Where to start, thats the real question. I guess I'll start with today, Sunday, since I went to church a few times, as usual, and I cleaned the office, as usual. However, I did have lunch at Olive Garden with Katie Ellis and Victor Krause. Soup, salad, and breadsticks are pretty delicious(although it was weird when my mom made pasta fagoli for dinner too...). I hadnt talked to Katie much, besides little bits at New Vintage, since graduation last year. I hadnt hung out with Victor in like 4 days, which isnt a huge deal. So it was good to catch up.
I also filled out college applications today. I know, exciting. Actually it was because I sent in 4 applications, and I'm about 95% sure I'll go to one of the colleges that I sent apps to today. So that was cool even though it took up all the time that I wanted to work out. Eh I have a lot of English to do that I didnt get to, so maybe working out wouldnt have happened either way.
My 4 day weekend was very good. I visited Pacific first. I spent the night in a dorm there. My host Allen was pretty cool, so basically we just chilled, ate, worked out, and while he did homework I watched a movie. So basically days at Pacific are what I do every day. Which is pretty sweet. We talked a lot about bball too, so that was cool. They didnt seem to really care about their sports teams much, their football program started this year, and they were winless. Which is what I am used to. I went to some classes in the morning, part of a biology lab and part of a politics class. I liked the small class sizes a lot, and the campus was very peaceful. Leaving, I felt pretty happy, quite sure that Pacific would be my college next year.
I then went to George Fox. The Bruin Preview was this weekend so it was a big event, unlike my little visit at Pacific. There were about 200 visitors. I went on a campus tour, like yeah this campus is pretty similar to Pacifics, but a little bigger. And they seemed more serious right off the bat about sports than Pacific. On the tour, I got to watch their Mens bball team shoot. They were obviously good, serious athletes in a routine, but I was not impressed by their shots very much. I dont want to brag, but I think my shot is prettier. It would take a lot of work, but I think if I recovered from surgery, buffed up, worked on ballhandling, and got back into shooting several hundred shots a day(all of which I am already planning on doing anyway), I could play for them.(same goes for Pacific but I didnt get to see enough of them playing to make a firm judgement.) I just figured since George Fox is better than Pacific, I could make a D3 squad at the schools I was looking at.
Anyway, the preview started in the auditorium, with a drama performance... I was like, yeah right, screw this school. Then I found out who my host was. It was a small black guy named Marquise, who came across as a very afeminite dude, minoring in some fashion degree. Yeah, I know. I was less than pleased. Following behind Marquise was a big black man named Chris, who also lead me around as sort of a host the next day. Right off the bat they were pretty loud, and I figured this was going to be a long night.
I was wrong. I felt like I was in a black comedy, except it was way funnier to be involved in it. Chris and Marquise ended up being really good guys, despite Marquise having the dorm watch the latest episode of glee(I hate that show so much), they had a very interesting group of guys in their dorm that I wont go into unless asked about it(I dont want to type that much), and they were really good at singing. So I went to a coffee shop for about an hour while they had choir practice, Chris was the director, surprise again. I got to talk to Michael and see some of a concert, so that was pretty tight. Then I went to basically a youth group. The choir sang, and Ill tell you, I have not felt that bad at singing in a while. A big black director belting out the gospel music while I happened to have a tone deaf person near me at all times, its not great for self confidence haha. But really, it was some good worship and the message afterwards was good. I had a great night hanging out with a bunch of guys in the dorm, but I wont totally go into it, this blog is already long and I have more to say.
I went to classes the next morning, two science classes, and they were pretty cool. Then a chapel, an athletic panel, an admissions visit, and I saw the Chemistry and Biology department overview. Here's the deal. When you get to George Fox, they hook you up with a professor who helps keep you on track with classes, helping you reach your goal. They will even help with entry in Pacifics school of Optometry down the road. And their acceptance into med schools is really high, since they have great academics.
So here is the difference between Fox and Pacific, as I weigh out where I want to go. George Fox, throughout the day, I noticed that people were friendlier than they were at Pacific, the sense of community at Pacific didnt compare to George Fox, probably because of the Christian foundation. They are both liberal arts colleges, but George Fox liberal arts has required Bible classes, Pacifics has about a full credits year of classes you have to take called focus groups, which range from options of how to reshape your thinking to sexuality studies. yeah. I will be getting a major in some kind of science field, so do i want to learn all this scientific stuff from an evolutionary standpoint, or from a Christian standpoint.
So I am leaning towards George Fox now for all those reasons and more. I have a slight drawback because I have gone to a Christian School my whole life, and I want to see my impact on others. At Pacific, it would be incredibly obvious that I was different. At George Fox, being different is normal. I dont know what to do with that info. I want to see my faith challenged, but I also want fellowship with his people(which I didnt see any of at Pacific, though I'm sure some exists), and the best education, which is what college is for... Anyway, Fox has some sweet mission trips Ive heard, so that would be cool, but I dont know if I'd be able to see a day to day impact. So George Fox sounds really great, Pacific is good, but I am leaning a lot towards Fox now. I have a lot to think and pray about, and I'd like to ask you guys to pray that God would make my decision clear.
Linfield was cool but too quiet, too formal, and their basketball was almost so bad that I wouldnt want to play for them. That's it.
A small music section to wrap it up. Victors cover of Garbage Truck is legit. It sounds so good, it makes me want to record. And I think I will once I get an FBV floorpedal and can change sounds quickly. I am liking the sound of my voice more and more as I sing more and more. I even recorded myself a bit today and was pleased with it and my songs, just not the lack of change in the guitar sound. Oh well, it will come. And I get to play for Intersect next week, possibly for about 8 songs, and I can request songs. Yes, I am pleased about all of this.
A Very Informative Week,
Aaron(Shy Ronnie, Ron, Ronicus, Shy, Saucy, Saucy Snak, Snake, Super Mario)
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