The Waltonian

Junior Shelby Kemp studied abroad with ‘Semester at Sea,’ which lasted 107 days and went to 13 cities, 11 countries and 4 continents through Colorado State University. Reporter, Claire Leek, interviewed Kemp about her experience.

Leek: How long were you there?

Kemp: “Four months, from September 9th to December 23rd, 2018.”

Leek: Tell us one adventurous story you remember from studying abroad?

Kemp: “Every weekend I was docking in a new country with all of its unique characteristics and I was overjoyed to begin exploring. What I enjoyed most were the small things, such as attempting to cross a very busy street in Vietnam or staying in a person’s home in Cape Town, South Africa.”

Leek: Were there any fancy foods that you tried?

Kemp: “The foods that I enjoyed most were ones with ties to the Asian culture, such as dumplings and noodles. The food I struggled the most with but tried anyway, were the spicy foods from Ghana and India.”

Leek: What were the people you met like?

Kemp: “Everyone was so different and unique. What unified them all was their kindness and acceptance of me and my friends into their homes and culture. I will forever be grateful for their welcoming nature.”

Leek: Were there any different cultural experiences?

Kemp: “I was able to explore the Buddhist religion in Myanmar by exploring multiple pagodas. I did not expect to love the practices of another religion as much as I did. I believe we all need to go out and explore more so that we learn to respect religions different from our own.”

Leek: If you could give any piece of advice for other Eastern students who may be wanting to study abroad, what would it be?

Kemp: “Do It! Don’t wait. If the program seems like a good fit or you have a calling to go, do it. If I had waited or second guessed my decision, I would not be able to say that I have circumnavigated the globe and become a new person for the better!”

Growing up as a youth pastor’s daughter, I had the privilege of getting involved in a lot of different ministries. From the time when I was a child in diapers until now, I was always highly involved in Presbyterian church camps. From graduating high school to being a junior in college I have been a counselor at five different camps all all over the country. This experience has helped me meet hundreds of presbyterian church members and congregations. My camp journey started when I was a four year old stumbling up the steps of an old, wooden beat up lodge at Cedarkirk Presbyterian Church camp located in Lithia, Florida. Cedarkirk was the first church camp I attended as a young girl.

Cedarkirk was a great camp to learn about Christ through unorthodox ways. I attended youth retreats at Cedarkirk as a young girl, and I eventually went back to work there as a camp counselor when I was a sophomore in college. At Cedarkirk, I was able to do things to help benefit tiny communities in Florida. The camp itself has a Challenge to Change program where church groups are challenged to go out into the community and restore old houses, schools, and facilities that have been damaged by hurricanes or other causes. The place was repairing an old school house classroom that was connected to a food pantry. Although, the programs at Cedarkirk taught me many things, my journey with camps did not start or end with this camp.

Before going to Cedarkirk, I got my start as a camp counselor at Kirkwood Presbyterian Camp located in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Kirkwood is a camp that is near and dear to my heart. Kirkwood taught me about perseverance and resilience. The summer I attended Kirkwood as a counselor was a very important summer for the camp because the camp administration was determining whether or not to keep the camp open. Through a lot of hard work and not taking no for an answer, the camp was able to stay open. Kirkwood taught me that no matter what the circumstance is, the most important thing about Church Camp ministry is to make sure that the campers are able to hear that Jesus loves them. After Cedarkirk and Kirkwood I learned exactly what this meant at Heartland Presbyterian camps.

I had the opportunity of going to Heartland Presbyterian camps this summer to be a Lead Activities Coordinator. Heartland showed me what it means to be completedlydevoted to Christ because the people there showed me how to truly love my neighbor as myself. Although Eastern is sometimes seen as a well built community, the community at Heartland was the most supportive and inclusive community that I have ever become a part of. Without the experience I had at Heartland, Cedarkirk and Kirkwood I would of not become the person I am today.

The experiences I had at camp are something that everyone needs to experience at least once. Whether this be volunteering or working I recommend that you get involved in some type of camp ministry because it is a way to worship Jesus and have the experience of a lifetime. Camp has taught me what it means to be involved in ministry, what it means to be a part of a community that builds up the body of Christ in love.

