#21) Blog Evaluation

At first, I wasn’t excited to write a blog. I didn’t think I had anything to write about and kept putting it off. When our class was asked to comment on five blogs, I changed my mind. I realized that my posts didn’t need to be research papers and that they should reflect me and my personality. With this in mind, I decided that I wanted write about the lessons I have learned at BYU. I decided that my blog wasn’t the place to talk about boys and my dating experiences and found that I probably would have regretted it if I had. In my room I have a chalkboard that I often write inspirational quotes on. These quotes really make me think when I see them every day as I enter my room. When I was writing I added some of these quotes and scriptures to my posts that went along with my stories. It was fun to also add pictures of friends and family. As I kept posting, I really grew to love my blog. I noticed that I often wrote about my family, spiritual experiences and past memories I have had in high school and how I have changed since then. I feel like my blog really made me realize what I have learned from my experience at BYU. Even though no one really reads my blog, I hope that I can bring inspiration to at least one other person. Maybe I’ll have to have my mom read it sometime. Overall, I really enjoyed the assignment of writing a blog and am so grateful I did. Now I can look back and recall experiences that I probably would have forgotten if I hadn’t written them down. Sister Steadman, thank you for assigning such a fun assignment. I really enjoyed your class and am going to miss it next semester.

#20) Growth

In my Book of Mormon class, we learned about Alma's conversion. In Mosiah 27, Alma became a new creature through Christ in three days and nights. This progression of repentance and growth is a slow, quite process that makes you stronger and grow up even when you don't even realize it.

This made me think of the changes that I have been through this past year. When I graduated from high school I was so sad to be leaving all of my good friends behind and I remember crying before I left for graduation. I thought that life was basically over when I was handed my diploma and thought that college wasn’t going to be very enjoyable. When I got to BYU, I quickly learned that life had just begun. I realized how much there is to learn and what it is like to be an adult. I have made many new friends; many of whom are much older than I. In fact, I have gone out with over ten RM’s this semester. I have so much freedom that I never had in high school. Whenever I go home to visit my family, I feel very limited. My parents expect me to be home at 12 if I am hanging out with my friends and are constantly wondering where and what I am up to. Although my mom still calls about three times every day, she has no control over the decisions I make. Lets just say.. I’m glad I grew up.

#19) Music

I absolutely love music. Last month one of my friends really made me think about why I liked each song I am interested in. He asked me to tell a memory I had with my favorite songs. As I thought about it, I realized that I listened to music through every exciting or saddening experience in my life. I don’t write in a journal very often so I feel like I get all of my emotions out by listening and singing to music. I have songs that remind me of specific times in my life with my friends, boys I have dated, and my family.

In high school, my girl friends and I had just gotten ice cream to celebrate my friend’s first kiss with a boy. We were driving back from the store as we listened to Taylor Swift with the windows down. We were singing and dancing to her popular song “you belong with me.” Two guys had pulled up to the light next to us and were laughing at us. We saw this and suddenly stopped in embarrassment, sinking in our seats, and cracking up in laughter.

Last week my girl friends and I were sitting in the library and noticed an old guy studying a table away. He kept looking over at our table so I told one of my friends that he was into her. I started singing “the Luckiest” by Ben Folds. “..What if I’d been born 50 years before you in a house on the street where you live…” Whenever I hear that song now, I recall the emotions I felt, chuckling in the library with friends over an old guy we had never met.

I will always remember these funny little experiences I have had with music and often recall them when I am having a down day. As I was writing this post earlier in the library, I was laughing just thinking about all of the fun experiences I have had with music. Everyone else in the library was so focused and serious. It made me really realize how wonderful music is because it just makes you happy. When I see people stressed and upset I wish I could just tell them how lucky they really are. As students of BYU we have every reason to smile. Uplifting music just reminds you of who you are and why you should be happy.

#18) Dear John...

When I went home for my friend’s farewell over the weekend, I really realized how much I am going to miss all of my high school guy friends that are leaving on their missions in the next couple months.

One of my best friends, Weston, is leaving while I am out of town with my family during the Christmas break. In high school, Weston and I were both Student Body Officers. We worked on everything together because he was president and I was vice president. Although there was no romantic interest with Weston, it seems like I am closest with him. I haven't seen him very much lately because he is going to a different university. Even though Weston isn't at BYU, we have remained friends this semester of school. We constantly call each other to tell what has been going on in our lives. It is going to be so strange when he is gone. I won’t be able to laugh and share old memories with him. Although I am going to miss Weston and all of my other friends, I know that they are making the best decision by serving the Lord for two years.

#17) Listen

"Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart. Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground."
-D&C 8:2-3

One night last month I was hanging out at my friend’s dorm. A guy we have hung out with a couple times asked us to go to a gymnastic place with him and a big group of people. I felt like I wasn’t supposed to go but my friend kept pushing me. She didn’t want to go alone and was interested in one of the guys that was going to be there. After a good ten minutes she finally convinced me to go. I told her that I was having a prompting to stay so we said a prayer and left. We got in my car and drove over to the boys dorms. I pulled in what I thought was a parking spot and soon found the front of my car leveled on a cement block. Quickly backing up, I heard a huge scrape. The bottom of my car was completely scratched up. I called my dad to tell him what happened and he told me that it was going to be alright. Sometimes I wish I would listen more to the promptings and actually follow them. If I had listened, my car wouldn’t have been damaged.

#16) Today Is An Exciting Time

“Adam fell that men might be and men are that they might have joy.”

Today Bishop Burton gave an excellent talk at the Tuesday devotional on the progresses and challenges of today’s world. He spoke about all of the exciting events that have recently taken place in our church and what we should be focusing on. He focused on temples, the importance of education, and the gift of charity. Bishop Burton said, "It is an exciting time to be alive because the gospel has been restored on the earth for our day." Our church has progressed so much that it will most likely build on more square footage than Walmart this year. Bishop Burton taught the importance of self reliance, education, missionary work, and technology. As a BYU student and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I must live up to my potential and work on each of these attributes. Bishop Burton said, “We need to be self reliant. Education is extremely important. Enough money was set aside for 50,000 of us to have an inexpensive education.” I need to be grateful for the success of the church and its blessings my family and I. Although it is a time for challenges, the Lord will always be there for us members of the Church. In the time of crisis Bishop Burton said that we have the potential to do things we never thought possible. Our struggles may seem overwhelming but if we continue to see the glass half full we will be significantly happy. It is not easy because real life is just a struggle. Success usually comes to those who aren’t looking for it. The scriptures say, “Oh remember, remember…” Today we would do well to remember all things. I thought Brother Burton’s most influential line for me was, “Success is a process it is not a destination. We need to remember the eternal plan of happiness while navigating through life.” It is easy to get caught up in such a wicked world and forget where you are going. If we just hold on, Christ will always be there for us. It’s ok to laugh every once in a while. We need to be more charitable in our actions towards others. Bishop Burton said that we won’t have to look hard to find ways to serve others. When you are in the service of your fellow beings you are only in the service of your God.