Envision Issue #14

Cultivate

WRITING

DESIGN

PHOTOGRAPHY

ISSUE 14, 2024

Produced by the Department of Visual Art, Communication & Design at Andrews University

MANAGING EDITOR

Kaara Harris

STORY EDITOR

Scott Moncrieff

WRITERS

Sarah Banish

Brianna Chery

Christian Dalida

Elizabeth Hart

Caleb Izumi

Htet Myint

Danielle Nau

Fiorella Oudri

Amanda Park

Dominique Thomas

David Tillman

DeeAnn Wallace

DESIGN EDITOR

Diane Myers

DESIGNERS

Skyler Campbell

Chloee De Leon

Karla Torres

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

Dave Sherwin

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Kimberly Agosto

Lucille Borges

Kendall Cautivar

Johann Cheng

Imani Cousins

Nigel Emilaire

Dj Hill

Josiah Morrow

Caleb Onchomba

Nate Reid

Mahal Tio

Moraya Truman Alina Weber

ADVERTISING MANAGER

Dan Weber

COPY EDITOR

Carrie Hess

MODELS

Jirho Cromwell Alo, Sarah Banish, Jasyl Dumgop, Nigel Emilaire, Elizabeth Hart, Caleb Izumi, Jose LizardoMartinez, Kritijan Mitovanovic, Jhoana Mortera, Grace No, Dominique Thomas, Karla Torres, Shareef Arroyo

i think it’s safe to say the past few years have been a whirlwind, collectively. As we navigate the complexities of life, I’ve noticed increased attention to practices and attitudes that cultivate compassion, understanding and inner peace. Self-care. Mindfulness. Quiet quitting.

In the midst of this collective reflection, we present this edition of Envision magazine, exploring the timeless and profound concept of the Fruit of the Holy Spirit.

This metaphor, as shared in Galatians 5:22, has served as a guide for people seeking to live a life shaped by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It helps believers answer the questions: What does it mean to reflect the character of Christ? How do I positively impact the world around me?

With a theme like this, I wondered if we might fall into the tendency to be too heady or ethereal. Impractical, even. But in the diverse range of articles in this issue, our writers get real about the multifaceted nature of these virtues and their relevance in today’s world.

Each piece offers a unique perspective on how the fruit of the Spirit is expressed—miraculously and practically—in our daily lives, relationships, and communities. In our cover story, it is finding peace amid the loss of your home. In other features, it’s extending care to weary and displaced people adapting to a foreign land; experiencing joy through journaling; turning from anger to gentleness; and learning patience on the sidelines or under the stars.

These stories will show that the fruit of the Spirit doesn’t emerge in a colorless, pain-free vacuum. As we walk through this school of life, various lessons emerge to test us. But the fruit that also emerges is a reminder that God is faithful and ever-present.

I sincerely thank all the writers, editors, and contributors who have made this issue possible, especially our talented students! Their hard work, creativity, and passion have brought these ideas to life, through vivid and thoughtful prose, visuals, and layout—and they’ve made my first time at the helm of this publication a delight!

Reader, as you embark on this journey through the pages of our magazine, I hope you find inspiration, wisdom, and a renewed vision as you reflect on the ways God is developing the fruit of the Spirit in you.

Enjoy!

Kaara Harris Managing Editor, Envision Assistant Professor, Journalism/Communication

PHOTO BY ALINA WEBER

STORY BY DANIELLE NAU PHOTO BY MAHAL TIO DESIGN BY KARLA TORRES

Many people are used to experiencing love at home. It can come from family; it can also come from friends. When you are in your hometown or somewhere you have made a living, you are going to have more people around to be able to show you love.

Here on campus, love may be hard to find for some. I could see and feel the difference when I got here. There were little things that my parents would do at home that constantly made me feel loved that I never thought twice about. They would always ask me what I wanted for dinner and then make it. When my dad returned from his business trips, he would always bring me teddy bears because he knew that I loved them. I came to this campus not knowing anyone and not knowing what to expect. I really realized the effects of not receiving as much love while away from home.

As I started branching out, however, it was a lot easier, and I found love in different places. I joined the basketball team where I found a family. Even though most of us didn't know each other, due to the bond and friendship that we formed from being together all the time, love was bound to come out of it. I also made a group of great friends.

Unfortunately, that is not the case for some people. Some people have a harder time being able to branch out and find people that they can connect with. This is why I think it is important to find ways to incorporate different ways to show love throughout the day. It doesn’t take a lot for someone to feel loved.

Reach Out: There are several ways to show love to acquaintances or strangers. When passing someone, compliment them on what they’re wearing. In class, you can acknowledge another student’s efforts. Someone may be having a hard time, and your kind words may change the course of their day.

When you see someone sitting alone, go over and talk to them. They may be looking for someone to talk to. However, they may not, and that’s fine. This one is for people who are on the bolder side, but this can make a big difference as well.

Be Intentional: If you want to take it to a different level, you can seek people out and start to build meaningful relationships. Think of someone you know who tends to be alone a lot and choose to spend time with them.

Spend Time: With close friends, you can do more personal things. Offer to buy them lunch, or take them out. Spend time with them. Engage in activities that they like to do, even if you do not enjoy it as much.

Give Gifts: I know, sometimes buying things isn't the easiest for everyone, especially as college students. If you do buy gifts, it doesn't have to be anything extravagant: A small bracelet or necklace can be a great present.

Lend an Ear: Listening to someone can also be an act of love. Sometimes, people just really need to be heard and want to have someone to talk to. Being there for someone as they talk, whether they expect you to be listening or not, is a great way to show up for a friend.

Be There: Another way is being a presence when someone is having a hard time. A hard time doesn't have to be an extreme life-or-death situation. It could just be a bad day. I know when I'm having a bad day, having someone that I trust and I know cares always makes me feel better.

Other Ways: There are also ways to show love where you don't have to speak: holding the door for someone, giving someone a warm smile, or just waving at someone can be other ways to make people feel better and more loved.

A lot of people tend to overthink these types of actions which show love. Especially when someone has not felt that way in a long time, a little action can go a very long way. It's the little things that matter to people. Sometimes if you do not have ideas, just think about what people do for you to make you feel loved. Remember, it doesn’t take much to make someone's day.

Danielle Nau is a freshman at Andrews University.

