 15- 16 year olds sit and has chosen her A-S and A2 subjects 16 -18 year olds she has also begun to sign up for Uni open days and I was concerned until I found her pouring over a map of Portsmouth. We have booked the hotel rooms for October and I know she is keen as htey have a good reputation fro Photo Journalism which is where her interests lie. I asked her what she was trying to find on the map - she said " the Churches Mum, I need to find a place to celebrate Mass as well as learn" I had to smile and leave the room - big lump in my throat and praise on my lips to God for helping me raise such a fantastic young woman.
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Kayla
Member
| Joined: | Mon Jul 30th, 2007 |
| Location: | Emmitsburg, Maryland USA |
| Posts: | 364 |
| First Name: | Kayla | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Atheist, kind-of Mormon, Catholic |
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Posted: Mon May 12th, 2008 03:57 am |
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Haha, of course, you guys aren't leaving! I should clarify, my home is really my second home and school is really my third; because this place is my first!
As for being home and practicing the faith... I feel that Pentecost couldn't have come at a better time. I'm still apprehensive, slightly fearful, but at the same time... confident with the strength of the Spirit. I've been reading the biography of Edith Stein (whom I have absolutely fallen in love with) and have gained strength from her experience with her mother.
I just applied at Wal-Mart. Eh. Not ecstatic about that one. I'm going to check with my parish to see if they need an office assistant or something. If all else fails, I can work as a temp at my grandma's work, a Nordstrom's Factory. But that will be only two weeks a month, but for eight hours and five days each week. The only real drawback of that job is that I wouldn't be able to go to daily Mass, which I would really like to do this summer, if I can.
So, it should all be good. Being home is nice; very comfortable. I miss all of my college friends.
Yay for the real world.
____________________
I believe, Lord, help my unbelief.
Jesus, I trust in You!
There's not a lot of job security for us after death. I suppose that's one advantage of being a philosopher. - Peter Kreeft
http://kayla23mount.blogspot.com/
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Steven Barrett
Member
| Joined: | Tue Nov 14th, 2006 |
| Location: | Hadley, Massachusetts USA |
| Posts: | 812 |
| First Name: | Steven | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic, Episcopal communicant, Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Mon May 12th, 2008 04:08 am |
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 Kayla,
COngrats on YOUR CONVERSION and getting through your first year. You sure took on an awful lot, but we're all proud of you.
I can't imagine you working for Wallyworld, but it's a job and if it helps put money in your wallet and help pay for school, well just make the best of it, knowing it'll only be a few more months and pretty soon you'll be back in school.
Thanks to my lousy academic track record my first two years, I had to attend summer classes to make up credits. But during my third summer, I worked for Disney World, at first driving their Ferries, then their hotel launches. Now, that was an experience especially since I never piloted a vessel in my life and they first threw me behind the wheel then tiller of a 600 "souls" ferry. But nothing beats falling off the ferry as it left the slip and hundreds of people are left slack jawed wondering if ... and my biggest concern was the loss of my lunch money!  
Have a great summer: you certainly deserved it!
Steven
____________________
For anybody interested in reading commentary from a Catholic's socially conservative/fiscally liberal viewpoint, go to my new blog at http://www.politicsramble.com/ .
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