Wow, I did it! I've survived my first year of studies at AMBS! I've survived 14.5 credit/hours crammed into one semester! The last few weeks I've been working up to this day and the last few days I've been giddy with the end so near. Now that it's here I almost feel too tired to care. The heat today could also be playing into my exhaustion, but no complaints on that front--it is 7:45pm and still 27C.
I had my Greek and Hebrew oral exam this morning, which went well enough though not fantastic. Lets just say I won't be doing Scripture reading at church in Greek or Hebrew anytime soon.
All my papers are in. I've discovered that I don't mind doing the research for exegetical papers but I really don't like writing them, especially if I do the research almost a month before writing the paper. Counselling is my niche and I whipped up the paper for my Pastoral Counselling and Theology class in just a few hours (it helped that it was reflection and not research). My Human Sexuality and Christian Ethics course was fantastic and I really enjoyed writing my paper for that class on silence and voice in terms of self-disclosure and testimony. There were many other papers over the course of the semester, but this gives you a taste of what I've been up to the last few weeks.
Last week we also had our recital for Soul and Voice, which went fairly well I think. Each of us performed five pieces, a few singing and a few speaking. I can say that I am far more confident with my voice and this course has been an illuminating experience.
As I mentioned in a previous post, I will be working on campus with the summer crew. I was asked today if I could start next week already, so I'll get to start on the yard work on Tuesday. I am really looking forward to a complete change of pace and having my evenings free.
My practicum for fall is set. I will be a chaplain at Elkhart General Hospital. I'll most likely be working in the oncology and critical care units, as well as some ER and the chaplain there is going to see if he can get me in on some OB/GYN cases. I'm really excited about the opportunity but also have moments of panic where I wonder, "What in the world are you getting yourself into?" I just keep telling myself that when you're actually in a crisis situation you just do what you need to do in the moment and that I probably know more that I give myself credit for. Something I've realized throughout my years of post-secondary education is that as you learn stuff it just becomes a part of you and you don't often realize how much you've actually learned. Things that I think are "common knowledge" very often are not. I guess this practicum will be the test. Nevertheless, I will be asking my supervisor for a reading list so that I can give myself a crash course in chaplaincy over the summer. I think I have a handle on the being a "pastoral presence" and counselling aspects of the ministry (though I do not presume to know everything), but it's more of the chaplain-specific duties that I need to learn.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. I have three whole months to enjoy the lazy days of summer before diving into academic work again.
2 comments:
Congratulations on being done! (I'm celebrating with you from this end of my keyboard) Hope you enjoy a couple days of NOTHING! And then I hope you enjoy work. A change of pace will be welcomed more than we can probably imagine!
Congrats!
Your practicum sounds awesome. Although scary at this point, you will do great once you get started!
Hope you enjoy being outside for the summer. :) I'm jealous, I'll be cooped up inside with freezing air conditioning!
Post a Comment