“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was an age of wisdom, it was an age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us. . .” –A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
New students arrived early Saturday morning September 2, 2000 to begin their epoch–their–life as Christian scholars. Both students and parents were filled with mixed emotion: the excitement of independence along with the sadness of leaving their family and friends. Students stood in lines for ID cards and room assignments, while parents, arms full of boxes, waited with proud faces as their sons and daughters embarked on a new journey.
Student the First
Christina Guevarra of Monterey Park, California anxiously stood in line to receive her Alpha Group assignment, with her parents, Eddie and Virginia, by her side. But the commotion of hundreds of students and the many tasks ahead did not smolder the anticipation of what her new home held for her.
The Preparation
Months before this significant day, Christina rediscovered APU while browsing at her high school’s college fair. The name sounded familiar because her friend, Glory Sung ’03, was currently attending Azusa Pacific. She decided to check APU out for herself. During her campus visit, she made her final decision to join the Cougar family.
“It was a very positive environment,” Christina recalled. “Everyone was nice, the campus was great, and I like all the new additions and improvements.” Both Eddie and Virginia were very satisfied with Christina’s choice, “We looked at APU and thought it was a very good school,” said Virginia.
The New Home
With the registration process complete and a car full of must-haves, Christina was ready for her new home: Adam’s Hall, third floor. The Guevarras eagerly parked their car in front of Adams, and proceeded to haul boxes up the three flights of stairs. With an earnest smile, Christina opened her door to a new friend–her roommate, Amber Fowler, a graphic design major. After introductions of parents and roommates subsided, the room filled with the day’s business: getting settled.
“How does this look here?”
“Eddie, please put this box in the closet.”
“Dad, can you please move my bed a little more?”
“Is it all right if we put the refrigerator here?”
“Mom, will you make up my bed?”
“There’s more room than I expected–look at all this closet space.”
The Goodbye
Eddie and Virginia were pleased that their daughter was adjusting well to her surroundings. Their adjustment would begin when they arrived at home to their empty nest.
“Her older brothers and sisters are already in college,” said Eddie. “So we are getting used to them being gone.” However, the glances at his youngest daughter conveyed a different message-the adjustment would not be that easy.
Parents and daughter are glad that the Guevarras’ home is only a half-hour away. “We like that APU is close enough for her to come home,” said Virginia. Christina admitted that she, too, was comforted knowing that the distance between her old and new home was short.
At the end of the day, they left their daughter, assured by her independence and great potential to succeed and flourish at Azusa Pacific. “She is a very responsible kid-in the top 10 percent of her class,” Eddie bragged. “I will miss them, but I know that they’ll visit,” said Christina.
Student the Second
Meanwhile, other students were arriving by the minute. A mini van from Canyon City, California, stuffed with boxes, carried Josh Rice and his family to another canyon city—Azusa. His father, mother, and younger brother and sister all came to send him off. The beaming parents seemed as ecstatic about Josh’s new life as he did.
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