Verdict

    Indecision has been replaced with decision and uncertainty with certainty. Through a set of interesting circumstances and fleeces I have decided that my path isn’t going to be taking me away from my home this coming year. Rather then attending the fall session of AFCOE, I will be spending time with summer vacation and then returning to Spokane Falls Community College’s Institute for Extended Learning Colville Center. With thirty credits between me and my AA degree, this option seemed wise from a scholastic standpoint when a student doesn’t know what to do for further education.
    My parents are thrilled that I’m staying home. My sister is happy that I am going to be able to ride our horses together this summer and go to the fair. Faculty at my school are excited that I’m sticking around and already are suggesting I should speak for graduation next year. My science teacher is excited to have me be his fourth student to ever take all his classes. I am excited. Staying home alleviates the pain of separation from that which is familiar to me and and those that I love and like being around.
   The coming year will be a slow year in regards to school. I have two quarters of school in which I will spend three doing. I can’t wait for this experience! After taking an above average load for the course content I learned, I wore myself out this year. I pushed the upmost and suffered many colds because of it, but my grades shine bright as a token of hard work. God calls us to do our best, but we shouldn’t compromise health. I’m glad for this year's experiences, but I’m looking forward to what is ahead.
    A lot of my friends are disappointed that I choose to stay home. Some think it almost sinful that I stay at a public school. I’ll say one thing; I’m not in this world to please people. While I appreciate the counsel and wisdom of peers and adults, I’m not going to go to your school just because it’s where you are called to. God calls each of us to his own place, and I feel peace in knowing that God has given me the strength to stand in my amazing school and that He will continue to. I love my college dearly and am so thankful for the scholastic experiences, friendship-building experiences, and spiritual training I have gained from going here. For me it has been a precious time. I plan on using this coming year to make a difference in the lives of people I’ve come to respect and admire at school. I have a fire to make a difference for eternity. I feel compelled to not leave until I have shared the saving grace of Jesus with people I call friends that I want in Heaven.
    My photo for this post is of my best friend graduating! Although she has a bit to finish at the college too (she’s 5 credits ahead of me), she was able to walk up as a graduate this year. I’m so proud of her. She’s been a person of support in my journey through the community college and has become closer than ever because we have shared classes together, hard assignments together and prayed together. Having a friend like her has made a big difference in being able to stand firm to my convictions. Although our paths may take us different scholastic ways, I’ll ever be thankful for her at school.
    Thus, this is my choice for this coming year. Staying at home with my family, being at school as my sister continues to adjust and thrive, getting a job, tutoring in the subjects closest to my heart, cooking and cleaning, and enjoying my final year at home as never before. God doesn’t want us to be lazy and “comfortable”, but He also doesn’t want us kicked out into the world before we are adequately prepared for it. I’m glad to be staying home. How many near twenty-year-olds are lucky enough to be living at home still? :-)

June 17, 2011 Deborah Reeves' graduation at our college