I'm a Wheatie

I'm officially a Wheatie (a.k.a. a Wheaton student). The past three weeks have been surreal. As I walk around campus, trying not to get lost, I have to keep reminding myself that I'm in college now. Weird, huh? Whoever thought Meredith would be going to college this soon. I mean, 19 years ago I wasn't even born. How can I already be going to college?

Orientation has been crazy. Trying to find an hour of quiet time is as easy as running through the woods for nine miles with blisters. Speaking of running through the woods, I just got back from Honeyrock Camp Thursday, August 23.

For those who don't know, I signed up for Wheaton Passage. That means that from August 4-23 I was at Wheaton's pre-college camp. For 14 days I lived in the great outdoors with only a mosquito net separating me from thousands of bloodthirsty insects. They're vicious. One night I got 29 bug bites on my right foot. I simply love Wisconsin ;)

Besides being eaten alive, the experience was indescribable. How's that for vague? But really, my time at camp was awesome. It was an extraordinary way to start college. If I had known all that I would be doing, I doubt I would have signed up. It's not that I regret doing it, but two months ago, I wouldn't have believed I could do it.

In two weeks we hiked and canoed 92 miles. We made it all the way to Lake Superior. It was breathtaking. The water was so clean you could drink it without boiling it first. I can't describe to you what a good feeling that was. Although I got used to the bugs and twigs that floated in my nalgene, the ashy taste of the water was hard to overcome.

Probably my favorite part of the whole trip was the nine mile run at the end. We woke up on Saturday at 5:30 and prepared to go on the run. Some vans picked up our packs, and we were told to follow the red flags into Honeyrock Camp. It was a fitting end to our two weeks in the woods. The run was the final push. my friend Kristin and I paced ourselves and never stopped to walk. We ran the entire distance. One of the best things I learned while participating in Wheaton Passage was that my biggest obstacle is often myself. I can do more than I think I can; I just have to push myself.

I never thought that living outside for two weeks could prepare me for life on an urban campus with all the comforts of technology. my confidence is up and I'm ready to take on this year. I've got my family to support me, and God to guide me, and thus I begin college life.