Virginia
Wesleyan to Regent???
I am a planner! I
plan everything in such full detail! It’s bad… This is a time in my life that things
did not go as I had planned, but so much
GOOD came out of it because I trusted that God had the best plans for my life.
“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.”
Proverbs 16:9 NLT
So I was SET on going to Virginia Wesleyan College. For those who don’t know, this is a very
small private college in Norfolk, VA.
There are about 1,300 students that attend (less than my high
school!). But I was determined that this
is what I wanted. A small, private,
liberal arts college. Close enough to
home that I could go home for the weekends if I wanted, but too far to commute every
day. I was also blessed with an amazing
scholarship that covered 100% of my tuition fees. To me, this seemed PERFECT! So I decided not
to apply to any other colleges. Why
spend the time and money applying to other schools that I didn’t even want to
go to? I was set. I was admitted, awarded the scholarship, and
beyond excited to become a Virginia Wesleyan Marlin!
Well… God had other plans for me.
I started school at Virginia Wesleyan in August
2015. I was SO excited to begin this
crazy college journey especially alongside my INCREDIBLE new roommate,
Brandy. We had met at the admitted
freshman event a few months prior to our move in date and requested to room
together. We bonded immediately and what
really stood out is we both are studying Elementary Education to become first
grade teachers! Everything had fallen
into place.
The first few weeks at VWC were difficult for both of
us. We were going through so much
change. It was difficult adjusting. But we
were able to go through that process together.
Which was SUCH a blessing!
As the days, weeks, and months passed I realized that I wasn’t
very happy at VWC. It wasn’t at all what
I was expecting. I was very
disappointed, and shocked that I wasn’t happy.
It was very hard to come to this realization that VWC wasn’t for
me. I had already started my time
there. I had very carefully planned
spending the next four years of my life studying at this college. How could this
happen? What could I do? Why was this happening? I had these perfect plans! I was getting free school!
I really started to pray about what to do. I needed guidance and direction. I felt so
confused.
Not long after I began having these feelings, I talked to
my family about my concerns. My mom
presented me with the idea of transferring to Regent University. Now I had not even considered going to Regent because BOTH of my parents work
there. Also, I did not feel like Regent
would give me that full college experience.
They have only had their undergraduate program for the last ten
years. I would have the option to live on
campus or at home. They have apartment
style dorms with full kitchens because they do not have a dining hall with meal
plans available. I wanted to live away
from home and have that so called “college experience”.
I took my mom’s thoughts into consideration and really
prayed about transferring to Regent and the plans that God had for the following
years of my education. I decided to
really look in to all that Regent has to offer by meeting with admissions
counselors and advisors in the education program. I applied and was accepted!
After messing around with the credits I had earned
through high school and my classes at Virginia Wesleyan, I figured out that
Regent would accept ALL of my credits!
This was super exciting news! AND because of the way Regent offers
classes, I would be able to graduate in May 2018 instead of May 2019. So after one semester at VWC and two and a
half years at Regent, I will have my teaching certification.
I had made my decision to transfer to Regent University
and start spring semester January 2016.
As I made this announcement, many people were shocked. I had been so excited to go to VWC. But I really felt like God was calling me to
continue pursuing my degree in Elementary Education at Regent. I had to trust that.
“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their
lives” Psalm 37:23
I am so thankful that God is the one that guides my
steps. He shows me the way to go. He is so faithful. He knows all things. He delights in EVERY SINGLE DETAIL of MY
life! That is amazing. He has a plan and a purpose for my life. He has a plan for this time of change. This season of my life.
I am a person that not only likes to plan everything, but
I also do NOT like change at all!
I questioned the idea of transferring.
If Regent is really where I need to be, why didn’t I start there in the
first place? That makes no sense that I would
spend all that money and time at a school that I wasn’t going to stay at! Well
I continued to think about this and I am very thankful for the time I spent at
VWC. I was able to see that the true
college experience of living in a dorm and away from home really isn’t for
me. Had I not had this experience, I
would have been longing to know what it was like.
The Lord also blessed me financially with going to
Regent. Because my parents work at
Regent, I was automatically awarded 75% off of my tuition. After I had already moved out of Virginia
Wesleyan and was on winter break, my family received news that this discount
was changed from 75% off to 100% off of my tuition. Earlier that same day, I had taken a leap of
faith financially and gave money to a cause that I felt God was calling me to
give to. This
was NOT a coincidence. God blesses you when you obey Him and He blesses those
who bless others.
“Give and you will receive.
Your gift will return to you in full” Luke 6:38
I started classes at Regent in January. I had three 8 week classes online, one of
which met once a week on campus. For
those that are unfamiliar, 8 week classes are INTENSE. They are basically the typical 16 week
classes, that last an entire semester, packed into 8 weeks. So double the work in half the time.
I had never taken online classes before and the first few
weeks were very stressful and difficult.
But I got used to it. And I
really have enjoyed my classes. Regent
really focuses on integrating faith and learning. This is one thing I was missing out on at
VWC. It was so cool to be able to pray
with and for my classmates, be encouraged by the word of God, and support the
topics I was learning about in school with biblical references. I have gone to public school my entire life
and never experienced this freedom to talk about God freely with my teachers
and classmates.
I have seen God break so many chains of fear in my face
to face class. We had students share
very personal stories for the first time to the class. We had one student admit that she was
struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts and we were able to surround
her with love and encouragement and pray for her. We were able to honor each other every week
and lift each other up. That was more than a class full of students that didn’t know
each other. It was a community. It was a place to go for fellowship. This
is the type of education that I never knew I needed and never knew I could
have!
I have experienced a great amount of spiritual growth
already in my short time at Regent. And
I am SO excited to see all that God has planned for me during my time
there. It is awesome to have God in the
center of my schooling. It is also
amazing to have the support of my classmates and professors in a deep and
spiritual way.
Like I said, when I packed up to go to Virginia Wesleyan,
I was certain I would be there for the next four years. I never had the intention of leaving. But God had bigger plans for my life. And I’m not going to lie. It was difficult. But I am so happy that I have a God that cares about me enough to delight in
every detail in my life. A God who KNOWS
what is best for me. A God who knows my
future. A God who knows me better than I
know myself. My God is in control and I
can rest in knowing that my life is in His hands. He will provide. He will.
If you ever find yourself in a difficult position, remind
yourself of these things. When things don’t
go as planned, remember that God is the one
who determines your steps. Remember that He
has had every detail of your life planned out before a single day had passed. Psalm 139
Remember: You are important to God.
You are loved. Trust in Him.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
Seek His guidance. He has GOOD plans for your life.
"For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. They are plans for GOOD and not for disaster, to give you a FUTURE and a HOPE." Jeremiah 29:11
You are treasured. And your faith is more precious than gold to
your Heavenly Father. 1 Peter 1:7
Have you experienced a time when you thought you had
everything figured out, but God had bigger plans? Comment!
I’d love to hear!
Be Blessed!
Dani xoxo
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