Features – Page 2

Squirrels and Spiritual Life: SAU’s New Biology Professor Katie Weakland

By Grace Archer

Spring Arbor University’s (SAU) newest associate professor of biology Cathy (Katie) Weakland has arrived, bringing with her an enthusiasm for both spiritual life and the campus squirrels.

While serving as a professor at Bethel College in Indiana, Weakland was involved in projects like landscape ecology, studying owls and fox squirrels. She often spent her class periods trapping and tagging the squirrels to find the density of their species on campus. She also spent time incorporating discipleship into her lessons and participating spiritually in the campus.

“I was involved in the spiritual atmosphere and I loved going to chapel,” Weakland said. “In fact, I went to every single one.”

KathyWeakland — Katie Weakland. From Facebook.

After teaching at Bethel College for ten years, she decided to take a break from teaching and follow God’s call for her life in Tajikistan, where she lived for three and a half years. Eventually, she found and joined a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), researching and proposing projects to raise funds for the group.

“I always wanted to live overseas and learn a new culture and language,” Weakland said.

Although Weakland spent a great deal of time overseas and away from home, she had always taken an interest in Michigan. In her time at Bethel College, she often took camping trips up to Michigan on the weekends as a getaway.

One thing that attracted Weakland to the task of teaching at SAU was the spirituality on campus.

“I appreciate a campus that has chapel,” Weakland said. “I love that I can talk about Jesus in class and do devotions all while incorporating science and research.”

Weakland is excited to teach Environmental Science. In it, she hopes to expand on views of evolution and creationism and other diverse views on that topic. She wants to look at what Scripture says about evolution as well as ideas outside of Christianity and compare the two.

“I see God’s fingerprints all over creation and I encourage students to take a step back (from) what they’re observing and stand in awe of it,” Weakland said. “Creation is how God reveals himself to us.”

Stats and Facts:

According to her: The owls she studied at Bethel sounded like “women screaming.” Sounds spooky.

Not her first time in the state: While at Bethel, she took weekend camping trips up to Michigan as a getaway.

A goal as a teacher: to challenge students as image bearers and stewards of creation and their responsibilities as followers of Christ.

Education professor and basketball coach: John M. Williams IV

By Crisilee DeBacker

To a Spring Arbor University (SAU) student, the name “John Williams” could mean two things: “Associate Professor of Education” John Williams Jr (also known as Biggs), or “that guy who composed the Star Wars soundtrack” John Williams. Now, there is a third.

John M. Williams IV fills three roles at SAU. He is the Coordinator of Elementary Education, an Assistant Professor of Education and the Assistant Womens Basketball Coach. Despite not wanting to come to SAU at first, he says he is a proud SAU alumnus.

“It was just a good, safe, familiar place,” he said, concerning why he finally committed to SAU.

During his time at SAU, he studied music, pre-med and elementary education and played on the soccer team for two seasons. After he completed his undergraduate program, he continued studying at SAU, and went on to get his master’s in education and then a post-graduate certification in K-12 administration. After he was certified, he worked seven years as an elementary school principal.

JohnandCarrieWilliams — Williams IV and his wife, Carrie. From Facebook.

“Being an elementary school principal, there’s always something crazy going on,” he said.

He also coached basketball, and worked with the same girls from fifth grade on. Seeing them grow and improve as high schoolers was something he said he loved, especially since one of his players is now a freshman here at SAU and is serving alongside him as the manager of the womens basketball team.

Williams briefly taught math and science classes before he was a principal. When he was a principal, he evaluated teachers regularly, so to him, evaluating students in class is not much different.

Williams’ faith is something he strives to model to his students. He begins every class with a time for prayer requests and a short devotional, and concentrates on being a good example for his students and living “unapologetically Christian.”

“Before talking about prayer, you have to live and model faith first,” he said.

