The making of a Tiger 4 Life: Reflections of a December grad
January 01, 2020
My time at Ouachita has been eye-opening and inspiring. I came into Arkadelphia with
big eyes and a few too many things in the three cars that made up my freshman dorm
room. From the beginning, Ouachita has been a place that allows me to fully live out
my life – whether that was filling my cars to live in “my cube” for a school year
or allowing myself to pour out my heart into different activities and organizations
I have been involved in.
Freshman year was the year of firsts: First time to be away from home, first time
to Waffle House, first all-nighter (my last one, too; sorry for falling asleep in
class the next day, Dr. Henley), first time to guard the tiger with my fellow freshman
class members – I was definitely the girl who was asleep in the tent with the space
heater at 3 a.m. – and first time I realized Ouachita was my place to call home for
the next four years.
Sophomore year, the excitement of newness was still in my body, but I also realized
that I was not the youngest person at Ouachita! Sophomore year I really allowed myself
to plug in to so many different organizations: my social club, women’s discipleship,
Ouachita Student Foundation, I was a WOW and Freshman Family Group mom, added a new
minor and somehow passed all of my classes amid all of the busyness. The Lord pushed
me in so many ways, but always provided the right people exactly when times were hard.
My favorite memories of sophomore year have to be from going to cheer on the Tigers
in El Dorado at the Murphy Classic football game. It was an eye-opening experience,
mainly because even though we were away from Arkadelphia, so many current, former
and prospective Ouachitonians were together as one family for one reason– to support
our school and our team. It was an amazing example of being a "Tiger 4 Life."
Junior year was a hard year academically; I was officially a double major, involved
in so many great campus organizations and even had some leadership positions in a
few of them. Even though I was busy and taking on new responsibilities, I thought
tutoring with Peake Partnership through the Elrod Center for Family and Community
would help me engage in the community that has given so much to us college kids. Through
tutoring I learned the value of service. Ouachita has taught me that service – even
a small act of service – is valuable and blesses someone when you least expect it.
You never know, when you look back you will probably even realize how you, yourself,
are blessed by it too!
Finally, here I am … a senior. Graduating in December with two majors, a full resume,
memories and knowledge that will last me a lifetime. Although all of these things
are great, the one thing that I will miss about Ouachita is the community. You hear
it so often, but it truly is what this campus embodies: A community of believers willing
and able to push you further in your relationship with Christ. A community of Arkadelphia
who will lift your spirits when you walk into church or the local school by sharing
a smile even during a tough time. A community of people who, although they were complete
strangers at one point, are now your lifelong friends. Even though I am sad to move
on, I know that being a #Tiger4Life is forever.
By Maddie Brodell, a senior mass communications and graphic design double major from Little Rock, Ark.
< Previous –From student to marketing director: Communications connections impact career <
> Next - What do you want for Christmas? A survey of the top gifts at Ouachita >
Do you have a story you’d like to tell on the Ouachita Voices blog? Or a friend who
needs to tell a story on the blog? Contact [email protected] with your idea.
You Also Might Like
Recent
