Parting is such sweet sorrow...

...NOT.

Here are some of my thoughts on Harding University on my last day here.

First, I did come here expecting to like attending Harding, despite the fact that I am so not a church of Christ kinda girl. (No offense to those of you who may be - my entire family is church of Christ, as are most of my friends. I don't have a problem with them wanting to worship that way, so long as I don't have to.) I figured it would be much like my previous school but with different friends - chapel would be kind of annoying, and I would prefer to take a nice literature course instead of Bible, but all in all, it would be worth it. And it was, in many respects.

I met great people whom I love to death. I had several awesome professors who broadened my world view and expanded my knowledge on their class material and many other things. I met my fiance, David, the best person I've ever known. I got what I came for - an education - despite all the other things I'm glad to be getting away from. I'd like to admit that I knew what I was getting into, but I think that's untrue in many, many ways.

I didn't know I was getting into an environment that rewarded students for tattling on their friends and roommates. I didn't know that (some of) the faculty would be more concerned with enforcing spiritual regulations than psychological health. I didn't know there would be many times I would hear the message that it's okay to judge others and bring them down so low they feel worthless, so long as you quote a few Bible verses at them in the process. I didn't know it was more important to continue receiving donation money from alumni than pleasing the current students and tending to their needs and requests. I didn't know I was supposed to try to "fix" all my gay friends. I didn't know saying anything derogatory about the church of Christ or administration was on par with debating the divinity of Jesus, which only some awful, ignorant, stupid hell-bound scum of the earth atheist would or could ever do. ...Wait... (I love you, David.)

(Side note: That article lead to one of my favourite quotes of all time.
Jerk: But if there is no eternal [divine] foundation [for morality] why should I care about the rights and dignity of others?
Awesome person: So you wouldn't be an asshole.)

Most of the things I love about this school are connected with people who are good, moral, free-thinking people despite Harding University, not because of it. Most of these people are pretty vocal about disagreeing with some core beliefs of the University, and I think when you have people who are dedicated to looking for the positive aspects rather than the negative and they are still extremely unsatisfied, there's a major problem.

I don't regret coming here - I chose to, although I didn't have many other options, and portions of it have been very good for me - but I am certainly glad I'm getting out.