Shadows and Dust

This title is taken from a line in my favorite song, which also happens to be called "Shadows and Dust." I love this term, because I feel like this encompasses my journey to APU.

I always grew up around APU. My grandparents went there, my parents went there, and I was convinced that I would be going there too. I didn't know what for, and I didn't know until this year that the journey would be rough and tumultuous. 

My senior year, I decided that I would apply to the nursing program. The nursing program at APU is extremely difficult to get into, considering over 500 apply and 40 get in. I definitely don't mean for this post to be prideful. (I'll explain more later). I also applied to other schools with nursing programs. I got into APU pretty easily, but the nursing program didn't tell you until 5 months later. So, I went through most of my senior year preparing to go to a different college. Teachers told me that I would be extremely lucky to get into that program, and most of them said I should be prepared to be rejected. They weren't trying to discourage me, because they knew that I knew that was the reality. I went into Spring Break having filled out all my acceptance forms for my second choice of college. 

My favorite song also has another line. "Light of the World, Your glory shines on us." This line builds into a dramatic crescendo that ends the song. I feel like this was exactly what was happening on March 27th, 2013. That was the day I got my acceptance letter. I didn't at first think I got in, because the letter was shorter than I thought an acceptance letter would be. But, as I read the first word, CONGRATULATIONS, I knew all my work during high school had paid off. 

Now, as I stare college in the face, I realize that I will be a part of the campus that I dreamed of being on when I stood in the end zone of the football field, a mere 5 year old. I will be carrying on my family's APU legacy because my brother most likely will not.  I will carry on my determination from high school in academics, and I will be the top of the nursing class. I'll make sure of it. 

"When pain collides, with no soul to trust,
and dreams fade, like shadows and dust, 
when tears pour down, and all falls apart,
Your Glory shines, and opens our hearts."

"Light of the world, You're shining, You're shining."

-"Shadows and Dust" ~ Urban Rescue