The Semester Draws to a Close

“When I left Queen's my future seemed to stretch out before me like a straight road. I thought I could see along it for many a milestone. Now there is a bend in it. I don't know what lies around the bend, but I am going to believe that the best does. It has a fascination of its own, that bend, Marilla. I wonder how the road beyond it goes - what there is of green glory and soft, checkered light and shadows - what new landscapes - what new beauties - what curves and hills and valleys farther on.” 

- Anne of Green Gables

Disclaimers and Torrey Sessions

I know this is terribly late in being posted, but I have decided better late than never. I waited so long to post it because I was waiting on a few photos, but by the time I received them, I was in the midst of the summer and swept away with nannying and wedding planning and various adventures. So, here it is. The last month of sophomore spring in review…now, it feels so long ago. So much has happened since then and I feel like I have changed so much. As Anne says in the quote above, I feel like this was my last semester of journeying down the "straight road," for during this summer and fall I began to see the bend in the road, and like Anne, although I do not know what lies around the bend, "I am going to believe that the best does." For tonight, at least, instead of looking forward, I will take a moment to look back at the "roses of yesterday." 

The following photos are from a photo shoot of an Ignatius Torrey session that were taken as stock photos for Torrey advertising and promotion. Pretty funny that we were the Torrey cohort chosen for this…anyhow, in case you ever wondered what "discussing the great books" looks like…this is it!

Ignatius in typical Socratic fashion, seated in a circle with the professor for that session, Dr. Cure, at the long desk.

Clearly we are thoroughly engrossed in listening and discussion (we may have been a little too aware that our photo was being taken haha).

Hey look! I had a birthday!

Fancy crepes!

Artsy Parisian Cafe in Brea

Brunch with Sairi!

Night Nation 5K Dance Run

Some spontaneous fun involving a 5K, thousands of people, electronic dance music, silly string, water guns, and of course, dancing.

Josh, me, Brook, and Elijah

Urban Plunge!

Rachel and I, adventure buddies.
P.S. This was the only day of Spring semester that I wore jeans. 

One really cool Torrey tradition is the Spring Urban Plunge. I had the chance to travel into LA with two Torrey professors and twenty other Torrey students from all different years and cohorts. We visited a Catholic parish and got to hear from a Jesuit priest, toured Sunset Blvd, talked with strangers on Hollywood Blvd, and ended the evening with a tour of Korea town and Korean BBQ (which brought back a lot of memories!).

Dinner at the President's!

Every other year, Dr. Barry Corey, the president of Biola and native of New England, hosts a dinner for Biola students who are from New England. We talked about the things we miss, the things we love, and the places we are from. It was a lot of fun and great to talk to DBC a bit more. 

Dinner with other New Englanders at President Dr. Barry Corey's house!
I made it on to DBC's Instagram in this picture.

Tuned In!

May 7th was Biola Conservatory's production of Throwback Tuned In, a themed variety show featuring songs throughout the decades. I played Winnie, the young version of the grandmother of a Biola student, and I was in nine out of the eighteen numbers. Our many late nights of singing, choreographing, rehearsing, and dancing finally paid off in a fantastic show (I can't tell you how much I practiced those dances…jeepers). I was especially delighted to have all my closest friends as well as Julie Mitchell and Dr. Jenson come to support me.

Despite our height difference of 11 inches,
we played the same character…6o years apart

Young Winnie, Georg(i)e, and Winnifred.

"This is Gonna be the Best Day of my Life" (2015)

"Dear Future Husband" (1950s)

"Please Mr. Postman" (1960s)

"I Won't Dance" (1940s).
Funny story: At the beginning of this number, my character is reluctant to dance due to Biola's "no dancing" policy. When I said my line, "No one's going to ask me to dance anyways," I heard someone in the audience cry: "WHAT?" I later found out that this was Dr. Jenson, my Torrey mentor.

"Let's Hear it for the Boy" (1980s)

My dearest friends! And Julie (not pictured) even brought me flowers!!! Little did she know how much that meant to me.

The obligatory Oscar Selfie, featuring Dr. Jenson's eye and the best people at Biola.

Sairi's Bridal Shower!

I had the honor of celebrating at a bridal shower for my dear friend Sairi (who, as of August 22, is now married!). As her bridesmaid, it was a joy to be there with her. Sairi and I met my freshman year in chorale, and we were both overawed by the other during callbacks. As we got to know each other that year (her Junior year), we found that we had a lot in common and really enjoyed deep conversations, sushi, and sass. She came to Boston with our other friend Sarie during the January of my freshman year, and when the Biola Chorale toured in Korea, she and I roomed together. 

I still remember laying in a hotel bed in Korea talking about our futures and her saying, "You're going to be in my wedding." I replied, thinking she had mixed up her prepositions, "Of course I'll be at your wedding." "No," she said, "You're going to be one of my bridesmaids!" And I was! This past August, I was one of Sairi's four bridesmaids in Laguna Hills, where she married Inochi Kakitani.

Déjà vu? #Japan

Biola Concert at the Ace Hotel

This Spring, Biola launched its largest campaign to date, "A Soul of Conviction, A Voice of Courage," to create a new science building on campus and raise financial aid for incoming students. To celebrate the launch, Biola hosted a formal concert and gala for students, alumni, and donors at the beautiful theater at the Ace Hotel in downtown LA. 

The Brilliance -- one of my favorite music groups -- was joined by the Biola orchestra, and the results was breathtaking. The acoustics in the theatre were perfect, the orchestration magnificent, and the songs struck at the heart.

I went to the concert with Brook and Kathryn, my two dearest friends and roommates (at some point) who have been with my in this college thing from day one. I am so blessed by their friendship and the ways I am encouraged and challenged by both of them.

With Brook, my roommate for Junior Year!

With Kathryn, my roommate of Sophomore year.

Princess Charlotte

In case any of you were unaware, on May 2nd the world welcomed Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana. Many of my friends commented that "America already has a Princess Charlotte," and in both Iggie awards and Women's Chorus awards I won "Most likely to become royalty" / "The royal duchess award." But I think my lack of tennis playing skills disqualifies me from ever becoming royalty…

Phew, a lot happened in April and May of 2015! But even more happened this summer…Oh well, maybe someday I'll write a retrospective blog post on this summer, but for now, I think I'll skip to Junior Fall and catch you all up on what's happening currently,  since I saw most of you this summer anyways.