He also focuses on faith outside of the classroom by taking it to the basketball court. Currently, the whole basketball team is reading the book “Love Does” by Bob Goff. He says it is a great example of putting both faith and love into action and illustrates the message, “don’t be afraid to love extravagantly.”

Through both the teaching and the modeling of faith, Williams hopes to influence his students for their future.

“I’m making them prepared before they’re on their own,” he said.

Stats and Facts:

Hogwarts House: Gryffindor

Favorite TV shows: Stranger Things, Longwire and Madame Secretary

Favorite classes to teach: “Math and Science Methods for Upper Elementary and Middle School Teachers” and “Effective Classroom Management Assessment and Instruction”

Fun Fact: When he was a principal, he let students duct tape him to a wall to raise money for a local child with cancer.

He’s Not Done Yet: He’s currently in a doctorate program with Trevecca Nazarene University.

If you didn’t already know: He’s married to Carrie Williams, the director of student success and first year programming at SAU.

Chemistry and the fingerprints of God: How new chemistry professor found SAU

By Caralyn Geyer

For college students, it can be typical to wonder, “How in the world did I get here?” Many students question life and seek answers to thought-provoking questions, searching for purpose and meaning throughout those first few years. It can leave many students asking themselves, “Does anyone else feel the way that I do?”

Michael Nydegger asked himself these same questions as a college student at Southwest State University in Minnesota. Looking back, he said he never would have pictured himself where he is today as an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Spring Arbor University (SAU). He started his higher education by getting a Bachelor’s degree at Southwest State University, though he did not pick chemistry as a major until his junior year.

“They forced me to pick a major, so I picked chemistry so I could still finish in four years,” Nydegger said.

Michael Nydegger, the new assistant professor of chemistry at SAU.

Nydegger particularly liked physical chemistry, and took many courses in this area his senior year of college. He was also good at math, so a chemistry major seemed like a logical choice to him. His parents also inspired him to pursue chemistry because of each of their differing beliefs concerning evolution and creation.

He continued in his schooling to get a Master’s degree from the University of Nebraska and did his doctoral work at the University of Iowa, focusing on New Probes for 2DIR Spectroscopy for his dissertation. According to NASA, spectroscopy is a scientific measurement technique that measures light emitted, absorbed or scattered by materials, which is then used to study, identify and quantify those materials.

After his schooling, Nydegger began his teaching career by working at community colleges, which eventually led to his job at SAU. Nydegger said he had never wanted to teach at a Christian school before coming to SAU because he wanted to share the gospel with people who have not heard it. But his friends encouraged him to apply to Christian universities, so he decided to apply to SAU.

“[My friends] offered a new perspective and thought that maybe this is where I should be,” Nydegger said.

After working at SAU so far, Nydegger said he enjoys the community the campus brings and feels like his co-workers are his family. Throughout his various classes, Nydegger said his goal is for his students to get outside their comfort zone within the framework of chemistry.

“I want [students] to see the fingerprints of God on the periodic table,” Nydegger said.

Stats and Facts

Favorite Class to Teach: CHEM200, because it is more detailed and the “fingerprints of God” are more visible.

Favorite Experiments: Ammonium fountains and esterification reactions.

Favorite Movies: “Jaws” and the “Lord of the Rings” series.

Hobbies: Trout fishing, hunting and traveling.

Something New: He’s trying out making maple syrup for the first time this year.

Something Interesting: He once saw a humpback whale from about twenty feet away while in a sixteen-foot boat.

Sioux spears, Curious George poems and a scary-looking dissertation: an inside look at Carol Green’s office

By Kayla Williamson

Across from the President’s office and past three cubicles lies the office of a Texan who likes snow.

Inside, you can find an array of history books including an intimidating leather binder-bound version of a dissertation. Leaning against the shelves of books sits a Sioux spear. Framed on the desk are pictures of three girls and a Curious George quote about adventuring into the unknown.

