FBCR - Small Groups

We were each assigned to a small group on Friday evening. Mine was led by Andrew Schmucker, who plans to teach science in a Kansas public school; and his wife Jolynn (sp?), who supported my notion that some wives get bored from the lack of stimulation at home. The group contained a couple nursing types, a paramedic, and a highschool girl interested in animal training. I really appreciated how A & J interacted with us, and was encouraged by our discussions. We were each allotted something like 15-20 minutes to talk about issues we face at college, etc. I ended up going first, contrary to expectation - really, it was fine over all but I don't think well and deeply on the spur of the moment, and felt like I hadn't come up with much of import. But interestingly a couple of those who spoke after me mirrored some things I have experienced but hadn't thought to say - so they got mentioned nonetheless. Some general topics of discussion: relating to irrational bosses, making our beliefs deeply personal such that we can speak from our hearts instead of the surface, God's guidance for our lives (that's an ongoing issue, and actually maybe that's the way it should be), how to deal with classmates who cheat and how to approach rules that the authorities don't really expect to be followed (a non-school case in point is online agreements that we are to read before signing up for blogger, website space at 50megs.com, etc - it may only be ultrasensitive Christians who read them or feel unethical if they don't).

It was refreshing being around people of similar belief systems with (roughly) similar goals who spend much of their lives in environments similar to Oregon State. It's not like I'd strongly felt the need for such interaction before, but I did always enjoy it and having now experienced the concentrated electricity of an assembly of such people I may seek small amounts of that current more often (I hope that sentence made sense to someone).

It was also really neat to meet two Mennonite girls aiming to be medical doctors and one studying chemistry. The MDs didn't surprise me, but the chemist was a definite and very pleasant surprise. If I hadn't been going to vet school I might have majored in chemistry, and as it was got to enjoy the puzzle-type funness of organic synthesis. Yay for chemistry!