Right You It’s in of

Front

STORY BY SARAH BANISH

PHOTO BY KIMBERLY AGOSTO

DESIGN BY SKYLER CAMPBELL

Ilie in bed one early Monday morning, trying to pull myself away from a fantastic night’s sleep. The dreaded school week has begun. Just 209 more weeks till May 2029, my final graduation ceremony. I’m fighting such a comfortable sleep so I can get up—for what? It feels like I’m in a never-ending cycle of weeks, living the same day over and over again. I am a freshman in a pre-physical therapy undergraduate program. I’ve always loved the thought of becoming a physical therapist, but as I begin college, it feels like the end is so far away. I want to be at college to earn my degree and doctorate, but is this what it will feel like for the next six years? I am so focused on my ultimate goal that any little joy coming my way might fly by without my noticing.

I wanted to end this cycle because it was just like my time in high school. Sure, there were joyful moments in some of those days; however, most of the time, a wave of discouragement would hit me each morning. As a result, in college I began to journal every evening. I wanted to see if this would help my mindset and encourage me to have a desire to start my day.

How To Practice Gratitude

Practice makes perfect. Gratitude is something many of us take for granted, and some days it is hard to find even one thing to be grateful for. However, there are simple things you can do to practice gratitude. You can observe the present, savor the moment, say ‘thank you’ with meaning, examine your inner circle, and write about it.

Observe the present. Are you living in the past, the present, or the future? Spending time worrying about that test in the next week or going over a conversation that happened two days ago can inhibit gratitude. Taking the time to see where you are presently is a great way to be grateful. It is as easy as taking time to appreciate that at this moment there is peace and tranquility around you. Taking the time to live in the present allows you to truly appreciate the good things in your life.

Savor the moment. Like being present, savoring the moment allows you to activate your senses. Focus on the experience and allow yourself to absorb all those feelings. Taking time while walking from class to class and looking at the trees, the grass and the sky and smelling the crisp air is something to appreciate. Meditate on the things you can see, touch, hear, and smell. It can be as simple as looking at the color blue and taking time to appreciate how much you like to see it. This can help you truly appreciate the beauty of things.

Say “thank you”—and mean it. How do you say “thank you”? Is it just an automatic response? For example, when someone opens the door for you, how do you feel when you say “thank you”? Do you feel uptight, awkward, or stressed? Or perhaps you don’t think about it much. Practice giving meaning to the phrase that is the very essence of gratitude. Take time to say it and really mean it.

Examine your inner circle. Look at the people around you. It is hard to practice gratitude when you are constantly around negativity. If you have friends or even family who are prone to seeing the negative, help them see the bright side of things. Inspire them to practice gratitude with you. Another alternative is to find positivity in your life: Make friends with people who can help you see the good things in life.

Write about it. Keeping a gratitude journal is one of the best ways to make sure that you commit to changing your mindset. When writing in your journal, try to be as specific as possible. Write about specific events or actions so that you are not left with vague recollections. For example, saying “I am grateful that my friend gave me the notes when I was absent in class today,” is much more meaningful than “I am grateful for my friends.” In other words, why are you grateful for that person, thing, or place?

When writing your entry, try to challenge your thinking. Instead of just writing about the good things in life, document some of the bad things you have avoided, prevented, turned into something positive or escaped. For example, being grateful for avoiding a serious injury after a car accident can help broaden the scope of things you can be grateful for.

Whenever you want to achieve something, it all starts with a change of your mindset. Gratitude starts in the mind and how you think. The different ways we discussed will help you get started on your journey to gratitude and living a more fulfilling life.

BY BRIANNA CHERY

Day 1:

The leaves are beginning to change with the transformation of the seasons, and they dust the grass with their color. There is so much beauty when waking up and observing nature this autumn. The weather was also ideal for me to study outside today. It was cold enough to wear a jacket, yet the sun hitting my face balanced the temperature perfectly.

How does this help in general though? Journaling requires one to slow down and ponder what the past day consisted of. The beautiful weather and the scenery give reasons to look forward to what life has in store. The leaves fluttering in the trees are simple to appreciate; however, they are impactful gifts. Journaling about these moments reminds one that there will be more joys like these in the upcoming days. The little yet powerful joys give motivation to continue through the mundane weeks ahead.

Day 2:

Today, I called my best friend. After I finished my homework this afternoon, I had plenty of time to talk with him and catch up on the things happening back home. It was a comforting experience to talk with someone I miss so much.

It is discouraging and draining to wake up to the exact same expectations each morning—wake up, go to class, eat, study, sleep, repeat. As students, it isn’t easy to maintain a healthy mindset when moving through the day. However, the moments of talking with a loved one or engaging in a favorite hobby bring us back to familiar and memorable moments from the past. Our perspective of looking toward long-term goals blinds us from seeing what is right in front of us. Many new college students feel regret or discouragement once they get over the honeymoon period of taking their new step in life. A way to avoid this detrimental thought process is by actively seeking the beauty God has woven throughout our days.

Day 3:

The other night, I was able to fall asleep to raindrops dancing on the roof and bouncing off the windows of my dorm room. The rain was beautiful, and I didn’t have to go outside the next day; I just laid in bed watching and listening to the water descending.

Journaling allows me to reflect on my day and realize the good things I pass by, also encouraging me to spot them in the future. It pushes me to see things from a different perspective. Rain may seem dismal, but there is much beauty if you ponder its character. Sure, it can appear depressing, but at the same time it gives you the perfect reason to stay inside and wrap yourself in a blanket on the cozy couch.

Writing these ideas down helps you to remember and ponder the gifts of joy. The key to this practice is to “look.” Look at what’s in front of you. You have passed it every day. Looking for moments of joy doesn’t add any time to your college career, and it gives you more reasons to get out of bed and attend classes. Life is not only about success in a singular moment but also about the joy along the way. The process of completing a task is just as necessary as the task itself. Suppose I achieve my final goal of becoming a physical therapist. Will I be able to recall joyful moments from the past six years? Or will I only look at those days in relief because it is over? If that is the case, I will have wasted years not appreciating the joy around me.

These little bubbles of happiness encourage me to continue on during these long and tiring days, giving me something to look back on with gratitude. We must have the desire and ability to see the joy that God provides for us. I can’t make you a happier person, but I write this so that if you choose to search for the beauty and joy that surrounds you, you’ll be able to find it right in front of you. As college students, it is crucial to have a way to prevent ourselves from crumbling under all the stresses of academics. When things seem overwhelming and pointless, we must have a way to bring ourselves back into the present to see the beauty of the little things around us. The joys can be small, yet their impact is significant.

We trapped the mouse in our room. I got an unexpected ride to class.We got out of lab early. The line at the Gazebo was short–and they had Apple Cinnamon Go-Go Squeeze. My favorite.”

Sarah Banish is a freshman at Andrews University.

