First Impressions

Carley (right) and I (left) working an event at Hope!

Let's go back a year or so to where this journey at Hope began. As a senior in high school I just assumed I would go to college with my best friends. That was the only logical plan in my mind. As the time to start applying got closer, I started seeking advice from my mentor and youth pastor. This is when I learned about Hope. I looked into the school online, liked what I saw and decided to apply. It wasn't long before I was accepted and granted a scholarship. At that moment I thought to myself, "I have never even seen this campus!"

Soon after, I signed up for Spring Preview Day, which is an event put on by admissions for interested students. We were given the opportunity to take a campus tour and sit in on classes and chapel.

I remember the first time I realized that Hope was the school for me. I was sitting in on a chapel and the speaker asked for the people around us to pray over us. I remember my parents and I were isolated, so they decided to pray over me themselves. As my parents prayed, I became emotionally and spiritually overwhelmed. I knew that God wanted me at Hope. From that day on, things moved extremely fast. Within a month I had my classes for first semester and my new roommates picked out.

Leaving the comfort of my best friends wasn't easy. Moving out wasn't easy. Going to a university where I didn't know anyone wasn't easy. But God provided like He always does. My freshman year was amazing. I was blessed with incredible roommates and new friends. I was also blessed with an on campus job. I was plugged into the community on campus quickly. Hope became my new home.
Now it's the beginning of my sophomore year and things are only getting better. I'm officially an English major, I still have amazing roommates and friends, I'm in an incredible small group, I'm the Senator of Housing on ASB, and I am still working on campus.

My name is Jessie and I made this blog to encourage incoming students and give them a glimpse of what  my life at Hope looks like.

Hope's ASB team of 2012

Some of Hope's incredible admissions team!