After moving from Longview, Texas this summer, the new Vice President of Academic Affairs, Carol Green, found Spring Arbor as a new adventure for her and her family. Last year, she had a feeling God was calling her north, so when she saw Spring Arbor University’s (SAU) job posting, she applied.

New VP of Academic Affairs, Carol Green, speaks about caring for her husband after he was diagnosed with cancer in Convocation.

After working five years at LeTourneau University, Green took a step back from high education to care for her husband who was diagnosed with cancer in 2013. She told her story about her husband and the struggle to work through grief at Convocation.

Although she did apply for more jobs in higher education after her husband John passed away in 2015, she felt like the time was not right to move. Her second eldest daughter, Amanda, had two more years of high school.

“I really felt that the girls needed more stability at that point,” Green said. “They had a really strong youth group. And I had a lot of good friends who were helping me through this too.”

Green journaled a lot during that time, and now four years later, she said she is 80 percent finished with a rough draft of a book about her experiences.

As for Spring Arbor, she has been an official SAU employee for three weeks, and she is still trying to figure out which buildings to go to for meetings.

“There may be funny stories once the snow hits,” Green said. “I think I like the snow, but we’ll see.”

Stats & Facts

Which Hogwarts House would you be in? Gryffindor.

How many years have you taught? 17 years.

What’s your Myers-Briggs? ISFP, though I fall in the middle for most of them.

What’s the last book you read? “The Lighthouse Chronicles” by Flo Anderson. And I reread “Lightning” by Dean Koontz and “Waking the Dead” by John Eldredge.

Last TV show you watched? America’s Got Talent.

Favorite judge? Simon.

Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter? Lord of the Rings.

Anything else? You should probably know I’m very competitive and I love a challenge. I like doing fun, quirky things. I like surprising people too.

Pranks, Pizza and Preaching: When Faculty were Freshmen

By Luke Richardson and Emily Spencer

Finding out some of our professors went to Spring Arbor University (SAU) as college students is like that time in first grade when you found out your teacher doesn’t actually live at school. Here are some stories from when professors and faculty really did live at school.

Mary Darling, Associate Professor of Communication

Mary Darling transferred to Spring Arbor for her second year of college and did not know what to expect.

“It was the mid 1970’s at the height of the ‘Jesus Movement,'” Darling said. “Living in a triple on Delta Three in Lowell Hall was a challenge. My roommate thought I wore jeans too much so she put them in the freezer in our room so they would be too cold to wear.”

In addition to her rooming woes, Darling remembers veggie pizza made with veggies left over from the previous week’s meals.

“DC pizza now is so much better,” Darling said. “Just don’t put any cauliflower on mine.”

Ron Kopicko, Chaplain and Instructor in General Studies

Ron Kopicko originally came to SAU because the man who led him to Christ became the Dean of Students. One of the things he remembers most are the relationships he formed, which still last today.

“There was a real sense of ‘we’re not in this alone,'” Kopicko said.

On the weekends, Kopicko and a friend would hitchhike as far as they could and be back before classes on Monday. They carried a sign with the word “West” on one side and “East” on the other and flipped a coin to see which way they would go. He shared Jesus with people along the way.

Paul Patton, Professor of Communication

In the fall of 1970, Paul Patton attended Spring Arbor as a freshman baseball player. Patton was assigned to Gamma One in Lowell Hall, the only freshman student on a senior floor.

He did not find out until a year later that his baseball coach from high school warned SAU that Patton might have had a drug problem. The admin agreed the seniors should keep an eye on him, though Patton did not actually struggle with substance abuse.

“Finding out blindsided me,” said Patton. “I felt isolated and alone at first, but I quickly made new friendships, played baseball, and Christ was more alive in me that first year than ever before. I loved it.”

Chuck White, Professor of Christian Thought and History

Chuck White knew he would attend SAU since he was about four years old, and campus was quite different when he arrived in 1967 compared to now. Food was served in the basement of Muffit rather than in the Dining Commons, Deitzman was the brand-new library and freshmen students had a 9:30 p.m. curfew designed to encourage studying.