A Miracle Story Without The Miracle

STORY BY ELIZABETH HART | PHOTO BY LUCILLE BORGES | DESIGN BY CHLOEE DE LEON

There was an abnormality in my blood results, so they are sending me to a specialist.” These are words no one wants to hear their parents say but, at age 11, I heard my mother say them. After a few doctor’s appointments, we learned that my mother had a genetic disease, polycystic kidney disease (PKD), that caused her kidneys to fail. So began my mother’s—and our family’s—journey with kidney failure.

Of course, this journey was the hardest for her. She had to process her diagnosis, adjust to new medical treatments, and deal with pain, nausea and fatigue as her disease progressed. Later, my mother described the experience as being similar to mourning the loss of a loved one. At the same time, the rest of our family had to deal with these changes. We had to watch her suffer, mentally and physically. My sister and I had to come to grips with seeing our mother—whom we had always viewed as strong, healthy and capable—become weaker, physically and emotionally. Why would a good God let something so terrible happen to my mother, a woman who had been faithful to Him for decades?

Despite all of our family and our church community’s prayers for healing, PKD

continued to destroy the working tissues in my mother’s kidneys. By the next year, my mother was on dialysis. She chose to do peritoneal dialysis, a type that patients do at home. These nightly treatments saved her life by filtering out the toxins her kidneys could no longer remove. Dialysis is a huge blessing because it has given us more time with her. It allowed my mother to see my sister and me graduate from high school and to be involved in my sister’s wedding. I am so thankful that my mother has been around to give me advice, help me become an adult, and just love me. But despite all of the good, dialysis also came with many negative side effects. When she first started dialysis, my mother experienced fatigue, pain and lightheadedness. My older sister and I had to step up around the house and become more independent. It was a stressful time for our whole family. Even after my mother adjusted, dialysis still presented challenges. She had to spend 9 to 11 hours every night connected to the machine, including the time it took to set up. It also made traveling a huge logistical challenge. If she was away from home for even one night, she had to bring a microwave-sized machine, boxes of dialysis solution, tubing,

sanitizing wipes, clamps and more. Extended traveling required more planning and hauling around much more stuff. While dialysis was a blessing overall, in day-to-day life it sometimes felt like a curse.

Aside from watching our mother’s health decline, my sister and I also had to face the implications connected with a genetic disease. We learned from her doctors that my mother had a dominant version of PKD, meaning that my sister and I each have a 50% chance of having the disease. As I watched my mom go through kidney failure, I couldn’t help but see myself in the same condition 30 years from now. It was a scary thought. Why was God letting this happen to us? Did we do something wrong? Or maybe the loving God I thought existed didn’t.

Eventually, my mother’s illness became our new normal. She adjusted to dialysis and living with a chronic illness; we did too. However, the questions about God’s role in this still plagued me. I felt angry and sad. While I used to feel peace about God and His relationship with us, I now felt conflicted. Why does God let bad things happen to good people? No one lives a life free of suffering and pain, so we all have to face this question at some point.

During my senior year of high school, my mother received a kidney transplant. While the initial recovery brought pain and stress, things seemed to be looking up. However, during the next year and a half, my mother experienced a series of complications and infections that kept her in and out of the hospital. During that time, she spent more than a week in the hospital almost every month. Since my sister was at college, many of the household responsibilities fell to me. Even worse, what seemed like God’s answer to our six years of prayer had failed us too. Where was God in all of this? What happened to His promises to care for us, heal the sick, and bring us peace?

After a lot of thought and prayer, I came to a decision. I choose to believe that the loving God of the Bible is real and cares about our suffering. While I have no proof that He exists, my life would feel empty and pointless without Him. For me, I think it is better to risk believing in a God who does not actually exist than it is to risk not believing in a God who does exist. I still do not know why He let my mother get kidney disease or why her kidney transplant led to even more suffering. What I do know is that God is wise and knows the past and future. Jeremiah 29:11

says, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (NIV). I choose to believe that God says these words to me and my family. He has a good reason for letting us go through this. Do I know what the reason is? No. Am I okay with that? Yes.

During her time in the hospital, my mother also learned to find peace in her situation. One Friday night when her kidney function was rapidly dropping and the doctors were disagreeing about what to do, she was listening to a Christian music radio station. As she lay there, the thought popped into her mind “Be still and know that I am God.” For an unexplainable reason, this made her feel at peace. Since then, she has been able to let go and trust in God; the peace has lasted. In the year or so since then, my mother’s health has improved. Her transplant is now working as it should, and she has not been in the hospital

for almost a year. While she is not fully well, things are looking up again. No matter what happens next, I know that I will be able to find peace in God. I do not need to know why everything happens because I trust Him. In heaven, we will be able to ask Him why He let things play out the way He did, but for now, trusting Him is enough. Even when I go through hard times that I do not understand, He will be with me. It will still hurt and be hard at times. I will feel angry at God and have questions. There will still be nights when I lay in bed crying, asking God why. But I will find peace. Even though God never performed the miraculous healing we sometimes hear about in mission stories and the Bible, He has given us a miraculous amount of peace.

Elizabeth Hart is a freshman at Andrews University pursuing a degree in wellness with a minor in psychology. She loves hiking with friends and hopes to become an occupational therapist.

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Email: casassistant@andrews.edu

Phone: 269–471–3411

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It was the first half of our quarterfinal soccer game, and it was intense. Our team was facing one of the best squads in the division, and we were not going to lose. The weather was unforgiving: it was cold and raining, making controlling the ball, running, and passing more difficult than usual. As the ball was being passed around by the opposing team, they suddenly made an attack. With impressive technique and incredible skill they passed not one or two, but three defenders, until it came to me. My duty was to the opponent’s attack, but more specifically, the ball. At the right moment I extended my leg to block the ball, but when I did, my foot sunk into the soft, puddled ground. As this happened the opposing attacker shot the ball, lost his balance and fell on my leg. Immediately I felt a rush of pain through my leg—specifically, my knee. I didn’t know it at the time, but I had torn my ACL. The weight of the opposing player on my leg and my foot being trapped in the ground had caused it to unnatu rally bend inward, which resulted in my injury.

A week or so after the game, I was scheduled to have an MRI to check the damage of my knee. After interpreting the results of the MRI, they told me that I would need surgery and physical therapy and that my recovery would take around nine months. This news was absolutely devastating. As a student athlete, the last thing you want to hear is that you will not be able to play the sport which you love so much. All I wanted to do was get back on the field and immerse myself where I felt the most comfortable, but I was no longer able to do that. The day of the surgery came, and I was nervous. All the stress of how it would go was burdening me, but it went well. I didn’t realize it, but that was the easiest part of the recovery process.

