Hark the sound of Tar Heel voices
Ringing clear and true
Singing Carolina's praises
Shouting N-C-U
Hail to the brightest star of all
Clear its radiance shine
Carolina priceless gem
Receive all praises thine
I'm a Tar Heel born
I'm a Tar Heel bred
And when I die, I'm a Tar Heel dead
So it's, Rah Rah Carolina-lina
Rah Rah Carolina-lina
Rah Rah Carolina
Rah! Rah! Rah!
This is the anthem that I will so proudly sing over the next four years... and for the rest of my life. It is the alma mater and fight song of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It is a symbol of school pride; one that shows our worth on and off the court, in the classroom, in the community, and in the world. We are currently ranked the #5 public university in the nation. It doesn't get much better than UNC.
Needless to say, I am extremely excited about moving in on Saturday and starting my college life off right. All is about to change; nothing will ever be the same.
As I think about the journey I will be on for the next four years, I can't help but reflect on the few months leading up to now. So much has happened that has prepared me for this weekend. Let's reminisce about my acceptance:
I was in Asia. I was staying with my brother and sister-in-law for two months, experiencing life overseas. One day, after being out with them for the afternoon, we came home to the apartment. While walking up the stairs, my brother told me that he had forgotten something in the car and that he wanted me to get it so he could go use the restroom. Being the exceptionally kind man that I am, I went back to retrieve it. As I finished climbing the steps to their third floor apartment, I noticed an envelope taped to the door. On it, someone had written "Joseph, open this before you come inside." I set down my book bag and slowly tore into the envelope. I unfolded the top flap of the single, white piece of paper that was inside. At the top, left-hand corner was the official UNC old well symbol. Before glancing down at the first line of the letter, a sea of thoughts quickly poured into my mind. Remembering what people told me about getting a package if you are accepted, I thought, "This must be the letter telling me I didn't get in... No, wait, why would Josh and Danielle be cruel enough to make me wait outside and read it." Seemingly in slow motion, my eyes shifted down to the body of the letter. It began,
"Dear Joseph,
It gives me great pleasure to offer you admittance into the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill..."
That was all I saw. "Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness," was all I could say, while fumbling around with my key. Through my excitement, I finally got the door opened and was immediately overwhelmed by a choir of people, dressed in UNC t-shirts, singing the Carolina fight song. Josh and Danielle had invited some of their friends over for a surprise acceptance party. They had made a cake and had decorated the room in UNC paraphernalia.
I couldn't believe it. It was wonderful. I was really accepted. The school that I had looked up to; the school that I had watched win National Championships; the school that my brother and father had graduated from; that was the same school to which I had just gotten accepted. I was thrilled.
My mind quickly flashed back to the previous weeks. I had been praying that God would show me where to go. I had prayed that it would be clear. I am so thankful that He guided me there.
However, the work didn't end at my joyful acceptance. I still had to look for a roommate, go to orientation, register for classes, order my books, get into a dorm, read an encyclopedia's-worth of information, et cetera. Over the next several months, God worked each thing out one at a time. Not once did He leave me hanging.
That brings me to now, Wednesday, August 18, 2010. I am now sitting out on the porch at Topsail Beach during our family vacation, days before I move in to UNC. I am looking forward to meeting my roommate, Elijah Abel. I can't wait to see my dorm room, 448 in Morrison. I am excited about my classes, Indoor Sports Lifetime Fitness, Physics in Movies, Chinese 101, English 102, and World Regional Geography. I'm extremely pumped.
I've been praying recently that God will bring me into contact with the right people when I first move in, whether they be good Christians that will be good friends, people in need of comfort, or someone who is lost and in need of a Savior. I want to make good friends while at school, and the first week seems to be the best time. All in HIS will and timing, of course.
Yesterday, I finally finished my Freshman reading book, "Picking Cotton" by Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and Ronald Cotton. It was so good and I really enjoyed reading it. My favorite line in the book was when Ron, speaking of his accuser after he spent 11 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, said, "What good is anger going to do me?"
However, even though I am very excited about school starting, I am really enjoying my last week of freedom here at the beach. These are good times.
Anyway, I better get out to the beach. Hope you enjoy this blog as I write about my time at UNC. Terror and Excitement mixes into what I'm feeling at this very moment. Its coming and I have no choice but to be ready.
