Ponitz, Jeffrey  

Jeff is a perfect professor to transition from first to second year. He started with abstract projects that become the research for your building. He values lots of hard work, so make sure you are ready to make a huge commitment to studio. He is one of the best listeners of any professor I've had. I've had so many reviews where I have felt like the critic was trying to impose their own totally different ideas onto my project. Jeff understands what the student is trying to accomplish and makes suggestions that really help you with your own concept.

May 18, 2014 - The Fifth Sunday of Easter - Youth Sunday Katherine Seth "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life." -John 14:1-14 Good morning everyone! If you don't know me, my name is Kat Seth and I've been going to this church for the past 10 years. I'm graduating from high school in 14 days and 10 hours. That is uncomfortably soon. For so long, college and the future and adulthood have been lovely, far off ideas that I've been able to postpone thinking about. But, with the onset of senior year, I was forced to push them to the forefront of my mind, and accept the fact that change is upon me. The resulting months were some of the most stressful and emotionally trying times I have experienced in my short 17 years. Making important decisions - like taking a new job, moving to a new place, or choosing a college - can cause us intense feelings of anxiety because the uncertainty of the future. I couldn't help but feel like it was my responsibility, and mine alone, to ensure the success of my future. My mom can attest to it: the tears, the monthly breakdowns, the intense indecision – all side effects of the pressure I felt planning out my future. Eventually, it came down to my West Coast college trip. This was supposed to decide everything. It was going to put an end to all of the indecision and show me exactly what the right choice was for me. I believed this without a doubt. I expected to have "the feeling" that is so often talked about among college students. It's the moment when you're overwhelmed with clarity and you know that a school is right for you. I was so excited to have this experience and it was only through the suggestion of my mom that we prayed for God to give me a sign. Up till that point, I had never considered putting this decision in God's hands. Did He know about what I needed in my architecture program? Did he know my preference for student body size, or to consider the coolness of the school mascot? I didn't realize that my need to micromanage things was blinding me from the well-preached fact that God knows everything and that, honestly, I needn't have worried. My sign came at the first school we visited. Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. After an amazing student tour in the absolutely gorgeous campus, I had "the feeling." I felt happy and whole and excited to be there. It had so much of what I wanted in a school and it just felt right. God had delivered pretty quickly and it was overwhelming to get exactly what I asked for so quickly. You'd think that would be it, you know, "and then she lived happily ever after, the end, send in the deposit". But as the trip went on, I couldn't help but look at the other amazing colleges and say, "Are you crazy God? Do you see these schools? Why don't you endorse these with your 'magic signs'?" I tried to discredit the feeling, saying, "Oh, I only felt that way because it was my first college visit ever. The other colleges make sooo much more sense." I came home and still did not have a decision. Weeks later, along with more tears, meltdowns, and extensive pro's and con's lists, I had two schools to decide between. Cal Poly and University of Oregon. I was changing my mind daily and splitting hairs till I went crazy. All of that ended on a Sunday very much like this one, just a few weeks ago. After communion, I went to the prayer room and prayed with one of my youth leaders, Kathy Reubosch. I'm sure many of you have had your own experiences of healing and revelation in the prayer room. The sound of running water, the Hawaiian light coming in through the window, and the feeling of safety just create an atmosphere that is optimal for hearing God. Sitting there after the prayer, I felt God. I was talking with Aunty Kathy about which way I was leaning and in that environment, I felt him gently nudging my heart the way he wanted me to go, as is his style. A few days later, I committed to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. The feeling that I had tried to ignore initially ended up being the driving force behind my decision. God knows who we are and what we need more deeply than we ever could, and He always knows our path, even if we can't see it. Sometimes, it is the choice that doesn't work out on the pro's and con's list, the one that doesn't make sense to us that is the change that we need. God doesn't always make sense, but He always knows what we need. Sometimes, in the words of the popular new Disney movie, Frozen, we just need to Let it Go. We need to learn that we don't always have to do it on our own and that in the end, He will guide us to the place we need to be. In the words of Jeremiah 29, verse 11, "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Sometimes we just need to let go of our control, and put it into God's hands. Amen.