Physical therapy was next. The day after surgery I started the exercises given to me by my physical therapist. I began by simply flexing my quad muscles. I thought that it was ridiculous, but after several repetitions, it proved to be quite difficult. Every day I would do these exercises until new and more difficult exercises were introduced, such as leg lifts, knee flexions, half-squats, and even just balancing on one leg. These exercises were among the plethora of exercises I went through, and they were by no means enjoyable. Every day I struggled mentally and physically; getting the motivation to do the exercises necessary for my recovery was very hard for me, and the physical stamina I needed to continue the exercises was lacking. A few weeks into my rehabilitation period, I felt like it wasn’t worth it. But I stuck to it, and my work paid off.

Five months into my nine month-recovery, I was able to run. This was a huge milestone for me and made me feel like I could begin sports again. But to my dismay I was advised to wait four more months. My surgeon explained to me that if I did not wait the nine month-recovery period, I would have a higher chance of reinjuring my knee. This aggravated me, as I found it very difficult to be patient in my recovery. My friends and fam ily could all do things that I was not able to, and the activities and sports they played seemed to be so much more fun than the bland and annoying exercises I had to do.

I waited the full nine months to begin playing soccer and other sports again, and I am now physically back to 100%. Throughout the whole experience, the one thing I am the most thankful for was the patience to wait the full recovery period. The Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy corroborates my surgeon’s counsel, stating that, “Athletes who had returned to knee-strenuous sport before 9 months after recon struction had an approximately 7-fold higher rate of second ACL injury compared with those who returned at 9 months or later.” This study confirms that being patient in your recovery is the best way to maintain your health and that playing the waiting game is the best way to take the win against an injury.

Caleb Izumi is a freshman at Andrews University who is studying medical laboratory sciences/pre-med.

SPONSORSHIP AND SOLIDARITY

Tracing God’s

Goodness from Myanmar to Indiana

STORY BY HTET MYINT

PHOTOS BY MAHAL TIO

DESIGN BY DIANE MYERS

On Dec. 22, 1999, amid the winter chill, my parents stepped foot in Fort Wayne, Indiana, carrying only a few bags filled with clothes, shorts, and flip-flops. Having fled Myanmar’s hot and humid climate as refugees, they were immediately confronted with the bitter cold of the Midwest. It was the first of many trials in navigating life in America.

As my parents adjusted to the unfamiliar climate and surroundings of Fort Wayne, they carried with them the weight of their past and the memories of a homeland left behind. Raised in Myanmar amid political unrest, persecution, and genocide, they had known hardship long before their journey to America. My father, Kyawzwa Myint, at the age of 18, participated in protests during the infamous 8888 uprisings against the military junta. Because he refused to be a spectator in the fight against the coup, he joined the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front. Standing shoulder to shoulder with fellow activists, he fought for a brighter future for his homeland.

While my father was actively involved in the fight against the military junta, my mother, Than Than Aye, experienced persecution firsthand as a member of the Karen (Kayin) ethnic minority in Myanmar. From a young age, she bore witness to the atrocities committed by the regime, fleeing from violence and oppression that preyed on her community. Her childhood memories are stained with the trauma of persecution, yet her resilience and determination to survive have been a guiding light throughout our family’s journey.

Despite vastly different paths, their lives intersected in the most unlikely of places: Mae La refugee camp in Thailand. Here, amidst the harsh realities of displacement and uncertainty, they met and eventually married. United by a shared determination to build a better future for themselves and their family, they set their sights on America.

Arriving in Fort Wayne began their journey in a new land. As one of the first families to arrive from Myanmar, they faced the daunting task of adapting to a new culture and way of life. Amid struggles, they discovered acts of kindness and generosity in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. During the late 1990s, churches of different denominations in Fort Wayne were actively sponsoring refugees from Myanmar. The First Fort Wayne Seventhday Adventist Church was among them, playing a pivotal role in providing assistance and guidance to newcomers like my parents.

ABOVE: From left, Khine Myint, Kyawzwa Myint, Than Than Aye and Htet Myint at the First Fort Wayne Seventh-day Adventist Church.

RIGHT: Grandma Jeanette (Jeanette Griffith) and the author’s mother, Than Than Aye, visit in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 2019, shortly before Griffith’s death.

TOP RIGHT: Kyawzwa Myint and Than Than Aye, the author’s parents, in Myanmar. Undetermined date.

Photos courtesy of author.

Among the compassionate individuals within the First Fort Wayne Seventh-day Adventist Church was Jeanette Griffith, whom I knew as Grandma Jeanette, whose generosity and empathy would leave an incredible mark on my parents’ journey. Serving as our sponsor, she extended a lifeline of support and guidance to help us navigate the challenges of resettlement. Beyond the practical assistance she provided, her genuine care and friendship became a constant presence as she treated my mother as one of her daughters and my older siblings as her grandchildren.

As my father grappled with the challenge of supporting his family in this new land, Grandma Jeanette came to his aid once again. Not only did she assist him in securing a job at a nearby manufacturing plant, but she also took on the role of his driving instructor. My father fondly reminisces about those early morning lessons in her Chevy sedan. She would take him to empty cemeteries to practice maneuvers, quipping that it was the safest spot for driving practice since everyone there was already resting.

After my little brother and I were born, my parents’ journey took another turn as they embraced the responsibilities of raising two sons born in a foreign land. Throughout this new chapter, the support and guidance they received from Grandma Jeanette and the church continued to shape our lives profoundly. Not only would church members donate children’s clothes, cribs, and toys, but the church also had a food bank that provided

As I grew up, I witnessed firsthand the goodness and compassion of the church community. Through their financial sponsorship, my little brother and I were able to attend the local SDA grade school, where we received not only a great education but a sense of belonging and community. The church didn’t just stop at education: When new waves of refugees arrived, they established ESL classes where parents could learn English and children could receive homework help. Furthermore, the church sponsored students like myself to attend SDA private schools for both elementary and high school, providing opportunities for children like me to experience a Christ-centered education. I have proudly attended SDA-affiliated schools throughout my entire academic career, including Aboite Christian School, Indiana Academy, Southern Adventist University, as well as Andrews University.

Looking back on my family’s journey, a consistent theme of goodness emerges. This thread of kindness woven throughout has not only helped us navigate challenges but also enabled us to flourish. It is through the goodness of God and the unwavering support of our community that my nieces and nephews now grow up in a country free from the threats of persecution, genocide, and war. Fort Wayne, Indiana, has become a sanctuary for thousands of refugees, all thanks to the kindness of its residents. Moreover, the goodness instilled in me by my parents and nurtured by my community inspires me to pursue a career in the medical field, driving my desire to perpetuate this cycle of goodness.

Htet Myint is a medical laboratory science/pre-med major and part-time barber on his days off.

