Old Stomping Grounds

Ever heard someone say he's returned to his old stomping grounds? Well, I'm doing that in more than one way within a span of just a few weeks. This week I am helping shepherd precious little darlings known as 7th and 8th graders (future 8th and 9th graders) through Centrifuge at my college home, MC. David and I will be teaching the 9th grade Sunday School at First Baptist Biloxi this fall, so I have the opportunity to get to know many of students this week. And let me just tell you, it's been quite some time since I was a junior-higher! I'm having a blast with our students, though. What is odd and hard to explain is how I feel being back at MC and not being a student. Facilities have changed, people have changed, offices have changed...in a great many ways, this is like coming home--it's familiar and reassuring and comfortable. And in a number of other ways, I feel out of my element...and old! As an RA (Resident Assistant) I had many privileges and freedoms I don't have on this campus this week. Sure, I'm in "charge" of my precious angels, but I can't just roam the campus at free-will. I'm subject to Fuge rules (which is no problem), and I respect their authority. But it's odd to have to listen to individuals who have been here a matter of weeks when I spent 4 years of my life on every inch of this campus. My emotions are so hard to explain. This afternoon I wandered into the Healthplex to check on some of our students. You must understand, the Healthplex was a second home to me next to my dorm room. I spent hours each day in that place getting my workout on. I miss the Healthplex and all that it offers. In some ways, I miss being a college student, but life changes and moves on. I'm a different person than I was 6 years ago as a freshman. Which brings me to my next point of returning to old stomping grounds: next Monday I begin new teacher training/orientation for St. Martin schools in Jackson County, MS. Then on August 6th, I get the pleasure of introducing a slew of 8th graders to the wonderful world of Language Arts. I graduated from St. Martin; shoot, I was a 13 year student there! And after saying David and I would never come back to the Gulf Coast, that's exactly where God drew us back to! It's so good to be home. We've been so busy! But I digress. I think I really understand just how much I've moved on, how my life has changed. Much of that change is due to MC and my experiences here, and it's so very nice to know my way around this week! (But I don't miss the drama of junior high students and crushes and having to check in constantly and...you get the picture!)