Air Band

Every year WJU has the tradition of doing an activity called Air Band.  This event consists of students dressing up, going on stage, and dancing or rocking out to a favorite song.  This year, we had one of the biggest and loudest audiences Jessup has ever seen because it was scholar’s day and a lot of prospective students and their families were here on campus.

There were six acts with songs ranging from “it’s raining men” to “all the single ladies” to a lady gaga remix, to the Macarena, to Justin Bieber.  The performances were impressive and hilarious!  At certain points during the show, I saw some people in the audience crying because they were laughing so hard.

This is one of my favorite events at Jessup.  It is simply a fun night where you can let loose and enjoy a night of laughter, music, and dancing with friends.  If you have a chance to come to Air Band next year: Do It!  You will not be disappointed.

Snow Trip

About a month ago, some of my buddies from Jessup and I volunteered at a youth snow camp in Arnold, California.  It was an amazing time of worship, sermons, and prayer.

My friends and I had the privilege of leading worship for the young men and women every day of the camp.  In addition, we were given the chance to speak a few messages and share our testimonies with the youth group.

This trip marked the first time I had participated in a worship set (I got to play a cajon) and one of the first times I had shared a message and my testimony in front of a group of people.  I am very appreciative that I had these opportunities to stretch myself.

My friends and I got to hang out with the youth pastor, too.  He was an amazing man with a passion for youth.  He poured into us in ways that I had never experienced before.  He simply hung out and talked with us.  That meant a lot to me.  Also, he taught us some valuable lessons that I will not soon forget.

Hopefully, my friends and I made an impact on the kid’s lives because they certainly made an impact on ours.  I still think about this trip and how much I enjoyed it.  I grew spiritually, learned some life lessons, and met some awesome people.  I am glad my friends and I had the chance to go and spend some time in the snow with this youth group.

One thing we got to do with the boys of the youth group was something called Man Olympics.  It is an annual event that the boys do to show how manly they are by venturing into the snow while wearing nothing but their boxers.  One night, my friends and I went into the boys cabin and yelled, “Man Olympics!!!”  The boys understood the call and we all proceeded to run outside into the snow.  We rummaged around for a while until we could not feel our bodies and then, screaming like little girls, we went back inside.  This ‘feat of strength’ with the boys was a blast!

Election Season

Right before we left for spring break, it was election season here at Jessup.  Posters of the different individuals running for student government covered the campus, students made t-shirts for their favorite candidates, and fliers about the people trying to be elected were distributed to the voters.  One night, before the elections, all the candidates were given the opportunity to share their vision to the student body.  There was a good turnout to this event and it was nice to see how much effort the candidates put into their speeches.  Finally, after much anticipation, voting day rolled around and the students chose next year’s student government.  It was wonderful to see the student body’s enthusiasm for this election.

If you come to Jessup next year the WJU student government will have the pleasure of serving you!

I, appreciate

Recently, my brother (a senior in high school) and I went on a weekend trip to visit my cousin at his college.  It was a wonderful vacation and my brother and I really enjoyed the time we got to spend with our cousin.  Despite the great time we had, when I returned to Jessup I realized how fortunate I am to attend WJU.

I want to briefly discuss some of the things I was thankful for when I came back to Jessup after my short escapade.  As opposed to criticizing the other school (which I do not want to do because it is a prestigious university) I will highlight a few positive aspects about Jessup.

1. Our dorms are amazing!  They are only 6 years old, there is no mold, they are well lit, and each room has its own temperature control.  There are only 2 people to every room and there is more than enough space for everything in the room.  For example, my roommate and I can fit our beds, desks, dressers, armoires, a good-sized chair, and a couch in our room!  In addition, each wing in the dorms (we have 4 wings per dorm) has clean bathrooms and showers.  Plus, every student has an individual cupboard and access to a wing fridge and microwave.

2. The people at Jessup are genuinely nice and the majority of them strive to be more Christ-like.  Walking around Jessup you usually recognize a couple people you know or, if not, you are at least greeted with a smile and a nod.

3. The neighborhood around Jessup has plenty of stores, a few movie theaters, a gigantic mall, more than enough restaurants, and lots of quality churches.  This is a bonus because you are close to everything, which does not take time away from studying or whatever else you have in your day.  If you want to drive to a bigger city, Sacramento is only 20 minutes away and San Francisco and Lake Tahoe are close enough for day trips.  In addition, Rocklin is a very safe area.

For these reasons and many others, I am very happy to be attending Jessup.  Going to another college made me appreciate what I have at this school.  I know I’ve said this before but it is true: I feel blessed to call William Jessup University my college!