STORY BY DOMINIQUE THOMAS

PHOTO BY JOSIAH MORROW

DESIGN BY CHLOEE DE LEON, SKYLAR CAMPBELL

Sunday, May 23, 2021, started off as normal as I could imagine, with summer vacation beginning for my sisters and me. About a week before, my mother had told us some very exciting news: we were going on a weeklong vacation to Florida. My family had never gone out of the state of Texas, so we were thrilled. After a week of planning the trip, we left early for the airport. We got through TSA with more than enough time until our flight was taking off. As we were waiting to board the plane, one of my younger sisters got a phone call from my father. I knew it had to be something bad by the look on her face. She looked at my mother and said, “Mom, the house is on fire.”

When I heard this, it didn’t really hit me that the house was gone. There was, of course, a feeling of worry and confusion, but the realization didn’t set in yet. After a bit of checking, our mother told us there was nothing we could do until we got back from the trip, so not to worry about it for right now. Later on the flight, I would glance at my mother. I could see the pain and worry portrayed on her face. She was a single mother with five kids—ages 5 to 21—to take care of, so she had it hard already. Soon after, I could see my mother start to cry a little. Like many others, my mother is my rock, my inspiration, and my motivation. Seeing her this way started to hurt in a way I had never felt before.

When I laced up those boots, it felt as if all the stress and worry faded away...

...through all the

chaos and sadness I went through, roller skating was the one thing that pushed me to find my sense of

peace.

After we got back from the trip, there was a lot of moving around: to my aunt’s apartment; to my father’s; to my grandparents’ house, and finally to an RV loaned by a church family member and parked in my grandparents’ backyard. We stayed there for the rest of the summer and through the first month of my junior year when school started. With all of the driving around and having no place to call home, I started to feel this tragic accident become more real little by little. What especially made all of the uneasiness and miserable feelings come up was when we went to look at the house. Only two of the walls were still standing, and you had to walk on floor beams to go from room to room, looking at the ground underneath.

I am usually a very happy person. My mother would always tell me I was the most cheery and joyous out of all of my sisters, but after the house burned, I felt as if I were losing myself every day. Not because of the fact that I lost all of my belongings, but because it felt like my family was falling apart. My sisters and I weren't getting along as much as we used to. Also, having to see my mother stress about trying to find somewhere for us to stay that would be big enough while also going to work six nights out of the week crushed me emotionally. I would go through days putting on an act like I was okay and seeming like it didn’t bother me as much, but almost every night I would sit and wonder things like “Why would God put my mother and us in this situation?” or “What did we do to deserve this?”

When we moved everything into the RV and got comfortable, we started to go through the little things the firemen were able to save from the fire. The one thing from the fire that was salvageable from my things was an old pair of roller skates. I decided that for most of the summer, I would take the time to get back into skating

and learn more about it. I had nothing better to do because my mother wanted us to stay in one place while we got things situated. I didn’t notice it then, but looking back, I used skating as a coping mechanism. It was something that would bring me a sense of peace and make me feel more like myself again. When things would get bad, I would either go out and skate, look at skate videos, or think about roller skating. When I laced up those boots, it felt as if all the stress and worry faded away, and my mind would find a place of silence. Feeling the rubber-like wheels roll against the uneven graveled sidewalks gave me a sense of calmness. Not only did it keep my mind off of the mess that was going on, but it was also something that made me feel like my old self again.

After summer ended, I started my junior year and it felt like beginning this tragic accident again. Everyone was asking questions like “What happened?” or “What was the cause of the fire?”

I could feel the chaos and messiness creeping back in. But then again, it seemed like when I put on those eight wheels, there wasn’t anything to worry about. Roller skating started to become my source of peace and joy. I’m not saying that if I didn’t ever start roller skating, I would still be a total mess—but, who truly knows? I’m just saying that through all the chaos and sadness I went through, roller skating was the one thing that pushed me to find my sense of peace. In case you’re wondering, I still find peace in skating. I hope this story will encourage you to search for that thing you can depend on through the struggles you'll have, that one push that will get you back to feeling like yourself on a bad day. That source of peace, your peace.

Dominique Thomas is pursuing a degree in elementary education at Andrews University.

all...through the cha os and sad ness I through,went roller skat ing

was the one thatthingpushed me to find my sense of peace.

How to Cope with Unexpected Loss

BY DEEANN WALLACE

“It was a Sunday morning, and I woke up to the screams of my mom. My dad had passed away suddenly… [he] just went to sleep and never woke up. He was the glue of our family and the main breadwinner.”

For Dr. Stacey Nicely, the unexpected death of her father redefined life for her family. Nicely, now the director of the Counseling & Testing Center at Andrews University, believes grief is personal and varies heavily between individuals, cultures, and means. While it is not possible to prescribe a specific formula for getting over

unexpected loss, she says there are healthy ways to cope with loss and integrate into normal life.

What is grief?

Nicely refers to the definition provided by the American Psychological Association: “The anguish experienced after significant loss, usually the death of a loved one. Grief may also take the form of regret for something lost, remorse for something done, or sorrow for a mishap to oneself.”

What should you do when grief first occurs?

Though the nature of grief may vary, Nicely says, “Some general things to keep in mind is to understand that self-care even while

you're grieving is important. You want to pay attention to what the body is doing, what the body is feeling. Be sure that you are keeping yourself safe even as you are responding to the loss.”

What are common symptoms when dealing with loss?

Physical effects can include “breathlessness, hollowness, insomnia, loss of appetite, and exhaustion,” according to Hamilton’s Academy of Grief and Loss. Emotional responses include anger, sadness, anxiety, and loneliness. Behavioral effects include “crying, withdrawal, moodiness, and avoiding reminders.”

What are some healthy ways to cope when resuming daily life?

For physical care, Nicely recommends activities such as exercising, planning walks with a friend, getting a massage, taking a warm foot bath, and eating even when you don’t feel like it. To cope with emotional effects, she says, “Acknowledge and accept your feelings. Understand that grief can trigger a range of unexpected emotions. Practice self-compassion and seek out social support and/or professional counseling services.” For spiritual support, she suggests, “Talk to a pastor or clergy. Remember the stories of Job, Mary, and Martha, and do daily devotions to gain strength and inspiration.”

What can family or friends do to help someone navigate grief?

“I think it's really important that we allow people the space, room, and all the time in the world they need to grieve,” Nicely says. “Know that working through grief is not linear and allow persons to go through their own process. Allow for crying, be OK with silences, and lend a helping hand.” You can even send care packages to help the individual tend to themselves, she encourages.

While grief and how we deal with loss may vary from person to person, Nicely reminds us that it takes time to grieve as well as to find the best tools to cope.