It is 10 p.m. in the dorm room and I am sitting on the bed staring at my book bag. I completed a full days work in the Jammin’ Java but somehow my bookbag is haunting me, telling me there is more work to be done. I sit and stare in silence with the feeling of anxiousness in my chest because I had already lost six hours of sleep from doing homework the last two days. Suddenly I decide enough is enough. I look at my book bag, kick it to the curb, and give it the middle finger. I grab my keys, leave everything including my phone and take a walk. While walking I focus on what’s important in life, why I am here, and all the tiny little things I accomplish in a day.

I recently read a quote from a blog, The Boudoir Belle, which stated, “self-love is the greatest middle finger of all time.” I found this relatable because in college it is hard to find time to think for myself. As a college student, it is easy to become stuck in the pattern of thinking for my professors. However, in my story of self love, I have found the importance of finding time to reflect on my accomplishments and identity. There are alot of college nights where my bookbag and I tango about whether or not I will explore the deep ventures of my textbooks. Although most nights my bookbag wins, it is still important to know when I need to use my middle finger and kick the bookbag to the curb.

The night I took a walk I had to remember what I accomplished. A part of self love is being able to identify the tiny victories and remembering you are the most important. Self love is the greatest middle finger of all time because it tells the world that you are important and you have the ability accomplish goals, while remaining who you are.

The art of having self love comes in many shapes, forms, and sizes. Self love to me is having nights where I say no to work and yes to mindlessly thinking to myself. Finding the way you accomplish the need for self love is important to understanding oneself. Therefore, find the time to use your finger and kick your bookbag to the curb. Find the way self love works for you!

Source: The Boudoir Belle

On Wednesday, April 18, 2018 Eastern University hosted the “Faith on the Field Show”, where Eastern students and community experienced meeting Zach Ertz and Jordan Hicks to hear their testimonies about their faith on the field. Zach Ertz and Jordan Hicks are two recent Super Bowl winners who play for our very own Philadelphia Eagles. Jordan Hicks is a linebacker on Philadelphia. Hicks played seven games this year before he was sidelined because of injury. In other news, Zach Ertz is more commonly known for his winning 2018 Super Bowl catch,he also had eight touchdowns during the regular season. Although the two players have had numerous amounts of success this last year, they both commonly agreed at the event that their faith to Jesus Christ is more important than the win.

Zach Ertz explained how two years ago winning the Super Bowl would of been the best moment of his life but since receiving his faith he professes it was just another moment. They both explain their reasoning by stating that winning the Super Bowl does not fulfill, their belief in Christ does. Jordan Hicks testified that winning the Super Bowl mainly opened up doors to come to events like these and discuss our faith.

Host Rob Maaddi asks “what is it about the bond that Philadelphia Eagles had in 2017, that allowed you, not to win the Super Bowl but to overcome all the adversity, Jordan getting hurt, Carson’s Injury, how much of that was because you have that strong faith?” Hicks responded with explaining that the characteristic of love needs to be in the locker room. He goes on to say that the men in that locker room knew there was love behind the whole thing, whether they were believers or not, Christ was the solid foundation for their overcoming adversity. Later in the event Ertz goes on to explain that we know we always have to be there for each other.

Ertz explains that each man normally has several men on the team that they are close too but the men still go out of their way to challenge each other, to be there for new people. He states “that’s probably the biggest thing, we are able to be vulnerable, to be there.” The players statement is to be there the way Jesus would be there. They are exclaiming that it is important to be there as a disciple of Jesus in the church, with their teammates, and with life. Both players state that there was always someone there in their life to guide them to Christ. Jordan states “there was always someone present in my life…, I got to college and was living a sinful life…, I was looking for ways to satisfy…, and they never satisfied.” He explains that there were people in his life that took him on a journey to find his faith, there was always someone there to take him to church. Later in the conference Zach states, “Yeah I have earthly goals but my main goal is to go out and make disciples.” He explains how him being there with Carson helped him get past his injury and how the Philly players being there for him helped him develop his faith. Both the players inspiring stories explained how a community in Christ helps build lasting, faithful relationships. The players showing up to Eastern University, gave Eastern University a life proverb to live by, which is to be present as a community through faith and discipleship.