Growing Up

I had an experience recently that forced me to reconsider, even just the tiniest bit, everything. I feel like I'm having more and more of those experiences lately and that might just be part of growing up, but I hate it. The feeling is similar to finding out the truth about Santa over and over again. All the magic I thought life was simply isn't. My naiveness is disappearing. My blissful ignorance is slipping away. It sucks.

In the last few month I've learned a few really important things:

1. Love and charity are most important. Without sincere, real love for those around me I am nothing and nothing I say or do matters.

2. I've learned to strengthen my testimony in the Gospel - not the people running it. People say and do things in this church that upset me. It doesn't matter. I believe in the words and teachings of Jesus Christ.

3. The judgement of others doesn't matter. I know who I am, what I believe and where my standards lie. Others' quick, harsh judgements will not change any of that.

4. I have control over me and only me. I can not change others' beliefs, decisions or habits. No one can change mine.

As finals week and the end of the year approaches I reflect on the year behind me. I may not remember what a p value is in my Stats class or what David Paul Nord said in my Intro to Mass Communications class, but I will remember these lessons. I guess that's really what growing up is all about.

Catching Up

I've failed the blog-sphere. I haven't posted in far too long. I sincerely apologize.

It's the end of the term and I have two final projects and two final tests to prepare for. Time to get to work!

A few months ago my dad was in the play, Hairspray at the local theater. He played Edna, the mother of the main character, Tracy. This part is always played by a man, including

John Travolta.

Here's some pics:

A few weeks ago was my 19th birthday. My mom came up and surprised me! We went shopping and played. Sadly enough, I didn't get a picture. That night I went to see Harry Potter midnight premiere. I think it's been my favorite movie so far!

Religions vs Sexual Minorities

This is a video I did for a group project in one of my classes. I hope you'll watch and enjoy!

College Firsts....

So I had a few college firsts this week...

Bear Lake wasn't really a first, I've been there before. A few of us went for Labor day. It was nice to just take a break from Logan and relax for the day.

This is my friend, Justin Vance aka V. He is rinsing off after being buried waste deep in sand.

My real college first was my first college date. Before you get too excited let me put it this way: We went to a restaurant and they brought us our food, but no utensils. We sat and stared at our food while they were supposedly working on getting us a fork. My date got tired of waiting and ate his pulled pork with his hands. That pretty much sums up the rest of the night.

BUT I did get this great picture at the grocery store while buying s'mores supplies. There, my date bought Starbursts, told me I couldn't have any and was apparently serious. I never got any Starbursts.

On Saturday I had my first USU football game... and we won! 38-17 to Idaho University.

Here's the group walking to the stadium.

My roommates Kalley, Brandy and I.
Roommates again, this time with Laura.
So there's a tradition that when our team scores, you do "push ups" and grab someone to lift them up in the air for every touchdown. I got chosen...

I was terrified, not going to lie. But I did survive :)

Welcome to College!!

I'm finally here! After months of planning, scheming and shopping I'm finally here! My mind is being opened, challenged and molded. My classes started this week and so far are good and pretty much what I expected. The term "short reading" means something very different in college than it did in high school. I like my roommates. I like my building, and my ward seems pretty cool. I'm preparing myself to take on the world.

Now.... the dorm! Here's a few pictures of my room:

Here's where I sleep. I recovered the board above my pillows.

Here's where the magic happens: my desk. I painted the sign at the top that reads "Live the life you imagine" My little sister, Emily organized it. She could make a living as a professional organizer.

Closet

Another crafty moment. If you know me at all you probably know that I'm not an artsy or craftsy person. Therefore, I was slightly proud of my rare achievements.

Now, the first thing I noticed about my room is that it was SMALL. Now I know there's college grads out there laughing at my ignorance, but here's the situation: it's smaller than it's suppose to be. I am in the handicap accessible dorm. Because of this, my bathroom is big and the room across from the bathroom is big and both of these rooms eat up space in my room.

I also don't have cupboards or drawers under my bathroom sink like every other apartment.

But there is one perk: a removable shower head.

