From the Hill
April 11, 2007
Matt Laine
My time as a student here at Trinity Western University is finally drawing to a close. As I approach this last season of papers and exams, I wonder how I could best use this space to say something important. But, I’m merely a 23-year-old year senior and, to be honest, I’d settle for something slightly interesting. In lieu of either, here are some thoughts, some ideas and a final farewell. And with any luck I’ll manage to keep the platitudes to a minimum.
Firstly: my final farewell to Fortress Trinity. It’s certainly been a good few years. Thanks for everything I’ve had the chance to experience during my time here. As far as Kingdoms go, TWU really hasn’t been half bad. It has taken on its mantle as caretaker of young, impressionable minds with fervent, yet humble vigour. The fact that the school spent nearly $20,000 because some of its students experienced the occasional cold shower last year is a testament to its desire to satisfy its customers.
Remember that while you’re here, you are a customer. And being a customer in a free market economy is a wonderful thing. It gives you certain powers and certain benefits. Neither you nor the administration should ever forget that each of us had many other options in where to spend our four years being educated. There is never anything wrong with ensuring that your money is spent wisely and in a manner best suited for you. TWU is genuinely interested in ensuring that your university experience is both meaningful and challenging. Never let your voice go unheard.
As in all institutions, there are people here who are here because they have to be, and there are people who are here because they want to be. Find the people who want to be here. There are some absolutely stellar people on this campus that will change your life in a profound way. Seek these people out and let them impact you. They might be community life staff, they might be Profs, or it might be that guy in the dorm a few rooms down you never thought you would have anything in common with. My greatest experiences here were meeting people whom I never had any interest in meeting. The people who changed my life were the people who scared me the most. Fear can be nature’s way of telling you you’re probably doing the right thing. Try and regret doing more things than regretting not doing things. If you can figure out how to do this, my email address is matthew.laine@gmail.com. Tell me how!
Play games. Play a lot of games. Stay up irresponsibly late from time to time doing something you know you shouldn’t be doing. Those are the nights you’ll never forget, and probably the times you’ll learn the most anyway. Take time to laugh. A lot. Believe me when I tell you it’s all going to be over far too quickly. When will you ever have another chance to be surrounded by so many fun, funny, and awkwardly brilliant people? Try and give more than you take, but take as much as you can.
Discover God. Reject God. And then rediscover him again. Raise your hands in worship if you want, or maybe even just sit down. Find God however you want and don’t worry so much about how someone else found Him. He seems to be tricky like that, never quite showing up the same way twice. Labels don’t seem to matter much to Him. I learned more about God this week from a sobbing atheist than many comfortable Christians could have ever taught me.
Relax. Enjoy. It’s never as bad as it seems. In the words of the great poet Isaac Brock: Float on, good news is always just around the bend.
Now you go...
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