Heard Around Town

"You are killing my vibe"

Yep, someone really did say that intentionally.

To understand the context a little, let me tell you a short story. So one friday night some of my friends and i decided to spread cheer along greek row by passing out cookies, an idea borrowed from one of my roommates. Now for all you who dont know, living/being on greek row is not ideal. First of all I struggle to get any sleep because of all the noise of drunk people, obnoxious music, and sirens from ambulances and cruisers. I seriously considered getting in my car and going to some parking lot so i could sleep during syllabus week.. Then there is all the trashy aftermath in the morning. Anywho so we walked around passing the cookies out; some people were skeptical that we put something extra in them, whilst others were receptive and wondered why we were being nice. The key is to be really outgoing, telling (well, almost yelling) people that they want a cookie. That is when we heard a girl tell another girl that she was killing her vibe. After we ran out of food we just drove around college hill, with my passengers making sheep noises at the pedestrians. 

School so far is steady. I have a lot to do, but am staying organized in an attempt to keep myself on task. I also stopped working so i could focus on areas that would be most beneficial to me in the long run. What is odd though is when TA's or professors ask you how to do something, not because they want to test your knowledge, but they actually dont know. (that happened in my Stats lab this morning..)

At work though i did encounter interesting people. On my last day for instance, the store was slammed with customers (at 9 pm..) so i had to be a cashier even though i technically worked in apparel and home-lines. One customer literally danced the entire time i rang him up, and another replied 'Great, just thinking of you.' after i asked him how he was..creepy,, i just looked at him. 

Possibly the most important thing though that i have heard this week comes from Matthew 20. I have been hearing it and reading it from multiple sources, so i figure if it is a recurring theme, then i better pay attention. 

 " ..Instead whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave-just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

To be honest, i have no idea how many times i have read this verse. But it is not until this week that i have understood its importance. In our (well at least for me, dont want to generalize here) lives, many try to find ways on how they can serve God, through good works, worship, helping the church, and so on. Here though He is saying he didnt come to be served. huh? its true. Many times throughout scripture God asks others how they can be helped and what there needs are (although he already knows). If we want our lives to reflect christ, then we have to model his examples, serve others and obey God. Im sure it will take more time for me to fully develop my understanding, but this has been a quantum leap in my faith.

In my own experiences, when i have served others with joy and gladness, without an agenda or selfish motives, persons around me are truly appreciative and start to wonder what is causing me to act in a way that is set apart from societal norms. 

-Hannah Dykes

School School School! (yes that is a HIMYM reference)

Howdy, 
Halfway through week 1 of fall semester, looks like it will be a killer, full of math, chemistry, and molecular biology. (eww) My most exciting class though is Animal Science 174 which is a beef cow-calf management lab. I will get my own cow, halter train it and present it in a showmanship class. I plan on naming it moofasa. (yes that is a lion king reference) OH and i almost sat in a lecture that wasnt even mine (i actually didnt even have class then...slightly embarrassing).

What has really been on my mind though is a question i received by a visitor last sunday at church. I told her how i had gone to a private christian high school since pre-K and the transition to a large public university. She asked me how life was like as a Christian at a secular university. In the moment i did not really know what to say. Honestly i dont notice most people in my classes since i sit in the first row and cant see everyone. Then afterwards i retreat to the quiet of the library to study or just to relax. 

Upon futher thought though, i did realize that my faith does make a difference on my everyday life even in class. For example, last semester i took human development 205, which for me was too touchy-feely and at times felt like a slumber party where you tell all your secrets and what has happened in your life to shape your decisions. In that though I was able to share my faith.

I would say that my faith shapes how i view the world and treat others. That my faith guides my actions and is basically the foundation for everything.

What i was shocked to find out though is by me sharing this with my classmates, they felt more comfortable sharing their beliefs. Surprisingly (in a good way) a majority of my peers said they were christian and actually attended church, and this was coming from people who were in sororities and fraternities! (so much for stereotypes. did i mention i almost joined a sorority? story for later) -random thought..if a fraternity is a 'frat', then is a sorority a 'sore'?..

While the 'culture shock' of being surrounded by loud obnoxious parties/people and having to learn evolution based material has not hit me as hard as others, it still is at times difficult. I see it as a way for me to grow and learn.

 My advice is to become part of a community with like minded individuals.  In this way we can be spurred on in Christ with a support system. I loved/love it when i was/am homesick and of the adults invites me to lunch or their house. Pullman in this way has truly become a home for me. 


-Hannah Dykes

When in doubt, blog it out.

Funny story, I created this blog a while back but have never published anything (psych that wasn't funny, at all). The idea of writing somewhat personal thoughts and such on the internet to readers whom I may or may not know (assuming I have readers in the first place), seemed odd. Besides, I do enough writing for school, let alone for extracurricular activities. 

Anywho I decided to commit to posting on my blog once in a while. Reason being that 1) perhaps help/inspire/motivate/entertain someone and 2) give myself a platform on which I can relate to others and connect. Heck it might even improve my writing skills. Well, probably not since I predict that I will be using slang and other grammar no-no's.

What you may expect to read on my website is my adventures as a sophomore at Washington State University, an employee of a fortune 500 company, an intern at Pullman Foursquare Church, and someone who loves life and a good laugh now and then. 

-Hannah Dykes 

ps if you are wondering, a palindrome is a word that can be spelled both forwards and backwards identically, like my name. and if you already knew that, congrats, the educational system is working! to some extent at least..