Name
Alaina Joy Bach
Which site did you attend? What year were you there?
OneLife Three Springs – Class 4
After OneLife, what did you do/what next life step did you take?
Upon graduating from OneLife, I moved back home to Michigan to live with my family. I returned as a shift leader at Biggby Coffee, where I’m working as much as possible. My dream is to return to school next fall with a major in Outdoor Leadership!
How did OL help prepare for what you are doing now?
What I learned from OneLife about my calling was extremely beneficial. God cares more about who we are becoming than where we are trying to go: character over career. “Destination is secondary, direction is primary.” Rather than seeing my current stage of life as work and drudgery, I view it as an opportunity to live in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ, and seek Him as I grow in grace and wisdom. He is using this season for my good and His glory, potentially to prepare me for heading into ministry.
In what ways do you see the goodness of God in what you do?
I see the goodness of God in the people who consistently are there for me. I have the most incredible people who remind me of how much I am loved, even from afar. Many of my friends right now do not live in Michigan, but nevertheless I’m so blessed that they still are part of my life. From day to day, I’m thankful for a job with flexible hours, a supportive family, and opportunities to explore Creation.
What is something you are currently learning (or continually learning) about yourself, others, or God?
I am learning that joy is a heart posture and overflow of the Spirit at work, not just an attitude choice. For example, we often say “choose joy”, but joy is a fruit of the Spirit, not something we can just put on. Denying negative emotions of sadness or fear to choose joy by our own strength leads to self sufficiency, where we put it all on ourselves to have a good mindset. But trusting and loving God & others leads to joy, as a byproduct, an overflow of God’s Spirit at work. Being emotionally honest and choosing JESUS leads to Godliness and true joy!
What is something that you would like to tell prospective students or current students about life IN OneLife?
OneLife is such an intense year, and there’s so much that goes on. It can be easy to get caught up in the activities and feel as though you need to be there for everything. But in order to make the most of it, you need to learn to rest well. Rest isn’t always merely an absence of physical activity, it’s also awareness of the presence of God. Time spent alone with the Lord, in communion with Him, is vital to spiritual health and allows for true rest.
What is something that you would like to tell prospective or current students about life AFTER OneLife?
I definitely felt anxious about how I was going to stay in contact with my friends after we all went our separate ways. There may be people you talk to every week, those you check in with occasionally, and perhaps a couple that you don’t have a real conversation with ever again. That’s completely normal! You shouldn’t expect to have a close relationship with every single person.
What brings you joy?
I find joy in walking outside under blue skies, driving to see sunsets, seeing my customers smile as I make them their favorite drink, random notes of encouragement, and iced mint mocha lattes.