One night while White was a freshman, he was out on the town with some senior friends. Since upperclassmen did not have a curfew, no one was watching the time, and before White knew it, he was out too late. However, White’s RA did not check people’s rooms, instead choosing to leave his door open and listen for those who came in late. Luckily, White’s room was on the corner of the building.

“I climbed up the fire escape and went in through the window,” White said. While other freshmen got caught, White was safe thanks to his alternate entrance.

Dan Runyon, Professor of English and Communication

While many professors viewed college as a privilege, others tended to lean toward feelings of obligation.

“I never wanted to go to college.” Dan Runyon said. “My mind was made up. I wanted to pursue a factory job, but my father wouldn’t hear of it.”

Nevertheless, Runyon loved spending time sitting in his dorm hallway and talking with his floormates. During his time as a student at SAU, Runyon grew in his relationship with Jesus Christ and now encourages his students to do the same.

Jeremy Norwood, Associate Professor of Sociology

The silverware debacle of 2014 was not the first time that students played a prank on the DC.

When Jeremy Norwood was a student at SAU, the DC had cardboard cutouts of cereal mascots on display. Some of Norwood’s floormates decided to kidnap the cardboard cutouts and hide them in the ceiling tiles of their room in Ormston Hall. According to Norwood, the DC was quite upset at the loss of Tony the Tiger and Toucan Sam.

“We would get them out and take pictures of these things in distress,” Norwood said. They would give the mascots speech bubbles and arrange them for the pictures as though they had really been kidnapped. After the pictures were developed, they mailed them to the DC to heighten their frustration even more.

Mix and Match: the process of building an individualized major

By Collin Caroland
“If you were to throw a rock at a group of 10 college students, the odds are good you would hit one of the eight students who has changed or will change their major, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.”

By Collin Caroland | Online Writer

If you were to throw a rock at a group of 10 college students in the United States, the odds are good you would hit one of the eight students who has changed or will change their major, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of that same group of students, most are more than likely to have a major that is a course-load advertised by their school. There are, however, some students who have taken it upon themselves to create their own special courses of study- these courses are often referred to as individualized majors.

Each student has their own reason for choosing s specialized study, Alec Cross cited his primary reason as marketability and practicality.

“I’m studying adolescent spirituality,” Cross said. “It’s basically a youth ministry major, I just pulled out a couple of classes that are more administration and other classes that conflict with my spiritual formation minor and just added them to my major.” Cross’ main concern with making a major was nobody would understand what it meant, but professors and advisors told him the major was fine and would make him more marketable.

Nick Lemerand has a similar story about his own personalized major. Lemerand decided one week before his sixth semester at Oklahoma University he would rather be studying ministry, with a focus on helping adolescents and young adults, than meteorology, so he checked with Spring Arbor, who worked with him so he could combine urban ministry and youth ministry to make college ministry major, and transferred here.

The individual major is unique for each student, and therefore not for everyone. While it may make the student more marketable, it can be difficult to set up.

“I had to look at the semester offerings of each course in all of the related departments myself,” Cross said when asked if the individualized major was a program that had no down sides. “I had to sit down by myself one day and decide which courses could work best, and then get them approved by the overseeing faculty and when they were finally approved, I had to get a form from the registrar and I needed to get six or so signatures from a lot of different people.” From the logistical standpoint, according to Cross, it can be a nightmare to set up. Lemerand advised those looking into it to be wary of the practicality of the individual major.

“You definitely have to have some idea of what you want to do with it,” Lemerand said.

Courses were pulled from a variety of different programs for both Cross and Lemerand, with special thought put into each course so as to make their majors truly their own. Cross and Lemerand both would encourage any student who is looking at an individualized major to talk with their advisors and faculty to determine if an individualized major would be suited for the student’s goals and aspirations.