Alumni Dinner

Recently I got the opportunity to speak at our alumni dinner during our homecoming weekend.  I spoke about my Jessup experience and tried to tell the alumni what current Jessup students enjoy doing.  I thought I would share this speech with you.  It was a little long so I’ll shorten it for you:

Time has been flying by for me.  This is already my forth semester at WJU and I love being here.  Living in the dorms and being a part of this community is amazing.  Some of the fun things my friends and I do include going on late night burrito runs, going to frozen yogurt, going to the gigantic mall just down the freeway, and we are even close enough to take day trips to Lake Tahoe and San Francisco.  We also like to play intramurals like dodgeball, volleyball, ultimate Frisbee, soccer, and basketball.  Student activities like roller-skate night, air band, man auction, and open mic night are fun, too.

Spiritually I have grown since being at college.  Some of the things I participate in include a Bible study in my dorm.  I have a spiritual formation group this semester that is already excellent.  Chapels are one of the highlights of my week.  The speakers are usually great and the worship teams this year have been phenomenal. In addition, there is an all worship night once every month called inside out which is amazing.

In regards to spiritual development, I believe the environment at Jessup really urges students to grow in their relationship with the Lord.  This campus is sincere in becoming more Christ-like and it is contagious.  I am especially appreciative of this after I talk with my Christian friends at other schools.

One of my favorite parts about this school are the life long friendships I have developed.  My friends are not only a lot of fun to hang out with; they are also strong Christians that encourage me in my walk with the Lord.  My mom and dad even like my friends enough that they come up here and take us all out to eat.  And I know some people tell horror stories about their roommates in college.  I’m not one of those people, thankfully.  I consider my roommates to be some of my best friends.

I have not only developed relationships with the students, though.  I have also had the opportunity to get to know some of the faculty and staff.  Students here get to know their teachers, the staff, the vice presidents, and even the president on a first name basis.  That is incredible to me.  Not only that, they genuinely care about you and the well being of the school.  And this is an invitation to all of the faculty and staff listening right now.  If you would like to get to know my friends and me better we would love to come to your house for a home cooked meal.  It’s worth a try, right?

One of the unique aspects about Jessup is that I am here during its growing stages.  Jessup is expanding into something big!  It was exciting to watch the new apartments being built from day one.  And I look forward to watching similar improvements like a new cafeteria, new dorms, and new sports facilities.  I pray that the Lord continues to bless Jessup so all of these changes can become a reality.

When I was searching for colleges as a senior in high school Jessup became my #1 choice after I visited the campus.  Not only are the facilities great and the location is wonderful but I loved the community I witnessed while I was visiting.  And the level of authenticity the school had in regards to placing God first impressed me.  I was so excited by the possibility of being able to attend William Jessup University.  It really felt like God was calling me to go here.  During my senior year of high school, though, something came up that almost prevented me from going to college.

-At this point I explained some health struggles I went through-

Throughout my health problems I was in the process of applying to Jessup.  On one occasion my admission counselor called me in the thick of things.  I talked to him and explained what was going on.  He told me he would bring my name up for prayer during their next staff meeting.  That meant a lot to me!  It really showed me how involved the administration is with the students.  When some high schoolers can’t even get their admission counselors to call them back mine was praying for me.

From where I was two years ago to now be able to stand in front of my WJU family brings me great joy.  I feel so blessed to be apart of the Jessup community.  I am blown away by what God has done at this school and how He is using our alumni to make a difference in the world.  He has brought this institution out of bankruptcy, He has given us a beautiful campus, and during an economic recession He has brought us more students than we have ever had.  Jessup’s vision of becoming the premier Christian University in Northern California is becoming a reality.  I am so pleased that all of us can come together as a family to celebrate 70 years of God’s blessings to this college.  I hope to be sitting right where you are sitting one day as an alumni of William Jessup University.  Thank you again for coming out and have a wonderful evening.

We’re Back!

First off, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year’s Eve!

Attention: The semester has officially begun!  With it is the largest incoming class Jessup has ever received in the Spring.  This is right after ushering in our largest incoming class in the Fall.  Jessup has shattered admission records this school year, which is exciting because we are seeing the vision of our college lived out: to become the premier Christian University in Northern California.

I cannot tell you the joy I felt when everyone moved back on campus!  It was like seeing your family again.  I missed everyone over break but I did not realize how much I missed them until all my friends were back at school.  Honestly, I was surprised at how happy I felt.  The first day back brought with it plenty of shouts of jubilation and hugs, upon seeing friends.  I believe this is a testament to the strong community atmosphere and family-like bond the students at Jessup have created with each other.