Last Friday was an 80s Dance...

It was fun for about an hour, but then they stopped playing 80s music so we came back and watched "Back to the Future" Notice my friend, Josh's outfit.

So far college is great! It's only been two weeks so hopefully I keep loving it!

Prom

Here are some pictures from Prom! I went with my friend, Brayden and I had a lot of fun!

That is our good friend Jake. It was NOT weird they he came to the door a few minutes later. Just FYI :)

Senioritis

I knew it would be bad. I didn't know it would be THIS bad. I knew I would get sick of doing homework. I didn't realize I'd be so sick of the students, teachers, and infrastructure of the building in general. Honestly, I have stopped caring about anything pertaining to high school. I do enough to get by in my classes, but I already have registered for college and received my scholarship, so why bother putting in that extra effort? I have spent four years trying to get all these people at school to like me, but in two months I'll never see them again, so why bother? Wow, that sounded anti-social, but you get what I mean, right? I am just done!!

And for any of you I haven't talked to or have not seen my facebook page, I am going to Utah State. I am really excited! I found out today that I received a Research Fellowship, so I have an opportunity to do undergraduate research now. Really exciting!

Cell Phone Saga

Wow, it's been a while. Whoops... I guess I was never used to blogging. I decided I wanted to keep my blog more updated considering I want to be a writer and I figure this is good practice. Since I made that decision, however, not much has happened.That is, until this week...

I'm sure I wouldn't be the first to say that when they are stressed out, overwhelmed or really tired they make stupid mistakes. I do this quite often. My biggest problem is that one possession of mine usually falls victim to my temporary insanity: my cell phone.

My poor phone has been through a lot. Just two weeks ago at the end of a particularly long weekend when my parents were out of town and both Emily and Alex had science projects due, I dropped my phone in a bowl full of water in the sink while doing the dishes. Luckily after spending a few days in a bowl of rice and applying my dad's technical knowledge to it, it rebounded.

Then on Tuesday I made the dumbest mistake of all with my phone - I left it in a bathroom at school. I didn't realize it for a few hours because I usually leave my phone in my backpack, and when I went back to find it, it was long gone.

I called it a countless amount of times, texted pathetic pleas for whomever had it to turn it into the office and continued to hope that it would just turn up in one of my classes. No luck.

Wednesday, my mom called AT&T and they said my phone had made a call at 11:45 the night before. She deactivated it, but it was official: my phone had been stolen. Then, my dad had a brilliant idea.. What if we found out the number the phone had called? We looked online at our bill and found the phone number. It was a land line. It was a lead. I took it.

That afternoon I called the number. No answer, but a teenage girl was on the answering machine. She left no name, so I still didn't know who I was talking to. I decided to call again that evening. This time, there was an answer.

"Hello?" she said.

"Hi, is there anyone from Orem High who is there?" I said innocently, but I'm sure creepily.

"No.. wait (confused stuttering) Ya, I go to Orem High?"

"Oh okay. What was your name?"

She then gave me her first and last name. I then told her how my phone had been stolen.

"I don't have your phone," she said defensively.

"Well whoever called you at 11:45 last night did, and I want it back." I explained that if whomever had it turned it into the office by lunch the next day I would drop it. If not, I was going to get the cops involved and I now have her name and phone number and proof that she was connected to my stolen phone and the person who took it.
"Oh, my sister probably has it."
"Alright, whatever. I just want it in the office by tomorrow."

"Oh ya I totally understand

Today at school I went in to the office to see if it was there and low and behold there it was! It had a stickie note on it saying someone found it near the soccer field. Sure. Whatever, I had my phone back.

I was suddenly filled with a strange sense of power. I had influenced somebody I didn't even know with my guts and my words. She didn't know I was shaking uncontrollably while I was talking to her. She wasn't aware that I had never dealt with the cops in my life and really didn't want to start now. She did what I wanted because I scared her. I've never been scary. Ever.

Now, I realize I must keep my new found power under control. I will only use it for good :) I won't take over the world... I promise. Because really, I'm just happy to have my phone back and working. Again.