From a wildcat to a chap!

This year has been so incredibly crazy (Obviously). It's been probably the longest year of my 20 year old life. But at the same time, I can't believe it's mid-October! I mean I'm almost through with this semester and I feel like I just started!

I was beyond happy when I was finally able to return to school. I FINALLY could have a life again! I didn't have to stay in my house all day doing nothing. I could be around people again, and meet NEW people and just be involved! ...Little did I know how difficult it actually would be.

It definitely was a shock the first week of classes. When I walked to my Art class the first day of school, I was completely out of breath! It's not that far of a walk, but I hadn't exercised since before April. Sooo... walking across campus was definitely not an easy task! Also, when you've been in your house for six months, trying to be social can be a bit of a struggle. You almost forget how to be around people! It's like learning a language in high school and then never using it. You remember most of the main words but it's all the conjugating that gets you. So, readjusting to college life has been difficult. But I don't regret coming back one bit!


Okay, so side note (stay with me). From probably middle school to high school, I wanted to go to Lubbock Christian. My dad taught there, he got his Masters there, I grew up going to Encounter and Camp Champion when my dad was a Youth Minister, and I lived in Lubbock until I was six years old. But my senior year of high school was when I first got sick, and ACU seemed to be the ideal choice; and honestly, it was easier. Don't get me wrong, I love ACU and it has been a huge blessing to me! But sometimes I wonder if I made the right choice, and for the right reasons. It turned out to be a good thing that I stayed in Abilene when I started having my really bad pain episodes. If I had left Abilene, I probably wouldn't have been able to complete my first semester. Granted, it wasn't easy; but being in the same town as my parents and having them here to take me to the ER or get into doctors was definitely a blessing. If I had gone to LCU, I definitely wouldn't have been able to stay in school as long as I did.

So now here we are, almost two years after it all started. I've been doing some heavy duty thinking and praying this semester. And I've decided that it's time for a change. I'm planning on transferring to LCU this spring! I love the ACU community, and I'm going to seriously miss my friends like crazy. But whether I like it or not, there is a lot of hurt, bitterness and anger associated here in Abilene. Not at anybody, but at my situation. I need to be somewhere that I can be myself. Not the girl who has been sick for two years. I want to be somewhere that people don't know what I've been through and don't look at me like I'm just a fragile soul that is about to break if something bad happens. I have loved all of the encouragement and prayers from everyone, and I can't even begin to say how blessed I am and have been by everyone here (and even those not here!). But I just need a fresh start. I want to be treated like there's nothing wrong with me. I don't want people to assume that I can't do something because of my illness, because most of the time, I actually can do it! But I just don't get the chance. LCU will be this fresh start for me. I'm so excited to start this new chapter in my life and all I can do is ask for your prayers and love as I make this transition.

It wasn't an easy choice, but after many prayers and talking with my parents and friends, I realize that it's the best thing for me. I need to move on, and I can't do that here. I'll still be in Abilene a lot because I'll have my doctors' appointments, which is good because I've become such a homebody. I love spending time with my parents, and honestly it'll be difficult at first not being able to just run home and see them. But I know this will be good for me.

Thank you all for everything you've done for me! I love you all.
Peace and love,
Jenae