“The mourning process is not a one and done, but over time, the more you learn strategies to grieve in healthy ways and to integrate the reality of that loss into your everyday life, you're able to resume some sense of normalcy.”'

DeeAnn Wallace is a sophomore at Andrews University, studying digital communications. You will probably find her somewhere with a ring light and a camera.

STORY BY FIORELLA OUDRI DESIGN AND ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOEE DE LEON

Amina was a small girl—tiny frame, shy voice. She loved to wear pink; she loved her stuffed animal; she always wanted to be holding someone’s hand. She had beautiful brown eyes and a delightful smile. She was intelligent and gentle. I met her at dinner on the first Sunday of summer camp, where she was placed in my cabin for the week. During that dinner Amina said almost no words—only that she wanted nothing but oranges to eat.

She didn’t bring many things—only her bedding, clothes, and her stuffed giraffe. During evening worship, she stayed near the counselors, timid but watching with curious eyes. When I put the campers to bed, she asked me to hug her until she fell asleep. That night, after all the campers had gone to sleep, I learned that Amina was the youngest daughter of a refugee family fleeing unrest in the Congo. As I imagined everything she and her family must have experienced and must be going through, I felt moved with emotion. Despite how little I knew or understood about her, I felt compelled to love her as much as I could for the seven days I would be her counselor.

As the week went on I got to know her better, as she continued to ask for oranges at every meal, sit silently during worship, and always hold my hand anywhere we went. I recognized her desire to feel at home, and I longed to make her feel as safe and happy as possible. I prayed the rest of the cabin would treat her the same.

As the other campers began to notice their differences with Amina—the way she looked, the little she brought, the food she ate, the way she spoke—they started to act differently. They received her coldly upon entering the cabin in the evenings, making comments like “stop speaking your language” or “she must have only been able to pay with the worthy camper fund.” They laughed at how picky of an eater she was and complained about how she always needed to hold a counselor’s hand.

I was shocked at the campers’ inability to empathize with Amina. Her “differences” were enough to make them see only the outsider in her and not the human. This broke my heart and twisted it with anger. I knew Amina. I understood she ate oranges for every meal because she just wanted foods she recognized, and she was always holding my hand to cling to love while away from her family. I had begun to see her struggle. Yet the cabin didn’t even consider getting to know her before deciding how to treat her. At that moment, my eyes were once again opened to a deeper perspective of the harsh reality that whether it is by ignorance or choice, the effects of discrimination and injustice on an individual can last a lifetime, and they are beyond unacceptable.

Discrimination against immigrants is highlighted in George Saunders’s dystopian “Semplica - Girl Diaries.” This short story follows a middle class family struggling with social status in pursuit of a wealthy life. The family wins $10,000 in a lottery and chooses to spend a great deal of the money renting “Semplica Girls,” foreign and impoverished women paid to hang by a string as a landscape decoration.

This was a characteristic display of wealth in their society, but Eva, the younger daughter, was horrified at the sight. She saw beyond the need to climb the social ladder and recognized the cruelty behind this practice, so she spoke out against it. Her father attempted to justify this by simply stating that it was normal and accepted in society. In disagreement, Eva responds, “So just because everyone is doing it, that makes it right?” Despite several attempts to dissuade her from her discomfort, Eva decides to take action and secretly sets the Semplica Girls free. In a society telling her injustice was normal, Eva resisted. She chose to counteract dehumanization by choosing kindness and empathy.

Although I have never experienced direct discrimination like the Semplica Girls and Amina did, the summer of 2023 gave me a taste of the feeling. I don’t yet have permanent resident status in the United States, and a third of the way into my contract working

at summer camp, I discovered I needed to have a green card in order to get paid. To receive the news that I wasn’t getting paid for the work I was doing was extremely disappointing and felt totally unfair. I was working tirelessly, in charge of the cabin day and night, battling tonsillitis and heat exhaustion and difficult camper situations. I felt that my dedicated work and labor deserved the pay.

In all of my frustration, it suddenly hit me that this was a common feeling for many in this country. Many come seeking a safer home or a more stable economy, but because of discrimination are given difficult jobs for inadequate pay. So how do we fight inequality in this regard? Once again, by first reaching the level where we recognize the issue and its effects, understanding the struggling person and taking a step to show them kindness. This kindness allows us to see the world in terms of how we can work together as people for justice. To see the world through the eyes of the struggling and to give your support and your empathy is to promote equality and begin to take action towards leveling social and income inequalities. I don’t only want to open my eyes to the struggle but to live life through the eyes of the struggling so that I can truly see how I can help.

Our world is full of people—different colors, races, jobs, personalities, ethnicities, all people. Every person facing discrimination is exactly that—a person, just like anyone else. If we are unable to recognize the individual facing the injustice we will soon begin to worsen the severity of discrimination and its consequences.

In Zechariah 7:9-10, the word of the Lord comes to the prophet: “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other.” Society could transform if it followed these instructions: to judge fairly, to show mercy and kindness to one another (especially the afflicted), to refuse to oppress those in different social classes or situations and to stop scheming against one another. The world would be a better place if we learned to be kind and if we didn’t let our differences become reasons to treat each other unfairly. Let us make it our objective to create that better world that fights injustice; that better world for those suffering, the oppressed, or the discriminated against; that better world for that little girl, Amina, who ate oranges for dinner.

Fiorella Oudri is a freshman studying speech pathology at Andrews University. She spends her free time making music or enjoying the outdoors whenever she can.

It happens just once every five years, when over 55,000 people from more than 100 countries come together in Gillette, Wyoming for a life-changing week of activities, events, service, worship, fellowship, and so much more. The International Pathfinder Camporee is a youth event like no other. And it wouldn’t be possible without young adults like you. Teams of dedicated volunteers give their time, talents and skills—like taking photos, teaching honors, running booths, providing essential services, and performing on stage. Learn more, watch past and present Camporee videos, and find out how you can get involved at camporee.org.

August 5–11 2024  camporee.org  @icamporee  269-471-8380

STORY BY AMANDA PARK

DESIGN AND ILLUSTRATION BY SKYLER CAMPBELL

As soon as I got into the hot car, I blasted the air conditioner, complaining about the unbearable heat. Every time I did this, my mom would reply, “Amanda, calm down. Just be patient.” The cold air couldn't come fast enough—I hated being uncomfortable. My life is filled with many of these same situations where I find myself wishing things could happen faster to relieve the discomfort of waiting.

The world I—and most of the human population— live in is a world of instantaneity. Almost all aspects of our everyday lives happen the moment we want them to. Texting our friends, instant reply; looking up what kind of apple is best for apple pie, instant answer; using social media to update friends and followers, instant feedback. This is the norm for me and almost everyone else in the world. But as soon as that one text takes longer than .5 seconds to send or the Google search takes a little longer than expected, we are filled with frustration, wondering why the data or Wi-Fi isn’t working as it should. Although sometimes these factors can be beneficial, they can also make our lives move fast—sometimes so fast that we struggle to keep up.

