April Fool’s Day Joke? (no, no it wasn’t)

So, a lot of people have been wondering if me leaving DBU was one giant April Fool’s Day Joke. The short answer is no. It wasn’t a joke, I have left DBU for good.

For those who wonder why, here’s the brief answer. I have never gotten along well with DBU (as those close to me will readily testify). I went there with high hopes of a Christian College and those hopes were quickly dashed by immature dorm students, unprofessional administrations, and mandatory, pep-talk “chapels”.

My zeal for the school was further deteriorated with the realization that the head of my (Computer Science) department was an aged, old woman who’s degree was in biology. Additionally, what momentum I had to get through school was worn down by a degree plan which forbade summer or winter classes. Indeed, the course descriptions usually had the phrase “offered in spring semesters of odd numbered years”.

But there was a bright spot in all this. A young woman by the name of Amy showed up on the scene and I found a renewed desire to remain at this school that was perfect for the liberal arts, but not so much for the sciences.

Due to her refreshing presence I attempted to stick it out at DBU despite her pleas that I transfer to a college that was more reputable for a Comp Sci major. My parents, sister, and maybe even Jessica (who went to DBU with Amy, Emily, and myself) also all wondered why I didn’t just go somewhere else.

However, this semester brought to my attention that I might have been ignoring several warning signs God had placed in my path back when I was trying to get back into UTD. Back then every class I tried to take just went horribly wrong. It wasn’t until I pursued DBU that things started going right.

But, with each passing semester here, it has become harder and harder to get registered for my classes. This past semester was the worst of all and I actually had to sit down with the dean of my college TWICE in order to get permission to take one of my classes.

I tried to fit an 18 hour course load with a 15 hour a week job. While that normally shouldn’t have proved difficult, the reality of the hours the classes and work took resulted in me having almost no time to study or do homework. I stubbornly tried to shove through, and after finding that (surprise) things were going horribly here at midterms, I realized it was time to stop fighting for something God obviously didn’t want me pursuing and walk away with my nice GPA while it was till above a 3.0.

Future plans included getting a job, maybe taking some courses designed to get me some (additional) computer certifications first (or after I get a job, we’ll see how it goes), and researching some colleges/degree options that will fit my personality.

My brother Andrew was much the same way. We don’t do well in traditional college settings, but give us a self motivated class and we blaze through it in no time flat!

And for anyone who doesn’t yet believe me that this isn’t some elaborate joke:

Edit: As a quick side note I would like to point out that despite all the things I genuinely loathed about DBU, I had a great respect for the teachers and faculty. While it is true that an aged woman with a biology is in charge of the Computer (and other math and natural science departments), she has a DOCTORATE in biology and she is a very sweet and caring aged woman who did a lot of nice things for me (like employing me in the computer science lab). While I can't stand DBU for myself, it is a great school for others full of helpful and kind professors. When I left I talked to each of my teachers to let them know I was leaving and each took the time to pray with me (as did the affore mentioned aged woman)

April Fool’s Day Joke? (no, no it wasn’t)