Caitlin's Blog
Goodbye and Good Luck!
May 8, 2013Last day. Hm...I could be that really crazy girl that just writes a single post like..
"Goodbye, God bless." And then sign off. That's lamesauce. Who wants to read that?!
BUT you know me too well. I have to share my wisdom and babble on and on about Liberty - because well, it rocks!
So, to all the doubters, skeptics, and apathetic high school seniors who have no idea what's going on...I have some wisdom. Let me preach it, just one last time. On the other hand, let me rap it - hypothetically... (*cue beat box*)
Hello, my name is Caitlin and I'm ready to say
Liberty University is more than just okay
There's volleyball, baseball, softball, and more
Hey, you wanna workout? Ya sure! Get sore!
Convocation in the Vines - that's what we all do
Famous speakers, great concerts, Tim Tebow and his crew
Don't think because it's Christian that it's gotta be lame
We got 12,000 students here that would talk about its fame.
Do you wanna be a nurse? You can practice with the best!
Do you wanna be a pilot? You can fly as a test!
I'm studyin' business, and I can't help but preach
The professors in this school - dude, they really wanna teach
I be learnin' real knowledge that can help me in the end
Am I open for business?! You can say that again!
I'm off to the be a Champion for someone who's my Lord
That man is named Jesus, and He's the first one on the Board.
He's the center of this school and everything it does
It's the reason that we're famous and catchin' all the buzz.
So, don't go around probably actin' like you know
'cause Liberty University - they be puttin' on a show!
Peace!
That writing really made me want to break out the video camera and start out in a rap. Almost, but not quite. A few more words of wisdom for my future Liberty Flames:
- "Ring before Spring" - A myth. Need I say more?
- Be nice to CFAWers - They just want to be accepted. And plus, you were or will be one of them, so be understanding...
- Don't expect a ton of snow - This place is in the South, after all (debatable?..yes)
- Live on campus at least one year of your journey - The camaraderie? The great roommates? All the friends? You'll love it - promise!
- Don't think you have to pick a major by freshman year - I know people who have changed about...5 million times before graduation. 5,000,003 times, to be exact.
- Put people before school - Jesus didn't spend 8 hours of his day studying the law. Nah, he spent time with people - built relationships - accomplished kingdom work. But don't think that negates studying all together...no sir. Do your best.
- Find a church - go to it - grow in it. Don't be a statistic of young adults that "peace out" of church once they leave "the nest."
- Most of all, capture every moment of your journey - In pictures, in memories, in wonderful conversations. It'll fly by before you know it!
Freshman year: Back when I was on the CREW team...good times.
Freshman year: Liberty trip to Brooklyn, NY! Will never forget this friend!
Sophomore/Junior year: Liberty football games with my hall. So fun.
Senior year: Rock climbing on the beautiful Blue Ridge Mtns.
My memories. Treasured always.
It's been a pleasure.
Off to graduate now!
P.S. If any of you have questions about Liberty or the campus life, you can e-mail me at ctaylor19@liberty.edu. I'd be happy to convince you to go! :)
The Last of Everything
May 1, 2013Folks, it's my last week on the job - It's OK, you can all cry alongside of me... :) This week begins my list of "lasts" at Liberty University. It seems quite surreal to be writing this blog and talking about my graduation - which by the way is in 11 days, craziness! The time between my first day as a freshman and my last day as a senior flew by like that crazy fast roadrunner in Looney Tunes! It just always gets away from you!
Here's my lists of "lasts" that I have or will be experiencing this week. I hope you can feel the weight of sadness in my voice - or is that joy? I can never tell...
1. Last week as a Student Blogger for Liberty University - I've enjoyed this opportunity more than any other job. Amazing to get to share my heart and experiences with you all. If you're just really bored, you can read the first blog I ever made here.
2. Last day of residential classes - TODAY! Somehow I bribed (strategized) my way into having no finals during finals week, so today is my last test, last class...last time to sit in a classroom and listen to a professor speak for an hour!..for now, at least.