Last summer, my friends and I watched the Perseid meteor shower, one of the most plentiful showers of the year. We had read and seen on the internet that around Aug. 11 and Aug. 12, the shower would be at its peak with about 50 to 100 visible meteors per hour. So, of course, we had to go see it. We journeyed out to a nearby park around midnight, spread our blanket on the damp grass, and waited for the sky to light up. Expecting to see meteors spilling from the sky right away, we saw the opposite. We waited…and waited… and waited. The only thing we had seen was a few airplanes and a whole lot of dark sky. We had to wait and be patient, an ability we struggled with, but an important part of the process.

Waiting is something that is non-negotiable in the natural world. Nature brings us back to the reality of life—it reminds us about the importance of patience. When we grow seeds, we wait; when seasons change, we wait. All plants and flowers go through a process before getting to their final stages. There’s no skip button to growing vegetables or a fast-forward option

when we don’t like the cold, snowy weather. But hidden in the waiting is where another form of beauty can be revealed. Patience is how we are able to see the growth and fruits that come from our seasons. When we sit in the uncomfortable we are able to see the beautiful things along the way.

Recently, I had a homework assignment that required me to explore leaf morphology by going outdoors. The instructions for this assignment were to take pictures of different parts of the leaf: leaf arrangements, bases, shapes, apices, and margins. So I went behind the Wellness Center and followed a trail to start my journey. Because the characteristics I had to find were the smaller, intricate details in leaves, I was stopping at each leaf and tree I passed, requiring more time than I had originally thought. But despite the lengthy journey, being swallowed by the trees that surrounded me and hearing the crisp sound of the water running through the creek almost made me forget that I was doing an assignment. The calm and peace I felt turned the assignment into an opportunity to take a step back and breathe. Nature can provide an escape from the fastpaced world, forcing us to catch our breaths. There is nothing we can do but be patient. When we are exposed to that kind of fresh air, it flows into other aspects of our lifestyles, helping us not only in patience, but many other emotions that shape us into better humans.

The meteor shower was an excellent example of this. After my friends and I had been staring at the dark sky for what had seemed to be an eternity, we saw a beautiful, bright meteor flash across the sky. We started screaming with excitement because what we had just seen made all the waiting worth it. The rest of our night consisted of the same routine of waiting for each meteor to flash by and screaming with joy as it came and went. But the thing that changed was our ability to be patient because of the effects nature had on us. So, if you find yourself stressed, worried, or just in need of a break from your normal routine, take a trip outside and find the hidden treasures that nature has to offer. You won’t regret it.

Amanda Park is a freshman education major who loves to eat yummy food!

STORY BY CHRISTIAN DALIDA

PHOTO BY IMANI COUSINS DESIGN BY CHLOEE DE LEON

Jasyl, in his freshman year of college, was excited that the weekend was within reach. Friday classes were wrapping up just in time to enjoy the afternoon heat. It was a beautiful day to take his Mitsubishi 3000GT and explore the back roads of Berrien Springs, Michigan. As he made his way out of the dorm and toward the parking lot, he crossed paths with Jirho, a friend who had just finished classes. He spontaneously invited Jirho to accompany him for a joyride. After pausing for a moment, Jirho agreed and hopped into the low-rider seats of the ‘90s-era sports car.

30, 40, 50, 60. The speedometer inched upward as they hit a straight-away. As they zipped past quaint country houses and vast cornfields, everything around them turned into a blur. Having been on the same road the previous week, Jasyl deemed himself exceptionally familiar with the road. Anticipating every slight bump and curve, his tires whined as they cleared turn after turn. The engine roared as all six cylinders fired in response to his foot's increasing pressure on the pedal. One more curve to go. Having full trust in his car he turned the steering wheel right—but to no avail. The car would not turn at all. He had underestimated the speed at which he was going. The sound of screeching tires filled the surrounding forest as Jasyl and Jirho fearfully watched the car head off the road. As if time was in slow motion, the car sank into a ditch and headed straight toward a telephone pole. Jasyl closed his eyes as he prepared for the worst. *SKRRT* BOOM! The front bumper of the car rammed straight into the telephone pole. The force was so strong that the car’s rear end swung upward, causing it to roll on its back in the middle of

the road. In a dazed state, Jasyl opened his eyes, viewing the world upside down. He sat there. Disbelief filled his mind as the blood rushed to his head. Concerned, he immediately checked on Jirho in the passenger seat; he was responsive. Incapable of finding the words to convey how he felt, Jasyl repeated, “I’m so sorry.” Over shattered glass, they crawled out of the car and sat on the guardrail. Jasyl sat there and prayed. Never in his life had he felt so lost, so far from reach. Being hundreds of miles away from his family, who could he call out to?

When we find ourselves facing trials and tribulations, we pray to God for help, for answers. When we don’t hear from Him immediately, we feel as though we have been abandoned and even go as far as to blame Him for our misfortunes. It’s through these trying times that we should choose to remain faithful to God. In Jasyl’s moment of helplessness and despair, he didn’t blame God for allowing his car to be totaled hundreds of miles away from home. Instead, he prayed, thanking God for allowing him and his friend to walk away from the crash. His display of faith through prayer, despite having almost lost his life, serves as a testament to how God continually remains faithful to us despite the hardships we face. As Jasyl left the crash site, he looked through the rear window. He knew that the only reason they miraculously survived with only minor scratches and bruises was through the grace of God. From then on, he would choose to lead a life in a slower lane and remain faithful and forever thankful to God.

ChristianDalidaisafreshmanat AndrewsUniversity.

Disbelief filled his mind as the blood rushed to his head .

BECOMING A GENTLE GIANT

STORY BY DAVID TILLMAN

What the hell did you just say to me?” Just as quickly as I said that, I slammed my classmate on the ground. I have had many problems when it came to controlling my anger; I would pick fights, get into arguments and even be difficult with teachers. I lacked gentleness. It affected me and the people around me. It caused my friends to be wary of me; I was a short fuse waiting to be lit. This behavior got me into a lot of trouble. I would get detentions, I would be grounded and I even had bruises from fights that I was in. Though this was a big problem, there was a simple solution that would completely change my thoughts and actions.

