Another school year is coming to an end, and it sure was quite a year. Through the different memories, experiences, and challenges, we have become different people than what we were at the beginning of the year. To wrap up the Student Movement’s last issue, we have asked ourselves “What is something that we have learned this year?”
Kaara Harris (Faculty Sponsor): I’ve had to show up and “do it scared” quite a bit this year, inspired by a coach who once told me “movement brings clarity.” It was her way to help me work through overthinking. For me, “do it scared” means moving forward when I don’t have each step plotted (which I seriously dislike). It’s meant stepping out of my comfort zone to make connections or ask for help; speaking up in awkward situations; making decisions without convening a personal board meeting; and switching things up in the classroom. The results haven’t always been glorious but I’m grateful for the momentum toward embracing curiosity, confidence and clarity with each step.
Laura Pérez (Copy Editor): “Just do it,” Nike’s 1988 slogan was my mantra for the year. Sometimes I was scared of not having the skills and knowledge to do something; sometimes I was just being lazy; and other times I was exhausted, but I repeated that phrase in my mind again and again, then took a nap or a break, and did whatever I needed to do. “Let yourself rest” and “be kind to yourself” were my other mantras. As a student worker who goes to the gym Monday to Thursday, I have a very busy, strict schedule to meet my class requirements, work hours, and my own expectations. Of course, it wasn’t possible for me to always follow my schedule as expected, so I get stressed and anxious about it, but then I just take a deep breath, repeat the mantras in my mind, and let it go. This year taught me that I am an organized person capable of many things, but I am also a human who needs and likes to rest, and that doesn’t make me lazy or a bad person. I need time for mental peace to recharge and just do whatever is necessary to build a good future while having a good present.
Madison Vath (Pulse and Humans Editor): I’ve learned so many things over the past school year. More about myself than anything related to academics. I’ve learned that being on my own is one of the most enriching and fulfilling paths that a person can take at this point in their lives. I’ve learned that cooking and baking make my heart incredibly happy, especially when I’m able to share the product with people who make me happy. I’ve discovered that leaving AU might not be as tough as I originally thought it would be; I feel like I’m ready for the next chapter of my life. Most importantly, I’ve learned to trust that God will put me exactly where I’m meant to be at exactly the right time and that He cares about my dreams and the desires of my heart. To my Student Movement editing team, thanks for the memories and the abundance of laughter during our meetings. You’ve made my Tuesday nights so much better. To Professor Harris, thank you for bearing with me during my breakdowns; it means a lot. And thank you for always believing in me.
Nathaniel Reid (Photography Director): You’d think that with only 5 credit hours of coursework, I would’ve spent my semester playing video games while sipping on ice-cold mango tangos– yet that's not quite how life worked out. As it turns out, this semester I worked multiple jobs, shadowed under multiple creatives, and was an officer in multiple clubs. Most of whatever “free-time” was left over I spent frantically trying to set myself up for life after college. Yet despite all the stress and lack of sleep, this was a great semester. The chaos might not have always been the most enjoyable, yet through it I learned how to better show up for myself and for those I care about around me. More than anything I learned that while life might seem undigestable, unpredictable, and unrelenting- you are enough. Even if you have a hard time believing it, by surrounding yourself with others who have faith in you, you’re able to feel rooted even in life’s challenging times. If you’re anything like me, your last year might not be a Hollywood-esque cruise to the finish line, yet that's OK. It’s OK to not know exactly where you're going; by surrounding yourself with the right people and the right habits, you’ll slowly blaze a trail that you can look back on with pride.
Moraya Truman (Social Media Director): Uncertainty and I don’t get along too well. I like feeling grounded, knowing what is going to happen next and having something to hold onto. Senior year of college doesn’t really provide a ton of certainty, as there is no: “school starts back up again in August!” As much as the uncertainty this past year has scared me, it has pushed me to look for things I can be certain in. My relationships have helped keep me stable, grounded and feeling alive when I would much rather be isolating in stress. Shoutout to all the girlies who come every week to my movie nights, yall kept me sane. Allowing myself to be creative and to make things even as I felt guilty because “I have homework I should be doing,” honestly saved me. It is so easy to get caught up in everything you NEED to do, that you can neglect the things you are passionate about. Carving out intentional time to be around the people I love has reminded me that even though everything in the world around us can feel like chaos, we can still find little pockets of peace.
Finnegan Blake (Website Editor): This year, I’ve faced the reckoning of the dreaded “what’s next?” question. Some days it’s exciting, but most days it’s just terrifying, and I still don’t have it quite figured out yet. But in dealing with it, I’ve learned that not knowing is okay, and comparing yourself to others only leads to more anxiety. (LinkedIn is just a place where everyone seems to have it all figured out, which I find deeply suspicious.)
Aiko Ayala (Co-Editor in Chief, Spring ‘26): For me, the biggest lesson was about connection. Learning how to connect with others, to ask for help, and to value each memory with others. I have lost some friends, and I gained new ones too. As an introvert who is so scared of the world around me (and particularly of people too), learning to face such fear has revealed things that I did not notice before. I still have a long way to go.
Also, because I felt in constant fear, I learned to trust God more, even when it seems that God is far or that he does not care. Such trust requires perseverance and patience, but those qualities are what makes a relationship with God stronger and closer. I hope to keep that trust and grow more as I face the “real world” and start a new chapter in my life.
Andrew Francis (Editor in Chief, Fall ‘25):
This past year I have developed a greater appreciation for the efforts of some of the quietest people in our communities. Often the loudest and boldest voices, especially online, get more attention and recognition, whether it be positive or negative. To me, however, it is those who make change through patience, compassion and speaking in a tone similar to God’s still small voice, who often have the most beneficial impact. Those are the stories worth telling, and I am glad The Student Movement got to tell some of those stories this school year.
Corinna Bevier (Co-Editor in Chief, Spring ‘26): Something I have learned this year is to not let fear prevent me from taking part in good opportunities. I’m a very cautious person, and I can be wary of doing things that I haven’t done before. But, this year I pushed past that fear, and took on projects and positions (like Co-Editor in Chief) that really scared me. Even though I faced difficulties and had to learn new skills, I found these experiences to be very rewarding and enriching, and I benefitted in ways that I wouldn’t have if I had let my fear prevent me from taking on a new experience.
From the office of the AUSM team, we thank you for being with us and reading this year’s issues. We hope to continue bringing more stories and ideas to foster growth and change for our Andrews community in the next year.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.