3. Last Convocation, which I didn't even attend. To my surprise...erm, disappointment...this convocation on Monday was probably the best of the entire semester. I heard it involved dancing, jumping, "God's Great Dance Floor," and Jefferson Bethke. Who messed up on that one? This girl!
4. Last small group with my girls - As part of my CSER, I lead and mentor two groups of high school girls for Thomas Road Baptist Church. During the last two years, I have nurtured these relationships and been able to have some amazing conversations. Best decision I ever made - some will be my friends for a long time to come. I will miss them dearly!!!
Just one of my two small groups - 9th grade girls and leaders <3
5. Last Sunday at Thomas Road Baptist Church - It's been my church away from home since freshman year. Amazing church leadership, including the preaching of Jerry Falwell Sr.'s son, Jonathan Falwell.
6. Last paper for an undergraduate assignment - It's for an online class, and it's due in 6 days. Easy peezy lemon squeezy, but with no motivation, it becomes a like a terrible brick wall! Lord, give me strength! Woo!
...Or when I get up from writing my last paper - like a boss!
7.Last week to enjoy anything uniquely Lynchburg - including the T-Room (an amazing diner), Chipotle (don't have that back home), Liberty University, mountains, and of course, my friends!!
T-Room and Friends. Win-win!
Rock climbing in the Blue Ridge Mountains - I'll definitely miss that!
My school - that view! Never gets old...
I'll be writing one more farewell blog this week, but for now let's soak in this last week together. Finally, I encourage you to make the most of every moment because honestly, none of us know when that day will be one of the "lasts."
Big South Sweep
April 25, 2013Liberty did it again! They just can't be stopped...ever!
So, for the first time in my entire collegiate career, I decided to watch a little track and field action on Friday. To my surprise, it was Big South Championship time, and about 9 other schools were there. Yikes! Schools, such as Coastal Carolina, Gardner-Webb, VMI, and High Point, were all present to compete on Liberty's home court...field...whatever. As you know, running is not my "cup of tea," but when I saw these women athletes getting 17 minute 5K times, I was beyond impressed. (I think my legs hurt just thinking of how fast I would have to run for that kind of time!) In the entire 20-year history of competing in this meet, Liberty University has not won one time...not two times...not even 5 times. Readers...Fans...my school has won the Outdoor Track and Field Big South Championship 18 TIMES! Like a boss, obviously...
The Liberty men's and women's squads swept the 2013 Big South outdoor team championships on Saturday.
Here are some highlights of Liberty's amazing win:
- Liberty's men finished in a 1-2-3-4 sweep in pole vault and a 1-2-3-5 sweep in the 5K
- Women's 5K team beat Coastal Carolina for the 1st time in 2 years, which helped seal the Big South title in a narrow margin of 210 (Liberty) points to 203.25 (Coastal) points
- First place in men's 5K went to Caleb Edmonds with a time of 14:26.14 - Faster than a speeding bullet!
- Andre Washington became the 5th best in the Liberty 400 hurdle program when he clocked his personal best time: 51.95 seconds
- Janae Jones, a freshman at Liberty, became one of only three women at the school to complete a triple jump of over 40 feet. Her final was 40-4.25!
- Finally, the one win that caught my attention was from redshirt senior Ryan Smith who shot put his way into a huge win! For the fourth year in a row, he won the men's shot put competition with a personal best of 60-6 - That's about 18.44 meters! I watched it happened, and when he discovered the distance of his throw, the smile on his face was priceless. He also walked away with the Men's Outstanding Field Performer award - very much deserved.
Ryan Smith doing his thing - winning
To add to the dominance of Liberty's athletic program, this championship caused Liberty to gain a 7th consecutive "Triple Crown" - winning the cross country title in October, the indoor track and field championship in February, and the outdoor track and field championship this past weekend. --"Liberty University Athletics - dominating in athletics since 1971"-- Congratulations to all the athletes! It was a pleasure to watch!
