Parent Weekly Newsletter 5/02Spring 2008, Issue #13 |
|
|
Biola
University, Office of Parent Relations, 13800 Biola Ave, La Mirada, CA
90639 / (800) 99-BIOLA / (562) 906-4535
|
|
Greeting |
|
|
May is here . . . and the end of 07-08 school year is around the corner! One year ago this month we were in the depths of high school graduation preparation and entering the unknown process of transitioning our eldest of 3 daughters into college. For me personally, this past year has been a wild ride! As an alum of Biola, class of 1983, I had visited Biola over the years, but to actually have a daughter enrolled on campus 25 years later has been a bit of a flash back for me, including the fact that she was placed on 2nd floor in Alpha Chi, where I spent my freshman and sophomore years! Encouragement I shared with my daughter this past year was to make her days count. From experience I know they go quickly, and busyness and stress can swallow up precious days and opportunities. (This doesn’t change after graduation either does it?) There are so many opportunities God uses at Biola to enrich our students, to not plug in is to miss out on the best Biola has to give. This year was unique, with many key historical events at Biola . . . a new President, the 100th anniversary of Biola, and the passing of Clyde Cook. Additionally, each of our students has had an abundance of memories to form their own personal history. Whatever time you have with your student this summer, talk about the changes that have occurred in this past year. Take time to stop, pull back, and see all that has unfolded. Remember change certainly has happened not only in our students’ lives, but in the rest of the family as well. Reflect on the past year, both the praises and the challenges, and encourage each other to press on to what lies ahead. Whether Biola student, alum, or parent, we are each a part of Biola’s heritage and God’s kingdom work. May we see the depth of history of the many servants who have gone before us at Biola. May we make our lives count for His glory! Happy summer, Bonnie Heng Parent Council Member Biola Alumni – Business Major 1983 Student: Kelsey ('11) majoring in Journalism. Have questions for the Parent Council Members? Contact them by clicking here. |
|
Did You Know? |
|
|
Easier Banking for Students The two ATM machines on Biola’s campus will soon be replaced with new systems that will be faster, safer and no longer require envelopes for making deposits. Next fall the new ATM machines will feature cameras in case of fraudulent incidences, as well as systems that will eliminate the need for paper deposit envelopes. One of the ATM machines is located on the lower level of the Student Union Building, while the other can be found in the library. For other cash related needs, as always, Biola will continue to offer cashier services. Current students may cash checks for a total of up to $200.00 per day with a valid Biola University identification card. |
|
Olive Grove Update |
|
|
Only $12,000 to go!  Olive Grove Park At the beginning of the year we began telling parents about a very special project. There is a section of land at Biola that is preserved by the city of La Mirada as a historical landmark. It includes some of the original olive trees for which the city was known when Biola moved to La Mirada from downtown Los Angeles. The area is unused, and a bit overgrown now, but a group of people are committed to seeing this area become a park where students can relax and enjoy a pastoral setting amid a bustling, highly developed campus. The portion of the project to which parents have committed funding is the walking bridge that will span the creek that runs along the eastern perimeter of Biola’s campus and separates the campus from the Olive Grove. The bridge alone will cost $100,000, but we believe that enough parents will see the value of having this park on campus to make this an achievable goal. Already parents have come together to give $88, 000 towards this project. We are very excited to be so close to meeting our goal and would ask you and your family to consider contributing. We know that many families are stretched financially by sending your students to Biola, and we would not ask or expect you to support this project if you cannot do so. Please pray that we will find individuals who can close the gap and provide the remaining $12,000. To learn more, please click here. [ return to top ] |
|
Chapel |
|
|
Chapel Schedule  Monday, May 5th Biola says good-bye to Ron Hafer Wednesday, May 7th Senior Sharing Friday, May 9th- Student led worship chapel |
|
Question of the Week |
|
|
Weekly Question #2: While Freshmen and Sophomore students are required to live on campus (unless they are commuters), Junior and Senior students have the option to live off campus. If you have an upperclassman student who has gone through the process of securing off campus housing, what advice would you give to parents whose student are currently or will in the next few years experience the same thing? What were some of the difficulties? Were there any fears? How were those resolved, and how have you seen these experiences benefit your student? Please respond by replying directly to this email or by sending your response to parent.relations@biola.edu. Also, please remember that by responding you are allowing Biola University to anonymously reprint and edit your response for the benefit of other parents in upcoming emails. Last Week's Question: As students are beginning to register for next Fall's classes, many will be faced with the reality that they are not happy or successful in their current major. If you are a parent of a student who has changed majors once, or maybe even seven times, how have you sought to encourage and direct them in the decision making process? Have you found your advice to be well received or even needed? If you could go back with your student to Freshman year, would your advice regarding their major of choice look any different? Answers: 1. When our son entered Biola University, it was as a music performance major, but we knew he would be changing his mind. We could see he was burning out, as his interest in music had been waning for quite some time. He has blossomed at Biola more than we could have anticipated; and yes, he quickly decided that performance was not the career he wanted for a lifetime. Since then, he has been praying about what God wants him to do with his life. All we can say is, GOD IS FAITHFUL!! Our son has been extremely grateful to the career center on campus for their assistance and guidance as he mulled over the choices before him. As parents, we have tried to keep our opinions out of the mix, unless it was informational (like the number to the career center, or where to find the course of studies for majors, etc.), and we have been blessed watching the Lord guide our son, and the growth, confidence, and maturity that have resulted from the process.We are so grateful that Biola is a place that creates an environment where our children can thrive spiritually and securely explore the plans the Lord has set in place for them. 2. I may be "tarred and feathered" for this response, but I have told our kids that it really doesn't matter what they major in - having the whole college experience is what is going to best prepare them for life. Changing a major doesn't mean they have failed. They are continuing to grow and change as they go through their four years of college life, so it is natural that their goals would change with them. Some kids are blessed to have a passion for what they want to do in life. They should go for it! Other kids (mine included - 3 at Biola so far) change their majors as they discover what their interests and gifts are. I've told them from the outset that even entering as "Undeclared" isn't a bad thing. It gives them freedom to get a feel for college life, different professors, different professions even, and then declare what they will emphasize. The most important thing is to keep moving as you feel God is leading and He will change the direction at the right time. This is a good time to teach about faith and watching God work. When my kids have talked about changing majors I've found it best to ask questions to help them in their own thinking and pondering. For the most part college-age kids don't want their parents telling them what to do, or even necessarily telling them what they did "when they were in college." It's better to hold back until your son or daughter asks you for your input or asks what you did when you were their age. That's when they will really listen to you. In the meantime, learning to ask thought provoking questions is what is most helpful. [ return to top ] |