Where the money for the five dedications comes from

Ever wondered why there’s a 30,000 lbs rock at the front front of the school? Or how these donors discovered Spring Arbor when some of them are not alumni? President Brent Ellis explains the stories behind each facility.

Kayla Williamson | Editor-in-Chief

The new tennis complex, renovated locker rooms, upstairs Sayre-Decan mural, rock entrance and nursing lab officially opened on Homecoming Day, Oct. 1.

Almost 100 percent of these five dedicated facilities were paid by donors, people who want to show their love and appreciation towards the school. None of the money to build these came from tuition.

The Jones Tennis Complex

Who: Ron & Marvelle Jones and other donors

What: $1.3 million tennis courts and $250,000 in scholarships

Where: North of Ogle Villages

The Story: “Ron Jones, a new board member for SAU, and his wife love tennis and have a long history with SAU tennis alumni. That began to influence their interest in Spring Arbor. It was a real natural gift.” – President Brent Ellis

Varsity Locker Rooms for Basketball and Volleyball

Who: Faith Small (women’s locker rooms) and anonymous donors (men’s locker rooms)

What: $185,000 to renovate locker rooms

Where: Fieldhouse

The Story: “Trent Allen, who the men’s locker rooms are named for, had a relationship with the donor couple, and he passed away, which is why it is named for him. The women’s locker rooms were funded by Faith Small who was a board member who just passed away. It was eight or 10 months before she died that she had given the funds to renovate the women’s locker rooms.” – President Brent Ellis

“Word & Image” Mural

Who: Joel Varland, Roger Varland’s brother

What: Donated labor to paint a mural highlighting some of the influential authors of the Christian faith

Where: Upstairs Sayre-Decan Hall

The Story: “Joel heard that we were doing [the DC] mural a couple years back. He worked with Kimberly Moore-Jumonville and the faculty in the department of English and came up with who would make the wall and who wouldn’t make the wall.” – President Brent Ellis

E.P. Hart Circle

Who: Hal Munn, board of trustees, and anonymous donors

What: $40,000 memorial for EP Hart, the founder of SAU

Where: EP Hart Circle

The Story: “Hal Munn was one of the catalysts for the memorial when it was first raised in 2003. Two weeks prior to Hal’s death, I went to go see him just to pay my respects and he said, Brent I need you to promise me two things: first thing have a tenure of more than 20 years, be the president for more than 20 years. I said well that’s going to be up to our board. And he was like yes—you be committed. I said I am committed to this place. I’m glad I’m here and I believe in what this place is and he said the second thing is I want to give a legacy gift to complete the construction of the EP Hart circle. I said Hal, we’ll find a way to get it done. He made a very generous gift from his family. That gave us almost what we needed to get it done. We’ve gone out and raised and additional 15-20k to fund that circle as well. It’s not just going to be a memorial, but also an entrance, and that’s why you see the brick façade that says Spring Arbor University, lights, when you come into that entrance, you’ll now where you are. It also will serve as a nice welcome, entrance into the university, which I don’t think we have a entrance, where’s the front gate, where the front door. Now that will be the front door to the university.” – President Brent Ellis

Jaworski Clinical Simulation Center and Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Service Clinic

Who: Joe Jaworski, retired professor of biology

What: Clinical space (labs) to kickstart a residential nursing program

Where: Across M-60 in the old Physical Plant

The Story: “As we’ve been doing market research and where we’re losing students, nursing continued to be a place where we continued to lose students because people wanted a nursing degree from a Christian university, so we were losing students to Indiana Wesleyan, Huntington, etc. I could name 10 people that I know that did not go here because of the nursing program. One of our professors, Joe Jaworski, a 30+ year faculty member in Biology, left a significant portion of his estate to the university with the caveat that it would go towards benefiting the sciences. Through conversations with our science faculty arrived at the idea if we started a nursing program that would provide a consistent stream of students into biology and into chemistry and allow us to recruit some students that we’d been losing.” – President Brent Ellis

Save

Roommates Choose Each Others Outfits: Day 5

Three Spring Arbor University (SAU) students decided to let their roommates pick their outfits for this week. Naturally, “The Pulse” is tagging along to see what happens. If you haven’t read the introduction post yet, click here to do so!

