In a mere 18 days I will be back at PRBI for another 8 months of my life. This is something that I have been looking forward to ever since finishing my second year in the spring. However, this is going to be another change as I am going back to several situations that I have never encountered before. In all of these situations there is some trepidation, but there is also optimism.
First, I will be returning to a completely re-vamped fire department. Our chief, deputy chief, one captain and both of our training officers have left over the summer for greener pastures as full-time professional firefighters. This is awesome because last year I was really blessed having so much experience and knowledge in the upper ranks. They helped our department be the most professional in our county as well as guide me on my road firefighting, including supporting me after a traumatic suicide call. So I will be returning as a senior member of the department after only one year. I won't be an officer, but there aren't a lot of guys now between me and that type of position. So I will undoubtedly be looked at to provide more leadership and initiative this year which is very exciting as well as being a little scary. I liked having those men around.
Second, I will be returning to PRBI as a care-leader, a member of student leadership. I believe that I will be able to do well in this position, but I don't really know until I get there. I am nervous that I will have the care group of my worst nightmares, full of fractious members who will run roughshod all over me. This is an unfounded and completely ridiculous fear, but I know that I am not qualified for this position. Fortunately, God will give me the competency I need for this situation. I am excited for this chance to be in a bit of a pastoral role and to be leading the 5-8 guys who will be in my group. It's a lot of responsibility, but I feel as though I am up to it and I can't wait to see what happens here.
Third, just returning to school as a third year makes me one of the old guys. This isn't something that I am especially concerned about, it's mostly just an observation. I am going to have a much lower academic load than I've ever carried before and I really want to put my new-found time into quality use, such as building relationships with the guys in my group. I don't really know yet what my schedule is going to look like when I get there, but that is a bridge that I am willing to cross when I get there.
Finally (and heaviest on my mind), I will be returning to a friendship with a girl at school who I like quite a bit. Over this summer, especially since the beginning of July, I have been able to maintain decent enough contact with her. This has been through text and email mainly, but I was also able to visit her in person for a couple hours mid-July despite the fact that she lives in Regina, some 10 hours away, when Dad and I went to get the tandem. Through these conversations our friendship has been maintained despite the length of summer break and the distance between our homes. I don't have even the foggiest idea of how this is going to turn out. I know that I am much more confident in our friendship than I ever dreamed that I would be when I thought to the end of the summer in April. So this is where I both have the most trepidation and the most hope. It's definitely what I am the most emotionally invested in right now. Time will tell and I'll keep you all updated :)
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