Getting into fights led to many potential disasters. Once, I was playing a game called spikeball with my close friends and one of them decided to prank me by telling me he threw my jacket into a river, though he just hid it. However, I took his joke seriously and became furious. Before he could even get the chance to explain himself, I took his spikeball net and smashed it. I knew that I had blown things way out of proportion, and I immediately cooled down. He then explained that he only hid my jacket, so I apologized. But the damage was already done. The entire outing was ruined—and it was all because I didn’t know how to control my anger. For a short period of time, I did not hang out with them—and they did not want me around.

A lot of these situations happened either when somebody was mistreating me or whenever I saw a friend being mistreated. I did not realize that getting into altercations with people who I deemed to be in the wrong was not the right way to go about things until a friend called me out. She said this behavior was going to get me into a lot of trouble and that I needed to change it soon. This was someone that I had a crush on, so being reprimanded like that cut as deep as a knife. But on the bright side, I was very willing to make a change.

There was no better place to start than the Bible. I fell in love with the book of Proverbs, and I feel like it helped shape me into the person that I am today. One verse in particular really stood out to me—Proverbs 15:1: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” I could not believe it was this simple! I took this verse, and I ran with it. There was one person in my class that I would butt heads with, and we had been in multiple fights. He said something very rude to me, with

PHOTO BY ALINA WEBER

DESIGN BY KARLA TORRES

"Gentleness changed my life. I was once a short fuse causing trouble, but now I diffuse conflicts and find peace within myself."

language that I cannot repeat here. However, instead of getting angry and making this situation worse, I took a deep breath and composed myself, and I said something kind and gentle to him. The situation diffused immediately. Ever since then, we have never gotten into a single fight. When I learned to internalize the meaning of these verses, I never got into another serious fight—and I began being known for my gentleness.

Unfortunately, just because I changed my character doesn’t mean that the way I was perceived completely changed as well. I am a 6-foot-1 African American man, and I have been told that I look a little intimidating. This has caused me problems with people that I don’t even know. There have been many times where I have been walking down the street, and the person that is passing me begins to clutch their purse. There have been times where people have walked to the opposite side of the street in order to avoid being on the same side as me. This treatment hurts a lot, especially because of the struggle that I had to get to the point where the people in my life know me as a gentle person. Although sometimes there is not much I can do about this, I still try my best to have a gentle spirit. Whenever I am walking past someone on the street, I smile and wave, or I might say good morning and ask how they are doing. I noticed that when I started doing this, the environment became less tense.

My journey to becoming gentle was not incredibly easy; it took work. Even though it took some time, I believe that it was worth it in the end. I was able to get rid of any stigma against me, and although I cannot just change stereotypes or people’s negative feelings towards me based on my race, I can do my best to have a gentle, Christ-like spirit—and that goes a long way. Gentleness has saved me from many situations that could have turned sour, and you would be amazed to see what it can do for you too.

David Tillman is a freshman at Andrews University.

In addition to Proverbs 15:1, here are some other verses about gentleness that I love.

Ephesians 4:2: Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Titus 3: 1-2: Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

Proverbs 25:15: Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

1 Peter 3:4: Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

enough,“Ican’tget It’stheonlythingIlook forwardto inthemorning.”

STORY BY FIORELLA OUDRI

PHOTOS BY DJ HILL AND JOHANN CHENG

DESIGN BY SKYLER CAMPBELL

battle burrito thewith the

“I might spend all my money on it. It’s the best thing on earth.”

One could glance at these statements and assume they speak of some serious addiction. But these accounts—from our very own Andrews University students—refer not to drugs, but to the famous Gazebo “Breakfast Burrito.” While I can’t pretend I don’t share similar feelings of love and appreciation for this esteemed delicacy, I have begun to notice a struggle with saying no to it. It is absolutely delicious, and while it is, in theory, a harmless burrito, too much consumption could potentially be quite detrimental to my health (and my wallet). If I decided to eat a breakfast burrito any moment I craved one, I might become sick to my stomach, get on track to gain weight, severely decrease my meal plan balance, and be lacking a very important character attribute: self-control. Yes, self-control is useful in helping us eat foods besides breakfast burritos. But beyond that, self-control is extremely important in the area of college wellness, both physical and psychological.

When I was a junior in high school, I found myself using food as my comfort through the stress I was experiencing. I forgot about caring for my body, which caused me to reach my heaviest weight. I didn’t really notice, mainly because I didn’t feel anything pushing me to reverse my actions. I lacked self-control and not just in my eating. I hardly exercised, I spent countless hours sitting around reading or consuming too much entertainment media. My habits were everywhere, and so was my health. It wasn’t until my father and I decided to start the new year under a stricter and healthier lifestyle that my life

began to shift. The journey was extremely hard. As I began a rigorous schedule of dieting and exercising, I opened my eyes to just how much I truly had to correct in my life. I had to break old habits to form new ones, say no to the things I desperately wanted to say yes to, and fill my time and my body with cleaner and healthier options. But knowing I wasn’t going through it alone pushed me to stay on track. Having the support and accountability of my father contributed significantly to my success. It helped me reach higher goals than I could have set and achieved alone. By the end of six months, I had lost around 30 pounds, and felt so much stronger in my body and mind. I realized that my body was my friend, and I needed to take care of it. I came to know just how important it is to have accountability and surrounding support, to help boost me up and never let me grow alone. I learned that I had to take charge of my life, and no one could do that for me. For the first time in a while, I felt confident, and I learned self-control, which has been one of my most helpful attributes through beginning college.

Struggles change as high school transitions to college, but many guilty pleasures stay the same. According to various studies conducted in the United States, the most common indulgences among high school and college students include coffee, social media, and fast food—which don’t seem too bad initially. One small latte, scrolling through five minutes of TikToks, or eating a small fry, doesn’t seem harmful at all. Until the latte becomes a caffeine addiction. Endless scrolling through the abyss of social media consumes your waking and sleeping hours. The fries become a regular order (plus the burger and the shake), and the weight increases while the money decreases. Of course, one can enjoy a drink from Starbucks, some funny videos online or a treat from McDonald’s every now and then, but my point is that they should be enjoyed in moderation— with self-control.

In order to maintain an overall balanced lifestyle, I believe students should focus on controlling their habits by striving to fuel their bodies and their minds in the healthiest ways possible. Developing self-control in these areas is crucial for improving sleep, nutrition, physical fitness, mental health and discipline for ultimate success in life. Second Timothy 1:7 tells us “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power and love and self-control” God gives us self-control as one of the fruit of the Spirit, and He instills in us the power to act with this discipline so we can thrive as individuals, as followers of Christ—and as busy college students. So every once in a while, go enjoy that breakfast burrito. You deserve it. But try to grab some fruit with it, and don’t order two extra when you’re finished. .

Fiorella Oudri is a freshman studying speech pathology at Andrews University. She spends her free time making music or enjoying the outdoors whenever she can.