Grown Up Walmart Runs and Opportunities Galore

One of the wonderful things about Williamsburg is that there is a Walmart right near campus. No big deal, right? WRONG. When you’ve just moved in and you’re a first-time freshman from more than ten minutes away, you can’t just run back home to get your toothbrush. So, I thought I would compile a list of needed items to include in your suitcase when you’re heading to college.

Make sure you bring:

• A Microwave, it’s awesome for popping popcorn and pizza rolls

• A fridge, to store said pizza rolls and maybe grapes or something

• Rain boots, because campuses attract rainy weather at times

• Toe socks, on account of freezing temperatures in the midnight dorm room

• Pencils, in case your professor prefers them over pens

• Pens, in case your professor prefers them over pencils

• Chargers (for phone, laptop, iPod, etc) so that you can keep connected with those back home

• Stationary paper, if you decide to write to friends off campus

• Sticky hooks, so you can hang things on the wall to preserve space

• Healthy snacks, to outweigh your more tempting junk food

• Deodorant, to keep yourself socially acceptable

and tons and tons more things to add to the list. These are only some of the desired and/or needed supplies for a good College experience. Actually, while my roommate and I made our first grown-up Walmart run, I had a different experience in itself…

While rummaging down the aisles trying to find my preferred lotion brand and the better razors, I saw a woman drop her Pepsi drink. It spilled rather obnoxiously in the middle of the opening aisle area where carts of $5 things live, and I rushed right by her only to look back guiltily. I mean, my roommate was in control of our shopping cart and kept going with the list in her hand, but I went straight to the front to try to find somebody or some towels or something. No luck. I couldn’t find a soul, and after awkwardly searching for a maximum of forty-five seconds, I quietly abandoned the woman and her need.

I wonder if that was wrong. Sometimes when you’re in a rush and you’re in need yourself you forget to pay attention to others, and even though I stopped and supposedly tried, I didn’t help the lady. I’m sure she got someone to aid her eventually, but I felt badly, like I had made a mistake. I guess that’s part of growing up: figuring out when to fend for yourself and when to put others first.

My roommate and I ended up getting pretty much everything we needed, and though I didn’t really help anyone but myself in my Walmart run, I became aware of the people around me. Others are living their lives right in Williamsburg, KY. The college is not the only thing going on in this town. Once more, there are many opportunities to minister and help people! There are countless organizations, clubs, and ministry teams that love for students to join them in loving others. I know so because I saw them during the Activities Fair today where we could sign up for them.

I may have not helped the lady in Walmart, but I’ll catch the next one, whether it be in a nursing home, Cedaridge ministries, Appalachian ministries, or through the good ole BCM. Those are only some of the clubs that are centered on helping the community, and I’m super excited to join with them in cleaning up those spilled Pepsi’s. University of the Cumberlands has opportunities galore, and I will do my best to update you on them as my supplies get low and my Walmart runs become more frequent. Until then, I’m going to make another list of things I forgot to get at Walmart yesterday.

#TheCollegeExperience