Hailey, the Horned Frog

haileybunde
Nov 2, 2016
5 min read

Hi all! It’s been a while since my last post, and I think we can all agree that my last post was… heavy. But so much has happened in the past three months, that I feel an updated post is necessary. So here’s my last three months in one blog post.

Saying goodbye was obviously not easy, but I’m so thankful to have friends so supportive of my adventure at TCU.

First off on my adventure at TCU was Frog Camp. Frog Camp is designed to introduce new students to what it’s like to be a part of the Horned Frog family. I went to Frog Camp Challenge, which entailed sleeping in cabins, team building, ghost stories and grimy games. I was lucky enough to be attending Frog Camp where my brother was also facilitating. It was fun having my brother there to lean on, and having so many facilitators come up to say hi “to Bunde’s sister!”

After Frog Camp, it was back to TCU for the long week of sorority recruitment. The week was long, equally fun and exhausting. But I am so glad to have found such a great group of girls in Alpha Chi Omega. Alpha Chi believes in “Real Strong Women” and I have found that phrase to be more prevalent in my life every single day. Going through rush, the word I always remembered about AXO was “genuine.” It’s something every girl showed to me when I walked into the AXO house. They really cared about me, and I’ve continued to find that in my pledge class, my big, and other girls in Alpha Chi.

After all the ‘pre-college’ fun, it was officially time to start college classes. Each of my classes have been very different, and challenging in new ways. College is different than high school, but it’s all about making time for assignments and not falling behind. Some weeks are insane, and some are manageable, but overall I’m learning how to ‘college.’ Looking at my schedule, we’ve realized that graduating early might be feasible, so that is a new and exciting adventure I’m excited to see how God works out.

One of the best parts of TCU has been, of course, the football. No, TCU, is not thriving, but the environment in Amon G. Carter can almost compete with Nebraska. Almost. Everyone in Fort Worth has Horned Frog pride, even if we aren’t the Alamo Bowl team we were last year. Thankfully I have my Huskers to root for.

My favorite thing about Fort Worth is the food, hands down. I’ve been absolutely obsessed with exploring Fort Worth and its foods, no matter how empty my wallet is. Some of my favorites include Sweet Sammies, which specializes in make your own ice cream sandwiches, Brewed, the cutest, most hipster restaurant with the best brunch, that makes me feel automatically cooler being in there and Woodshed, a barbecue restaurant with the best outdoor atmosphere.

Of course, another part of my life down here has been navigating long distance. Before I came down to TCU, Max and I discussed meeting up in Wichita, Kansas, which is about halfway between Lincoln and Fort Worth. A few weeks into school, we realized about the only weekend that would work for us to meet up (given football schedules—very important) was September 10th. So that’s what we did. We met up in Wichita and ate McDonalds and explored the city and watched Arkansas beat the Frogs (sad face) and Max ate too much Hu Hot. It was the perfect twenty fours that I needed to know that we were gonna be okay.

Down here, I’ve gotten plugged into YoungLife, just like I wanted to. I attend clubs on Sunday and bible study every Wednesday that has been my absolute saving grace some weeks. It’s been such a blessing to be surrounded by girls who show me how to love Jesus and are going through some of the same challenges I am.

After I survived midterms, fall break was so needed. College is hard, and being home for a few days was a good reminder of who I am, where I’m coming from, and who’s supporting me. It was not easy coming back to the stress of school (and a huge research paper I had put off), but fall break was wonderful—the four musketeers were reunited, and I got much needed bestie time with Syd. I even got to attend my first college formal with Max! It was the most fun night, and I got to meet so many of Max’s friends I have heard so much about. Max was the best, most handsome date, and did the most to make me have a fun night.

Post fall break has been just as busy, full of so many fun events. I had my very first TCU formal, which was filled with so much dancing and laughing. Alpha Chi celebrated our founders’ day and it was confirmed that I can’t roller skate!!!

I’m also learning college is full of fun, random, moments and staying up late even though you might regret it. For example, I went to a concert on a Sunday night before a Religion exam on Monday. BUT I SAW CHANCE THE RAPPER. It was one of the most amazing experiences. I was smiling the whole entire night. Yes, it was a rap concert and a drunk guy threw up next to me, but that was one of the most holistic concerts I’ve ever experienced. Chance has such a unique and genuine view of God and faith, and that night changed my life.

In other news, I met James Taylor from the Bachelorette, thanks to a very persistent Alpha Chi. I also went as Gary Patterson for Halloween. Yup.

So, overall things really have been looking up. TCU has so many resources in store to help be my best self. I have gotten help for the many emotions and anxieties I have, and it’s helped me so much. Some days are better, some days are worse. I am always homesick, but I’m learning how to manage it. I’m settling in, and have so many people rooting for me here.

Long distance has been difficult, but every day Max and I are learning how to make it work. I could write a whole post a whole novel about all that Max has done for me, or the patience he has had for me. Things have not been easy for us, and I’ve been a mess a lot of the time. But Max continues to make me feel loved and encouraged, and chooses me again and again. Something that sticks out to me time and time again about Max is how he loves me so reflectively of how Jesus loves us. He loves me with so much patience and persistence. He loves me because he knows how God loves him. He’s just something else.

Also, he’s pretty handsome… It’s easy loving him.

I have had so much support coming to me from Nebraska and Fort Worth. I have so many kind texts coming from my best friends, my mom, and my best friends’ moms! I could not have done this without so much love.

God has put me where I need to be.