Day 5: Double-Teamed

Instead of just one roommate choosing the others, Friday was a day of combined forces. Two roommates teamed up to choose the third’s outfits, combining all three roommate styles.

Bekah

Today was (finally) the last day of this particular adventure. Today we did things slightly differently. Instead of Bri or Jessica picking my outfit, they did it together. I was thrilled to be back in my favorite black skinny jeans, which was casually paired with a purple t-shirt. I added the cardigan because, well, I’m always cold.

When people ask me about this week, I’m never really sure what to say. There were days where it was fun and I really enjoyed it, and there were days where I was eagerly waiting for Friday. Thursday night, the only thought going through my head was, “I am so over this.” However, I am glad we did it. This experience has encouraged me to start going outside my comfort zone and try new things (when it comes to clothes anyway). I feel much more confident in trusting my friends’ opinions on outfits, even when I’m not so sure about it. Will I do anything like this again? Probably not. That doesn’t mean, however, that I regret the experience. It was really… interesting.

Bri

I’M DONE, I’M DONE, I’M DONE! But really, this week has been one-of-a-kind and while I have no plans on letting someone else pick my clothes out anytime soon, it really was a good experience.

But more importantly, I FINALLY got to wear my black jeans! Let’s just say, I’ve missed them. As far as the outfit goes, I was pleasantly surprised! I don’t usually wear red, but I really liked the cardigan.

I think my favorite part of the whole experience was getting to see how Bekah and Jess incorporated their own style into what they picked out for me. While they used my clothes, they mixed and matched them in ways that very accurately represented who they are as individuals; and I love this. It reminded me of just how expressive and revealing of one’s personality clothes can be.

Jess

It’s the final day and I am happy to report, I am wearing leggings. This outfit is the closest representation to what I wear every day. Bri and Bekah both had a part in picking this outfit and all I can say is “thank you.” Originally, they picked out a pair of Bekah’s white flip flops for me to wear, which were a tad small, but I love it with the nude flats. I don’t really have anything negative to report, but I may have to steal Bekah’s cardigan (don’t tell her!)

Overall, this week was not terrible. I will enjoy being able to choose my own outfits again, but combating that with being able to choose my roommate’s outfits really helped. A couple of the outfits weren’t exactly my style. Although, I have to admit, I think my roommates dressed me betterthan I dress myself. I’m glad we had this experience.

By Bekah Kinney, Bri Loomis and Jessica Tower

Edited by Amber Cekander

The week is finally complete! Leave a comment below about how this experience influenced you? Are you going to try the experiment with your roommates? Or hold tightly to your personal style with all your might?

*all photos provided by the participants and used with permission*

Save

Roommates Choose Each Others Outfits: Day 4

Day 4: Dressy

Bekah

There’s really not too much to report on today (which is probably a good thing). The dress that Jessica picked out for me today was one that I bought, loved and proceeded to wear only three times in almost two years. It was nice to wear something that I really like but never wear. I am sure that I will wear it more often now that I remember how much I like it. My only complaint for today is that I miss pants. Like a lot. I’m excited to see what tomorrow has in store!

Bri

I was really nervous about what Bekah’s idea of dressy would entail. Would I have to wear another dress? Or even worse, heels? Trust me, I look like a baby giraffe trying to walk for the first time when I wear heels and I was hoping – no, praying Bekah wouldn’t put me in them.

We’ve dressed up all week and quite frankly, I miss my black jeans. But when Bekah picked this black skirt, striped shirt and flats – an outfit that isn’t that dressy, but enough to qualify for today – I was happy. Plus, what’s better than medicine when you’re not feeling well? A really cute outfit and just in case you haven’t already gathered that I really like this outfit, let me make myself clear: I REALLY like this outfit.

