A Nostalgic Visit to my Alma Mater 10 years later

That was a day of wide-eyed wonder for me, my college graduation in May 2003 at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.

At 21 years old, I felt the energy and thrill of all the future could hold. I was recently engaged, though I never thought I'd be one of the Liberty girls to leave with a ring on her finger, and I had filled my years at Liberty with all types of activities including novice on intercollegiate debate team, SGA vice president of junior class, editor-in-chief of the Liberty Champion, and bus captain for an inner city children's ministry. I didn't sleep much.

Truth be told, I was a bit of a nerd in college. I was just 17 when I started and in four years I earned two bachelor's degrees, Communications/Print Journalism and History, with a final GPA of 3.83 in the honor's program.

At the time, all of this seemed to matter and be the tools I needed to become a huge success. I was not quite sure in what, but I just knew I was going to do something of significance. An opportunistic, innocent and naïve dreamer I was. I have to chuckle a little when I think of her, that girl ten years ago.

Life is so very much different now than I had ever imagined. But I wouldn't trade my husband and two little gems for anything more "significant."

On October 18-19 I returned to Liberty and found a very different place than I remembered. It only looked vaguely familiar to me with the vast expansion around the now 7,000 acre campus and a total of more than 92,000 students both on campus and the online program. It's apparently the seventh largest college in the country these days.

But all of my college achievements meant little as I returned and looked for familiar faces. I did visit with a friend I hadn't seen since she was in our wedding (also almost 10 years ago!) and ran into a few others who I recognized.

I also met a new friend while I was at the 30th Anniversary Party for the Liberty Champion. She was a student who heard me mention that my daughter has spina bifida, and she quickly shared that her 1.5 year old niece does too. We spent the next few minutes talking about braces, catheterizing, shunts, and all the things common to spina bifida but little known by most. It was a special bonding moment, and now I follow her sister's blog!

As I drove the 5 hour ride back to Delaware with Adrian, I couldn't stop thinking about a message for today's students. Though I doubt they'll ever read it, these were my thoughts...
 

Here's a quick video I made from the rooftop of DeMoss Hall, pictured above.
http://youtu.be/hlvG0EnUMrg

Visiting Liberty, ten years later

You should be warned, Liberty student. Ten years will pass quickly.

You will be in your 30s standing in front of DeMoss thinking, “Has a decade really passed since I was here?”

At least that’s how I felt after returning to the Liberty campus for only the second time since I graduated ten years ago. It is truly shocking and quite impressive how much a place can change in that amount of time.

Returning “home” to LU during Homecoming was a bit like time travel. Suddenly, everything I’ve done and all the places I’ve been faded to the background as my mind’s eye relived my experiences those four years I spent at Liberty.

I was just you. Dreaming big, studying hard, and experiencing the daily joys and trials of college life – all with the full potential of what life could offer right in front of me. Now, I want to caution you. Do not take these precious years for granted. Soak in the wisdom from your professors and countless speakers and appreciate the fellowship of friends. You will miss that.

There is so much more to do at Liberty. Ten years ago there was no Campus East or Campus North and the Hancock center was readily overlooked. You have an ice rink, skiing, pools, and impeccable sports fields all around you to keep you active. These are all wonderful things, most of which are new to me, but they are just things.

People are what matter. I encourage you to invest your college years into building relationships with people who can be a support and friend to you for years to come. You have the best opportunity for that right now. I only had the chance to see a few people I knew, but that was the best part of the visit by far.

The familiar faces will be welcome as LU continues to grow and change. It was almost difficult to find places that were familiar to me ten years ago, hidden amidst the grandeur of what this campus has become.

But I found those familiar places.

The Circle Dorms 26, 27 and 28 are where I stayed all four years. Those long halls and cinder block walls became home to me. Shout out to those of you living there now!

The Vines Center is mostly as I remember. Though it’s sad to think that Dr. Jerry Falwell, Sr. no longer takes the stage. I can still hear him detailing his dreams for Liberty University and his vision of training hundreds of thousands of Champions for Christ. Though he is no longer with us, his dream seems more alive than ever.

The Prayer Chapel was the final and most familiar place. It sits on that hill so unassuming in its refreshing simplicity. The dark interior still holds the same wooden pews and humble stage with a piano tucked in the corner. This was the place where I most felt at home.

It’s a place that’s easily overlooked, but you should go there sometime. Alone. And pray. It can quiet your spirit in the midst of any storm.
It is in those quiet moments alone in His presence is where you are truly given the strength to become a Champion. You are here for a reason, Liberty student. Make the most of your next ten years.

The Hancock Center that we are standing in is new, but this is about the spot

where Adrian proposed to me on Feb. 15, 2003

One of the few things that remained the same from 10 years ago, the Prayer Chapel.

For many more photos from our visit, check out the Returning to Liberty photo album on my facebook page.