Spending Time at St. Thomas

I stood on the campus of St. Thomas this weekend and thought of two people: Jenna and Lindsay.  May 31, 2008, marked two big events for two significant people in my life: a graduation for Jenna and a marriage for Lindsay.  The connection?  The very campus I stood on, that of St. Thomas.

 

Standing in the area known as the Quad, I was inundated first with the love for my friend, who was to marry on Saturday.  Fulfilling my personal attendant duties, I fussed with her dress and helped make sure all of the details aligned for the big day.  As I watched the wedding unfold, I was struck with the feeling of how lucky I was to know Lindsay and her now husband, Eric.  I met people at the wedding I would have never known, had it not been for this friendship.  I had a great time with John, making memories at the reception that we will never forget, because of this friendship.  I am blessed in my life with people I could call for anything, because of this friendship. 

At the same time, I also found myself thinking of Jenna, and her big event this weekend of high school graduation.  Crazy that my little sister can be over 18 and graduating into the next stage in life already.  She found herself sad this weekend, faced with the realization that moving on is simply the only choice.  At the back of the St. Thomas Chapel, I wished she could have had a glimpse into my standing right there and realize all that was to come – all that I could not summarize through any card of congratulations – all that was the unlimited potential to impact her life.  For I stood at St. Thomas on May 31^st to celebrate the union of two people that I would have not met but for college.  The event was a magnifying glass into what had come from my four years dedicated to college and all that may continue to stem as a result of that time of my life.  And being two years past the point where I can change any piece of my college experience, I could only stand in the Quad’s shade a moment longer to hope that Jenna is able to learn and live through her next four years, so she can be so lucky as I was.