Liberty University Welcomes Spring
April 18, 2013It's been a long time coming. After months and months of cold, harsh winter weather and random end-of-March snowstorms, Spring finally decided to show its lovely face around Lynchburg, VA. What does that mean for Liberty University? First of all, it means baseball. Lots and lots of Liberty baseball. A great way to tan - an even better way to spend a Sunday afternoon. It was a three game series last weekend. Liberty took on West Virginia University on Sunday, and although they lost 1-2, it was really fun to see the #FlameTrain in action (It's an actual hashtag now...apparently).
The first 1,000 attendees at the game of Sunday got these brand new shades. I am lookin' so fly! - #FlameTrain
Chacos and Liberty baseball. Welcome to Spring in Lynchburg.
Friends + Sun + Baseball = the Liberty life!
Two hours later, my legs were a little pink and Liberty walked away without a victory. Nonetheless, my friend and I decided to take a afternoon run and continue this amazing Spring feeling! That's another thing...as soon as the weather shows any sign of warmth, every student and their dog decides to put of those cute Nike shorts and run around campus like its their job. Bravo to the for getting in shape! That's what I'm talking about! Also, note (for the women) that warm weather equals cute sun dresses/skirts - the flowing kind that move with every breeze. If you mix that kind of skirt, a (liberty way approved) tank top, and a pair of aviators, you would definitely fit in among the Spring-time madness. For the outdoors-y kind, Spring brings out the Enos - I'm talking about hammocking!
Step #1 - Find two trees close together. Step #2 - Tie straps around tree to set-up Eno hammock, preferably higher so that your friend can set up his/hers below you. Step #3 - Use the "backwards jump and flip" trick to get into the hammock. Step #4 - Instagram your experience (This step is crucial). Now you are a LibertyU student in the Spring :)
Success! - even with the Instagram part!
Lastly, warm weather means that the engagements start popping up all over Facebook, but that's another story for another time...Ring before Spring. Myth or Magic? Hm...
Now that I've told you all my secrets, share your stories of Spring with me! What makes it officially Spring time for you?
SA Coffeehouse at its FINEST!
April 12, 2013Out of all my time at Liberty, I have never witnessed an SA activity as great, funny, or simply amazing as last weekend's Late Night Coffeehouse! For my new readers, the Student Activities Coffeehouse is a bi-annual event that showcases the finest Liberty University talent, including dancers, singers, and videographers. The first Coffeehouse of the year is in December, which is Christmas themed and absolutely hilarious, and the second one, which can vary in theme from year-to-year, is in April. Tryouts are held throughout each respective semester to "weed out" the best and the brightest of the student talent, so all that is left is magical. This last one, MY LAST ONE (*tear tear*), highlighted the funniest moments of late-night television, including clips from the Jay Leno show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and Saturday Night Live. It was BY FAR the best Coffeehouse I have EVER seen...like ever! Let's see if your time at Liberty can trump my experience - here's your chance to say "challenge accepted!"
A photo re-cap for my visual learners:
Notice the "applause" sign - just in case we didn't know when to clap. HA!
Of course, our Chancellor, Jerry Falwell, Jr., was there with his lovely wife, Becki. Presh!
Here's the deal, there was this country singer who had a voice of an angel...
...And a dance group that choreographed to "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." - Everybody was singing along.. #90skidprobs
Say hello to the new boy band of Liberty University. I'm not sure where their video is on YouTube, but it was really good.
And finally--a step back from the performances into a interview time with the Late Night host, Jake Holland
If you would like to watch any of the performances listed above (minus the boy band and interview), check out the Spring Coffeehouse portion of the Liberty University YouTube account. For those of you who thinks it takes to look to click that link, I'll hook you up with the most popular act of the night: "The Daily Saturday Night Whose Line is Mad TV with D-TREX Live" - That is definitely a mouthful!
