Azusa Pacific University

In two weeks we will be driving to Azusa Pacific University, east of L.A. We will be there June 12-23 to start my Masters Degree in Higher Education. The format is fabulous. Two weeks of intensive courses, three consecutive summers. I will be taking 4 courses each summer. Two on the first week and two on the second week. I will complete the course work for each class in 8 weeks periods during the Fall and Spring. I have been wanting to get my Masters since I gradauted in ‘94. I CAN HARDLY WAIT. I’m thrilled!

The last 4 years have been very excruciating for me in terms of my career. After my job at the church I sensed that the Lord was calling me to something different. That was hard for me to accept since I had assumed that I would do church ministry for the rest of my life. It was also hard because I felt like I hadn’t tried hard enough or been good enough. I started my search from scratch. I considered many paths and not just once but several times. I looked at different schools and programs all over the country.

While still at the church I stumbled upon this program at APU. It sounded great but a bit foreign since I had never worked in a University. After one year of unemployment, in 2004 I decided to take the plunge and started looking for jobs in a Christian university. I wanted to try it first and see if it was a good match. Six universities and eight rejection letters later I landed my first job at Point Loma Nazarene University as an Admissions Assistant.

That job taught me many things, first that I am a people person and that just because I am not working at a church that doesn’t mean that what I do can’t have an eternal impact. A meaningful job to me will always involve daily interaction with people and it will be a ministry, a calling and a mission. I also learned that when you make a career switch you have to start from the bottom and work your way up.

Nine months later I was offered the position I’m now in at Ryan Library as a supervisor. This is by far the best job I’ve ever had. I really enjoy it. I work with great faculty and staff. I interact with students all day long, every day and I love it. This job confirmed my desire to work with university students. I have always been the kind of person that discovers things I like by doing them. It’s hard for me to love something in “theory.” Now that “university students” have names and beautiful faces, now I know that this is exactly where I want to be. I finally found my niche! Whew!

Steven and I will be driving up on Sunday June 11th. They are having a dinner and an orientation session for all the students that night. Monday I start bright and early. Classes go from 8-12pm and from 1-5pm. We will be staying in the dorm. Steven is bringing his computer along and will set up shop in our room. It’ll be great to study all day and then come home to hubby. Steven has been amazing and so encouraging. He tells me nice things whenever I doubt myself. He has been unbelievably patient and sweet! I am so blessed to have him.

Here are the courses I will be taking. It is a very broad degree that will open doors for me to work in different areas of Higher Education such as Academic Advising, Residential Life, Spiritual Development and Career Counseling among others. I am excited and a bit scared. The next three years of my life will be busy with tons of reading, research and papers. I love school. I love books. I love learning. It’ll be a fun ride!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. Jeremiah 29:11

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