The time has come for me to announce my final departure from Evangel University (Springfield, MO). Since August 2018, I have lived, studied, and worked at Evangel, but today (Monday, August 21, 2023) I take the final bow as I close this chapter of my life.
I started at Evangel as a freshman church leadership major with a music minor. I played the marimba and cymbals in marching band, and I was the Freshman Representative for Scott Third North. During my sophomore year, I became one of the Discipleship Leaders for Scott Third North while I continued playing in the marching band. I also served as the Floor Vice-President of Scott Third North during my sophomore year; however, because of the line of succession, I became the Floor President of Scott Third North. In my junior year although I ended my band career, I continued to serve as the Floor President and as a Discipleship Leader for Scott Third North. In my first senior year (4th year at Evangel), I took on my final campus leadership roles as I took on the responsibility of being Hall President for Scott Hall and the Chairman of the Evangel University Student Government’s Policy Committee. I did all this while working as a custodian in the facilities department, serving on the James River Worship team, working as a substitute teacher, and working for SPARC at Watkins Elementary. In the end, I have spent a total of five years living, studying, and working on the campus of Evangel University (Springfield, MO).
Although things ended nowhere close to where the freshman version of me imagined where it would end, I am thankful for my time at Evangel University. However, I’m ready to take on some new scenery as I will be stepping into full-time teaching tomorrow (Tuesday, August 22, 2023) as a building substitute for Westport Middle.
As life is going in a direction that I would have never imagined it to go in, I’m reminded of one of my favorite quotes from the television show “Scandal” that not only serves as a motivation for me, but I believe that it summarizes these past five years so succinctly, “If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. But you have to try, because if you try, if you leap and you try, and it doesn’t work out, it’s not on you.” (Olivia Pope)
If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. But you have to try, because if you try, if you leap and you try, and it doesn’t work out, it’s not on you.
Olivia Pope, Scandal (TV Show)