The mid-semester slump...

Welp, here I am again. As is typical for halfway through a semester, I'm a little bit distracted. This is about the time in the semester when I start to get a little restless and long for the world outside of academia. A world where the stresses are real-life scenarios and the numbers game no longer matters. Where success is measured more by how you deal with distress and adversity than by how well you're able to cram a bunch of random facts into your 3 pound memory machine :) Thankfully, I don't have much coursework up for this week so I can afford to step back and look at the broader perspective for a second. Anyway, earlier today I was looking at different PA schools that I'm looking at applying to. I finally mustered up the guts to calculate my science GPA (EEEEKKKK!!!). It wasn't as bad as I thought and it looks like I still have a shot to be somewhat competitive as long as I can hold par relatively well this semester. I'd like to apply to New Mexico and Arizona (location's a big factor there:), but I'm open to pretty much anywhere I can get accepted. I obviously don't have my life planned out. Just kind of taking it one day at a time, trying to trust the Lord with whatever doors He opens or closes. I've really enjoyed this semester so far, especially extracurriculars like fencing, small group, and football and volleyball games with friends. It's been a very challenging semester academically though. I kind of got swept of my feet by my chordate anatomy class. I expected it to be just a typical, basic anatomy class but there are shores and shores of information that must be commited to memory to succeed in the class. Unfortunately, I suffered through the first lab practical and lecture exam before this realization struck me. Physics is what I expected. The lab isn't too bad but the lecture requires a lot of formula memorization. I had a tough time with the last test and I'm dreading getting the grade back. *Loud sigh* I feel like life will be made so much simpler when I don't have to worry about putting up impressive letter grades just to have a shot at getting into grad school. These semesters are long and tough. The Lord has granted me the strength to scrap my way through 3 years of college and a summer of Organic Chemistry with little secondary preparation. I didn't take any AP classes, wanted to be an Athletic Trainer but went with Biology/Pre-Health aided by my parents and advisors direction, and did distance learning at home for my 3 years of "highschool" before jumping into a world of unknowns a month and a half after turning 17. I had to laugh a little as I was calculating my science GPA earlier. Each class had some sort of weight and struggle associated with it but the Lord has been faithful to me through each of them regardless of the letter grade. I bounced from private college in Southern California to taking Summer OChem at a state university back home and ended up leaving SoCal for Baylor in Central Texas in early January this year.... One thing I've learned in my short life and continue to learn is that the Lord has a plan and purpose through it all. I struggle to believe it sometimes but the more triumphs and struggles he brings me through, the more I see that this life is about glorifying Him. I can disgrace and mourn over all the reasons why I'm not cut out for a "succesful life" but what good would that do. He wants me to focus on Him, not my pathetic plans for the future. May we all seek His direction in the days and weeks to come!

Blessings,

Josh