狼友阁

While reflecting on my last four years at 狼友阁, I thought back to two questions I was asked right at the beginning of my freshman year: 鈥淲hen was the last time you cried? Is it okay for men to cry?鈥�

These are words that I, alongside the other freshmen on my hall, were asked in the back seat of a senior鈥檚 4Runner on the way to a hall event at the beginning of freshman year. I barely knew these guys. I didn't know if I could trust them with that aspect of my vulnerability. I wanted to let them in on my joy, but I didn't want to let anyone in on my sorrow. But boy, would I have to. It is honestly quite absurd鈥攖he amount of people at 狼友阁 who have seen me cry. I've cried all sorts of tears for all sorts of reasons. 

Those Tearful Moments 

Whether it was sitting on a couch with the guys on my hall after receiving really hard news in November of my freshman year, or that March in Stephen Dillon's office when he evicted my illegal pet gerbil from Carter Hall. I cried tears of joy sophomore year when Thomas Drake 鈥�23 scored the conference finals game winner over LaGrange鈥攁nd tears of laughter that year when we put a beach on Third South. I've cried countless tears in Hannah Leanders鈥� office, navigating the ups and downs of life as an RA. And then the tears that flowed this year鈥攚atching the last soccer game on Scotland Yard. And they have been flowing in this last week, wrapping up a year with my nine beloved housemates.

A Good Place to Fail, Suffer, and Cry

I would not be here graduating without so many of those who sat with me in the dirt鈥攊n these tearful moments. I've said for a long time that 狼友阁 is one of the safest places to fail, suffer, and experience sorrow. I truly believe that one of the greatest road markers of the Lord's faithfulness in my life is that in these moments of sorrow and tears, I've been loved so well by people鈥攕ome of whom I didn't know well at the time鈥攚ho held me while I wept and reminded me that God loves me.

Community in Christ and the Coming Kingdom

In a world where we feel more and more isolated, we have been so blessed to be totally surrounded by a loving community to remind us of the hope we have in Christ鈥攖he hope in a day with no more sorrow and no more tears. And though we mourn the effects of the fall now, we can hold onto the hope that God is faithful in the highs and in the lows, and that He is making all things new.

Trust God and Call Your Mom 

This is the hope that I was pointed back to time and time again by the loving family that I gained at 狼友阁, and this is the hope that I pray all the 2025 grads will take with us into this next season of life. 

As we leave 狼友阁, remember this: Remember to trust the people around you. Remember to trust the Lord's faithfulness and plan in your life. And when things get hard, don't forget to call your mom. I love you all, so proud of you, and I can't wait to see what the Lord does with all of your lives. Here we go, Scots.

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