Hey Fellas,

Now that I am on my way out of the country after a hectic day of flight delays, missed connections, and unhelpful attendants, I find myself hovering east of Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada) on my way to the United Kingdom. Its 4 a.m. in the morning there, so by the time I arrive, it will be about 8 a.m. and the start of my first day abroad. As many of you know, I’m studying in Aberdeen, Scotland this semester and in light of these superficial pains, this trip will surely be well worth it. I’ve been waiting for over a year for this chance and it has finally become a reality. (Strangely, I feel like I am abroad already because I think I am the only American on this flight!)

The opportunity to study abroad through Wabash College is one aspect that makes the college great. How many of your friends from high school can honestly say that they were afforded a genuine chance to study in another country for the same or less the cost of their home institution? Wabash exists to educate young men in an unusual and productive manner. It places students in a very small, all-male environment away from any major city and forces them to mature into men. Studying abroad is one of the many things a Wabash man can pursue in his 4 year career to help himself rise to the college’s imposed goal of becoming a well-rounded, educated man. I have accepted that challenge. Without even being there yet, I feel that I need to encourage all to try their best study abroad while they can call Crawfordsville home.

While I’m sure to be surrounded by foreign wonders, I don’t think its possible to forget my soccer family. One of the team’s goals from this past season was to become closer as a team, to create a brotherhood. Despite what is logged in the record books from the season, I have no doubt that the team could come to a consensus that we became closer as teammates and as family. Though I have firmly been a role player with limited game time in my three years at Wabash so far, this past season was definitely the most exciting and fun to be a part of. Wabash is rooted deeply in a system of fraternal and communal interaction; ideals that that the soccer team lived this year. I plan to get my fill of soccer during my stay in the U.K. (the home of the Aberdeen Dons is but blocks away from my living quarters!), but I can honestly say that I will miss working out on the field with the team this spring and eagerly look forward to next season.

I want to wish all of my teammates good luck this coming semester both in school and on the pitch. I, like Funston, am very happy to see a head-start on the winter workouts being made. Maybe a little more work now can change a couple of those 1 goal losses into wins next year! Cherish this time at Wabash fellas; coming from a 2^nd semester junior, the time flies. 

-Devin Moss '09