Dear Future Geneva Jack or Jill,
College is nothing like you ever imagined it to be. It is so much better. You don’t know this yet, but you are about to go through a dramatic change that will shape you into adulthood. You will encounter experiences and people that will cause you pain, incredible joy, deep sadness, and unimaginable blessings all in the course of your time at Geneva. You will be transformed into a new person from the time you graduate high school to the time you walk across the stage at your class graduation in four years.
You will find your favorite hideout to study, your perfect blend of coffee at the Riverview or BFCAT, the best desserts at Alex’s, your ideal professor, and your best friend.
You will find yourself missing your friends while you are home on breaks and you won’t be able to wait to go back to Geneva to see them. You might get used to the food on campus, but that will just make you appreciate your Mom’s cooking all the more!
You will learn early on what you value and make sacrifices to benefit your education. You will learn how and when to extend grace to others and your character will develop as God allows it. You will learn that there will be times to mourn and times to be joyful, but most of all, you will learn to mourn with others and be joyful with others.
Geneva is not just a college; it is a catalyst that will guide you to be a follower of Christ in every aspect of your life. You don’t know yet how much God will change your heart in the next four years and I can promise you that He has amazing plans for you that all begin at Geneva.
There is a community here that will welcome you with open arms and wants to do everything in its power to make your college experience everything and more than what you imagined it to be. So, use what Geneva offers you to your advantage and do not be afraid to ask for help. Be an encouragement to your neighbors and know that you are doing a great work by following your dreams.
By the time you move into your dorm room and meet your roommate for the first time, I will have graduated, but that doesn’t mean that I won’t be praying for you along with countless others who have gone before me. It is my prayer that you grow in your walk with the Lord at Geneva and that He uses the gifts that He presents to you here for the furtherance of His kingdom.
Blessing on your time at Geneva.
—Celia Harris ’16
Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.
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