My name is Jessica Hatcher (most know me as J-Hatch) and I
graduated last May. I served as a senate rep, ULC member, an RA in Rice Hall
& Fair Commons and then as the Assistant Resident Director of Fair Commons.
Now, I am a Resident Director at Huntington University and I am pursuing my
masters in mental health counseling.
College is a time where you make great relationships and you
are on your own for the first time. You learn about who you are away from the
home you have always known and you are given freedom to start all over. I took
advantage of this opportunity 100%! My years at Anderson were the best of my
short life so far. The amount of growth, healthy relationships and maturity
that I experienced there will forever mean so much to me. The excitement I had
the first few months of college was a great feeling, but, fast-forward 4 years
to spring semester of my senior year…
I. Was. Freaking. Out. I had let this community, my
experiences, my professors and my leadership positions form me into a different
and better person than I was before. I had formed a new identity and was pretty
wrapped up in it. I was proud to see how far I had come and felt so fortunate
to have the good experience that I did. When I thought about graduating in May,
my heart filled with anxiety and my head was bombarded with thoughts, leaving
me confused and scared about the future. How will I be happy away from this
place? What if I don’t get into grad school? What if I’m not working in
reslife? Will I live with my parents forever? What if I never have friends
again? etc. As you can tell, most of my thoughts were irrational and lacked
faith, but at the time, they were easy to believe. The hard thing to do was trust and rely on God. I couldn’t imagine
myself outside of my “role” in the community and it was terrifying. I idolized
my job, my relationships, my church, my education and my community. Fitting
Christ into that was more of a challenge than a blessing. The busy life of
trying to accomplish so much is empty when accomplishing intimacy with Christ
isn’t on that list.
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| J-Hatch and Rice 2AB, 2012-2013. |
This past season of transition has challenged me to think
through where I am rooted and that is the message I feel called to share with
you today. In life, it is easy to find your identity in your job, relationships
and your community. When someone meets you, the first questions usually asked
are, “What do you do for a living?” “Where are you from?” In our world, it is
natural that these aspects of our life would be the main interest of others. I
am thankful that the body of Christ is called to be in the world, but not of the
world. If our identity is found in our leadership positions, sports, our
talents or even our community, we will be lead to glorify ourselves instead of
glorifying our Creator. We must be
firmly rooted in God’s love in order to fulfill the opportunities he has
presented to us. God uses seasons in our life to prepare us for what He has
designed as our purpose in this world. In order to jump into those new
opportunities, our identity has to be rooted in something more than just our
present circumstances. Jumping into a new community was hard for me, but gave
me a wonderful opportunity to solidify my identity in who Christ is and who he
has called me to be. I was constantly risking myself in my job, new
relationships, and new classes. I had to rely on Jesus to be with me in my
risk.
Whether you are graduating this year, trying a new summer
job, starting a new leadership position or continuing in one you already have,
a new season is ahead. I challenge you to constantly be in the word and being
reminded of who God has created you to be. Rely on his words for affirmation
and create an identity in Christ that is greater than any part of you. Confidence in who Christ is will lead you
farther than any confidence from this world. “For if you live according to the flesh, you
will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you
will live.” Romans 8:13
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| Fair Commons Staff, 2014-2015 |
Walk boldly in faith and follow him
closely in whatever season lies ahead. He is faithful and He provides.
2014-2015, Fair Commons ARD
2013-2014, Fair Commons RA, ULC Member
2012-2013 - Rice Hall RA
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