Will I wear this again? Absolutely.

Jess

Last night when Bri picked my outfit she asked if I had anything to do today. I said, “I have an eye appointment,” to which she responded, “I hope your eye doctor is hot!” When I got back this morning I told her my eye doctor was not hot, he was old. The remainder of my day was spent in my room, aside from the trip to Ada’s Kitchen for lunch. But it’s not a bad outfit to lounge around and do homework in (or procrastinate and watch Grey’s). The skirt is another piece of clothing I have not worn since August and the shirt belongs to Bri, but I loved this outfit! Probably my favorite so far and a beautiful day for it, much warmer than yesterday. I will say this though, I don’t really enjoy being photographed, so I’m glad there’s only one more day of that.

By Bekah Kinney, Bri Loomis and Jessica Tower

Edited by Amber Cekander

Only one more day to go, but anything can happen. Make sure you check back tomorrow to see the final outfits and overall reflections!

*all photos provided by the participants and used with permission*

Save

Roommates Choose Each Others Outfits: Day 3

Day 3: Your Least Favorite Color

Bekah

After two days of letting my roommates pick my outfits, I was feeling pretty confident about the rest of the week. That is, however, until Tuesday night rolled around. That is until the topic of least favorite colors came up. It quickly came to light that I do not own a single item of clothing in either orange or yellow. This is for very good reason – orange and yellow do not look good on people with a pasty complexion. This, of course, meant that Bri picked an orange dress. Seriously. She put me in orange. To be fair, in some lighting it looks coral(ish) and orange in other lighting. I love the dress itself, but not the color. If I had this dress in a different color, I’d wear it all the time.

Bri

If you were to look in my closet, you would see a bunch of green; olive green to be exact. This is because green is the best color known to mankind. You know what you wouldn’t see in my closet? Blue. And do you know why? Because blue is nice in the sky and ocean but not on me.

With that said, today we had to wear our least favorite color and you guessed it, I had to wear blue. As you can see, the dress Jess picked out has flowers on it, so it’s not like it was solid blue. (Thank goodness) Once I woke up and remembered I had to wear blue, I – well, I guess I got a little blue myself. But then, Jess dropped the real bomb. She wanted me to wear my hair up.

The only time I wear my hair up is when I’m in my room wearing my favorite camp sweatpants and an over-sized t-shirt. I’ve always felt more comfortable with my hair down. I did, however, put it up and it was weird. Not only did I feel super exposed, but I realized that I care way too much about what people think of me. Who cares if I wear my hair up? No one, except me. After finally getting over myself, I actually started to like the freedom having my hair up gave me. For example, the wind had nothing on me today. No more awkward wind comb over for me!

Overall, I didn’t hate the outfit and while I probably won’t wear my hair up again for a while, it reminded me that it is a possibility if I ever want to. One thing that didn’t change, however, was my dislike for blue.

Jess

So, when Bri brought up the idea of wearing our least favorite color my initial thought was, “Please don’t put me in orange.” And what does Bekah do? Puts me in an orange dress. Now, I don’t hate the color per se, I just don’t like it on me. I think it washes me out. Also, my legs have not seen the light of day in about 6 months. Not only are they pale, it’s not quite bare leg weather. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, my disdain toward orange is a little less. I also love the style of the dress and the pattern is really pretty, as opposed to being solid orange. It was really soft and comfy too. And while I don’t like myself in orange, a lot of people seemed to. Does that mean I’ll wear orange again anytime soon? Probably not, but I didn’t totally hate it either. Now, I’d like to thank Bekah for putting me in something completely out of my comfort zone.

By Bekah Kinney, Bri Loomis and Jessica Tower

Edited by Amber Cekander

Seems like Wednesday was a little rocky. But hey, we win some and lose some. Let us know in the comments below what color you wouldn’t be caught dead in!

*all photos provided by the participants and used with permission*

Save