Meredith Rounsley

It’s Getting Intense Over Here

You know what that means! Well, maybe you don’t. But I am going to fill you in.

Intensives are a part of the first two weeks of school over here at Hillsong. These two weeks are packed with nine to five classes preparing us for the semester ahead. It allows for teachers to mark a few lectures as “done” on your transcript, but I also think it secretly differentiates between the mice and the men. We’re all doing pretty well, though.

But let me tell you a little bit more about intensives. First of all, the classes are long. Two to four hour classes with minimal breaks and over one hundred and fifty new students in them can be pretty daunting. Fortunately we have the best teachers imaginable. They are helpful, funny, encouraging, supportive, and very serious about the students that they have been entrusted with. We have barely scratched the surface of this semester and I already know that I am with teachers that are going to challenge me and help me when I need it.

We’re also not in the traditional learning environment. We’re in a church. Portions of the upper level are sectioned off and we diffuse over rows of seats, each having it’s own pull out “desk”. At first it’s really awkward. But once you find out the names of the people you’ve been tripping over to get to your seat, it’s all good. Intensives have actually worked as a pretty strong bonding agent for most of us. Somehow the people that were helping you find your next classes are now your new friends.

As trying as the long hours and packed seating is, the subject matter is what earns these two weeks their title. All of us have been challenged about the very basics of what we know concerning what it means to be a leader and a follower of Christ. Things we may not have thought about before are being brought to the forefront in a very abrupt fashion. That’s something that I’m going to have to elaborate on once the whole set of intensives has run it’s course. Let’s just say its life changing.

I’ll be updating with pictures, videos, and other stuff soon. My internet is on the fritz. Yes, the fritz.

Also, I posted this to my twitter but I also want to put it here. Is there any way I can pray for you guys this week? Big or small, shoot me an e-mail, tweet, leave a comment. I’d love to pray for you guys!

Comments Closed

Comments

• Caleb says:

  August 3, 2010 at 4:39 PM

  That’s how our classes are here… In terms of time frame. It’s so different from what we’re used to…
  Sounds enjoyable though. Good teachers make for good classes.
  Remember that you are loved and missed!
• jimmy akers says:

  August 3, 2010 at 4:13 PM

  yo…so stoked for you! We can’t wait for your visit to 24-7 in december ! Been sharing your music with many friends and looking forward to hear what God has in store. I am heading into the studio at S.U. thx to corey murphy august 12th and 13th so your prayers for that would be much appreciated! Be encouraged! God has great things in store for you!