Student Life | John Brown University Student Life Blog

Anticipating Abila

Jun 12 2018

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This summer 40+ volunteers, staff members, JBU students and alumni will spend four weeks in Northern Jordan at the Abila Archaeological Project. The team will be excavating, conserving, restoring and publishing the archaeological site of Abila of the Decapolis. Several team members will be sharing their journey here on the blog. By Gabrielle Marcy ’17 (Graphic Design) In 2016, I studied abroad in Jordan. That summer changed me as I uncovered history, developed cross-cultural friendships, experienced deep hospitality and wrestled with complex questions. This summer, I’m thrilled to return for another dig season. In preparation for the trip, I reached out[…]

Mar 18 2018

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For those of us operating on a tighter budget, Spring Break can be a pretty big financial burden. Not only are you not at your campus job for an entire week, but you’re also spending lots of money! Here are some tips on ways to cut costs and not empty out your entire wallet. 1. Couchsurf or Camp Choose a destination where you know people you can stay with! It’s amazing how quickly even cheap places to stay can add up, and nothing beats free housing. Camping is also another great option to cut down on costs and still have[…]

Four Things to Remember in Your Last Semester

Mar 06 2018

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1.Time Literally Disappears It feels like just yesterday I was starting my “last first day of school” and now we’re over halfway through the semester. After spring break I have five weekends at school. FIVE. I have so many things I still want to do with my friends before we all split off and go our different ways. 2. Graduating is Expensive Did you know you have to apply to graduate? And you have to pay a $35 application fee? Try to find a cap and gown from a friend too because graduation regalia is $40. If you’re broke (like[…]

Nov 18 2017

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Coming back from a semester abroad is fraught with difficulties and joys. One of the hardest things is being asked: “What was your favorite part?” I spent three months in Belfast, Northern Ireland, living with 19 other JBU students. I traveled all over the country, spent a weekend in London, and then went to Edinburgh, Scotland on my own for five days at the end of the semester. How am I supposed to choose my favorite part? I loved all of it! My favorite part was, quite literally, absolutely everything. During the semester we were privileged to have JBU professor[…]

Oct 02 2017

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This weekend was one for the books. Let me preface by saying that my favorite band by far is a group called NEEDTOBREATHE. I have been following them and their music for a long time, and have always loved it. Some controversial businessmen-politicians might refer to my fandom as being “YUGE.” So one could infer that I was pretty ecstatic to see them live in concert for the first time last Friday night in Oklahoma City. The trip down was an adventure in itself. After rushed astronomy tests, missed gas stations, hazardous U-turns, and fine dining at Raising Cane’s Chicken[…]

Sep 26 2017

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As a missionary kid, I’m proud of my Guatemalan history. I love tamales, frijoles negros, freshly made corn tortillas (flour tortillas are a sad replacement), and the fireworks we light on Christmas Eve. I love going home and walking up the tile stairs to my room, walking through the patches of warm sunlight, being in the same house I spent the majority of my childhood in. The cracks in the wall are familiar to me, and being in that house is so comfortable. Even the smells are like old friends, unlike the foreign smells of the United States and JBU.[…]

Sep 20 2017

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Late last night, I sat down at my desk to finally complete an assignment for my Old Testament class that should have been done much earlier. The assignment was to read the Abraham story (Genesis 12-25) and the accompanying textbook pages, and then answer a few reflection questions over them. My plan was to get this done quickly and move on with my day. Fortunately, God had something else in mind. Although I have read this story many times in the past, I think I have often failed to fully grasp it. I have always viewed Abraham as a hero,[…]

Sep 13 2017

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My sophomore year, I realized I needed professional help; yet, I was terrified and ashamed to admit it. Only after my roommate informed me that he was attending counseling did I gird myself, take a deep breath and finally go. I’m just going to get it out in the open: it’s okay to admit you need counseling. There’s a strange stigma of shame and embarrassment that people associate with counseling. I, for one, definitely felt that way in the beginning of my counseling journey. My counseling experience has been nothing short of excellent. My counselor listened well and offered encouragement[…]

Sep 07 2017

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When you have three hostile ruggers converging on you, don’t just stand still with the ball. Run! Trust me on this one, okay? Rugby is not one of those games conducive to pensiveness and careful thought. It’s a game of explosive intensity, fearless aggression and full trust in teammates. You never stop moving, gaining ground or fighting back. College is the time to try things, to stretch your horizons and delve deep into relationships, ministries, classes, athletics and overseas study abroad adventures. At JBU, there are so many opportunities to try new things and to be involved. Some experiences will help[…]

Sep 05 2017

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At two a.m. on Thursday morning, it finally set in. I typed the last word on my English homework, snapped my MacBook shut, and felt relief rush over me with the thought, It’s over. This relief lasted a full two seconds, replaced quickly by the realization, I have to get up and do it all again in 5 hours. At this moment, college became real to me. And not a good real. The pomp and circumstance of Orientation were over, and the grind had begun. As I thought it through, my predicament only became worse. There would be no end[…]

Category - Student Life

Anticipating Abila

Five Tips for a Budget-Friendly Spring Break:

Four Things to Remember in Your Last Semester

Wait! It Actually Meant Something?

Concerts and Kingdoms

I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas

Faithfulness to All Generations

It’s Okay to Go to Counseling

Give Blood—Play Rugby!

Beauty in Monotony