I want to give Glory to God!

Ever since I entered college, I have been struggling with my major.  I applied to colleges such as UC Berkeley, Cal Poly SLO, University of Oregon and USC as an architecture major.  But, I really wanted to go to UCLA which didn’t have an architecture major.  I prayed about it a lot and I was very torn (I’m bad at making decisions).  I remember one day someone asked me, “So are you going to UCLA?” and then I said, “Yeah.  I think I am.” and I knew that’s when I wanted to come here.

Starting at orientation, I didn’t really like being an engineering major.  I didn’t fit in with the other students, classes were hard and not interesting and I had no motivation for my end result.  When I introduced myself, I would say, “I’m an engineer, but I’m thinking of switching.”   I did think about switching majors, but I sometimes liked being known as smart and hard working.  It was also prestigious to be an engineer and encouraging that I could get a job after college.  So first year, I knew I didn’t like it, but I stayed for lack of finding anything else.

Over the summer, I sat down with my dad and he helped me decide my major, once and for all.  I was going to be a chemistry major, still science but not boxed in like an engineering major.  We had decided, no, I was not going to do architecture, but I would try to double major with art.  So in the fall, I applied for the art school as I took math and physics classes.  I didn’t get into the art major.  I then decided to apply for the architecture major, which was due in January.

This year, winter quarter, I took chemistry.  It was terrible.  I failed the first midterm miserably and I always ended up copying the answers for homework.  I was in a class that I had no interest in.  While people were learning interesting things or practical things for their lives, I was learning about things that had no relevance to my life.  I desired to be in something that I enjoyed and I could relate to.

Throughout the quarter I kept praying that I would get into the architecture major.  God, will you provide for me?  Will you use your power to let me in?  Isn’t this what you want for me?  To be happy?  I finally knew what I wanted, but it seemed too late.  I had already been accepted into the architecture major, and now I was applying AGAIN.  I was frustrated, that I might have chosen the wrong school.  I knew that I was meant to come to UCLA because of all the ways God has shown himself to me, grown me and lead me to follow him.  He has provided community, true friendships, love, joy and happiness.  But there was always, that “what if.”  I had to be reminded that God is always looking out for me.  That he loves me and wants to provide good things–that is his promise.  I was assured that even if I didn’t get in, God still had a plan that was ten times better than my own.  Whatever it may be, God would provide.  I anxiously waited for the results, checking my email multiple times a day, looking online when the results would come or even sending emails to ask.

This Tuesday, I got an email:

Dear Esther,

Your petition to change your major to Architectural Studies has been referred to our office for School review.

I’d like to meet with you to go over a few things.  Please let me know when you would be available for an appointment.

Thank you,

Betsy Foster

I had no idea what this meant.  Earl thought it might be an interview, so I wore a dress to class!  After class, I went to to Broad for my appointment. I prayed before I went in.  Betsy said, “To put you at ease, you were accepted into the architecture major.”  I was SO HAPPY!  She went over what requirements I needed to fulfill and what was going to happen.  As I was listening, I kept thinking, Yes, this is happening. God answered my prayers.  It was not of my doing that this happened but God’s.  God is watching out for me, and providing for me ALWAYS.  He loves me and is always good.  It’s the happiest feeling!  After I left, I had to tell everyone!  I had to tell everyone, all the people who were concerned for me, how God worked in my life and showed his goodness to me.  After all of my struggles over the past year and a half over my major, it was finally settled!  I am so excited for what God has done and what he will do with me in this major.

FURTHERMORE, the same day, I was enrolled into my Geography 5 class where I was waitlisted for a long time, AND I was able to change my lab section so I could enroll in Slavics 40 and drop my chemistry class.  God is definitely providing for me and working in my life.  And I am in awe of his greatness.

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