Support and Prayer

I want to tell you about the incredible support system at Jessup.   I have some health problems, which require me to get check-ups every few months.  During my time at WJU, I have experienced nothing but encouraging words and prayers from the students, faculty, and administration.  It is an awesome feeling to have the family of God supporting you.  Individuals come up to me after my check-ups to see how it went and how I am doing.  This blows me away!  It is nice to know I have friends at Jessup who care about me.

My experience is not unique.  Many others at Jessup have experienced hardships and struggles of many kinds and the community here has rallied around them.  Prayers are offered, support is given, and people simply check in with you to see how everything is going.

My goal in writing this is to show prospective students that the faith at Jessup is authentic.  I know when you are looking at Christian schools it is hard to determine if that particular school is truly Christian.  My spiritual experience at Jessup has been positive and I am glad to see my peers’ commitment to the Lord is sincere.  Hopefully this helps some of you in your college decision.  I would encourage you to come and visit Jessup to get a feel for what the Jessup community is all about.

Intramural Volleyball, Open Mic Night, and Pick-up Basketball

Recent adventures:

Intramural volleyball is underway here at Jessup!  Every Tuesday night a bunch of WJU students go out and give it all they got on the hardwood.  There are about 7 or 8 teams with at least 5 players on each team.  There are 3 courts and everyone plays at the same time.  As you could guess, it gets pretty loud and intense (in a fun way, of course)!  My team won its first match last week!  We were pumped

WJU had its first preview day of the year last week.  It was the largest preview day in our school’s history!  Some of the prospective students spend the night in the dorms and were able to attend a Jessup favorite: Open Mic Night.  This night consisted of amazing musicians, great storytellers, cool poems, and a pair of crazy good rappers (all Jessup students!).  In a year and a half of being at Jessup, I thought this was the best open mic night we have ever had!  I am glad the prospective students were able to join us for a great night of entertainment.

With basketball season underway, some of us non-athletes have been itching to play, too.  Recently, some of the guys and I have been playing pick-up basketball.  It is always a lot of fun and, if I might say, pretty competitive (for non-basketball players I mean).  Pick-up basketball is an awesome way to build community and blow off some steam at the same time.

Trips to San Francisco and Sacramento

Recent adventures:

Some Jessup friends and I drove down to San Francisco for a free concert at Golden Gate Park. As is turns out, getting to the concert was half the fun. Once we FINALLY found a place to park, we walked over to Golden Gate Park only to find we were on the wrong side of the park (aaarrrggg!). As we were walking to the CORRECT side of the park, we stumbled upon a different concert near the de Young museum. It was the Golden Gate Orchestra and they were playing some fun upbeat Irish melodies. Eventually, though, we arrive at our destination and listened to Colbie Caillat, Dashboard Confessions, and Train. Fun times in San Francisco!

Our most recent trip came about upon the realization that my friends and I had not spent a day in the closest city to us: Sacramento. Sure we had visited the capitol building but we had never just spent a day in “the city of trees.” So, we went to Sacramento and walked around the Westfield mall and then made our way over to Old Town Sacramento.

At the mall, there was a music competition. Local bands were rocking their hearts out and melting some faces (at the same time, mind you) as people meandered from store to store. We ended up eating at Johnny Rockets and listening to the bands from our table.

Old Town was my favorite part of the day. From candy shops, to hat stores, to antique stores, to art galleries, to a giant costume store, Old Town is a great place to walk around and have fun with friends.

After buying some saltwater taffy and then trying on A LOT of hats we stumbled upon an old, jam packed little antique shop. This store was filled to the brim! If someone was at all claustrophobic, this was not the place for them. We then headed over to the costume store to goof around and try on a bunch of different costumes. This place had every kind of costume imaginable! It was pretty incredible.

Until next time…

Starting the year off right!

I am happy to announce that this is my first blog EVER! I am excited for the opportunity to share my Jessup experience with you and I hope you enjoy my posts.

So far, this year has been awesome! I was writing a list of all the activities I’ve done this semester and (I am not going to lie) it was pretty impressive. I’d like to share a couple events with you for this entry:

I would be ashamed if I did not mention this long and honorable tradition before all else. Burrito Thursday. The guys of Jessup have a ritual that occurs late every Thursday night. We make the journey to a restaurant named Adalberto’s also known as “a little slice of heaven” and we eat delicious burritos. The magical bond that happens when men gather around a greasy table and stuff their faces full of Mexican food cannot be explained. All I am sure of is that the previous generations of men established this tradition for a reason and as the current men of Jessup it is our high calling to uphold and carry out this ceremony with the greatest respect and dedication.

Another grand event that takes place just before we leave for Burrito Thursday involves a beautiful show called The Office. One and all pile onto couches and watch one of the most popular TV shows at WJU. As people laugh and cry together you can feel the community growing.

Until next time…