Internal Conflict

Mid-August, right before school began, and even for the first few weeks of school I felt like my childhood Utah Fan was beginning to burst out from my chest.  As many people know, I grew up going to Utah football games with my dad.  I was a pretty committed Utah fan.  That is, until I went to BYU.  I remember standing in the bleachers at my first BYU football game and feeling like a traitor.  It took several months of being in Provo before I started feeling like a true cougar fan.  Then I got my job doing events for BYU and my Cougar-love really took over!  So as you can imagine, I was a little confused as to where my true school allegiance lies now that I'm in school at the U.  Just like I did when I went to BYU, I decided to embrace the school I am attending and see what happens.

So, I geared up and went to the first football game of the season.  I don't have season tickets, but bought a couple off a friend who got stuck going to his brother's wedding dinner instead (poor planning, right?)

My roommate, Sarah, and me

Maybe it's because I cheered in high school, but I always find the stunts entertaining!

The game was exciting!  All the crowd cheers came back from deep in my childhood memories. Sarah and I had some good laughs at the frat boys who were standing behind us... it was the end of Greek RUSH week so the conversations revolved around a lot of pretty stupid things, if you can imagine.  By the end of the game, I was sure I could be a Utah fan again!

A couple weeks later was the BYU-Utah game.  All my friends, and even some family, asked what color I would be wearing that day and I had no idea.  I ended up telling everyone black!  Then the day of the game came.  I had some studying to do so I watched the game from home...in white.  

Talk about slaughter house!  Two minutes into the game BYU fumbled the ball right by the end zone and Utah was able to pick it up inside the end zone for the first touchdown of the game.  And that was just the first of SEVEN turnovers.  Every time we went to commercial break, ESPN showed a mash up of BYU fumbles. It was just awful!  However, by the end of the first quarter I had figured out what color I truly bleed.

I cringed for the first 3 quarters of that game and every time the fumble mash up was shown.  By the fourth quarter, I couldn't bare it any longer (I went upstairs to clean the kitchen and just listened to my roommate's commentary).  It was such an awful game!  But, when your team is losing and you still root for them, you know it is real.  I might be a Utah student right now, but I will always be a Cougar!

GO COUGS! 

Fall 2006 - with the ROTC after I shot off the George Q. Cannon

Quick Post

One thing I have missed since quitting my job to start school...

Being well-informed on what is happening in the world, in the government, the stock markets, and all other current events--local, national, and international.

As a student, I am finding it hard to stay informed when all my free time is needed to study for the next exam or read the next chapter in a text book (not to mention social and religious obligations I commit to).  Even so, after spending the last few years in an office with a constant stream of information, I can tell I am left with a void from not being informed.  So, I am trying to up my ante and make time for important things in addition to my scholastic studies.  It it hard, and I am grateful for sweet apps on my iPad which help me to know what is happening at any time I might be available to listen.  And today, I heard a quote I particularly like.

"I am not defined by my government.  I am defined by the constitution. I am defined by the principles that God laid out, and I am defined by my actions; but not by my government and who my president is, or who's in congress.  I refuse to be that way."  -Glenn Beck

This comment stuck with me immediately.  Regardless of what is happening with the government, etc., I still have the right to choose how I will conduct my life.  It is my responsibility to take charge of the things in my life and to make a small difference in which ever way I am capable. I must do my best.

Back To School

While everyone and their dogs seem to be focused on the school year ending THIS WEEK, {shout out to all my teacher friends! wahoo!} I am focused on the opposite.  I am going to back to school!!!

I've been thinking about doing more school for a few years now, but wasn't sure where to go, what to study, how to pay for it...  All in all, I've been plugging away at my J.O.B. for some time now knowing there is something more for me somewhere, I just needed to figure out what.

After applying for a grad program last year in Therapeutic Recreation (same field as my undergrad) and getting denied, I started to question whether more schooling was really right for me.  What I hadn't realized yet was that I was looking in the wrong direction.

About every six months or so during the last two years, I kept coming back to the same idea for furthering my education.  Up until now I have pushed the thought away because I was overcome with fear of failure.  I've succeeded in a lot of things during the last 26 years, but I have NEVER in my life pushed myself hard academically, always doing just enough to get by or simply choosing the easy route.  Some programs I specifically steered clear of at BYU for the sole reason of them being hard, especially ones with several science course.  This program I keep coming back to and have been resisting for two years will consist of many sciences and LOTS and LOTS of studying.  But finally, I am ready.  With the right prayers, the right studying, and the right communication with the Lord, all things can be done.  My fear is gone, excitement fills me, and the dedication will be there!

This fall, I will be going back to school.  Not for a master's degree, but for a second bachelor's degree.  Its going to be a long road with several prerequisite courses {remember my fear of sciences? now I will face them all! yikes!}  I still plan to work through school and assuming I get accepted to the program on my first try, it will take me 4 years to graduate.  But what is four years anyway?  I've already been living in Salt Lake and working for that long since my first graduation!  It'll go fast, I'm sure.

Now, you must be wondering what on earth I plan to do, right??? Here is it.

{side note: a couple people have been a bit confused so I feel the need to clarify.  I have not been admitted to the nursing program...YET.  I will apply once I have finished the prerequisites.  the actual nursing program is still a ways away}

All my Cougar friends out there must be cringing right now!  On the other hand, I've got a lot of Ute friends that are probably cheering loudly!  I figure that in the end it doesn't really matter where I go to school.  BYU, however, does not allow for a second bachelor's degree so it was an easy choice.  Utah it is.  I still need to apply for the program after I complete the majority of the prerequisites, but this is the plan.

Here we go friends... keep me in your prayers and don't be upset if I choose to study over socializing sometimes.  It's just something I've got to do.

After getting admitted to the U for a second BS degree, I can now "relax" and focus on the next step.  I will be spending the remainder of this month in night classes getting my CNA certification.  Here we go!!!

Institute

For the first time EVER I found myself envious of those going back to school this fall.  I miss the days of change every four months, the social scenes, the learning, and all the possibilities that come with being in school.  Four years ago I never dreamed I'd ever feel this way, but here I am.

That's why I decided to take two institute classes at the U Institute of Religion this semester. And I love them!

I'm taking a D&C class.  The class size is small, most likely because of the time since the teacher is amazing!  I took a D&C class while at BYU, but it is definitely different when you are being graded vs being able to just enjoy the wealth of knowledge.  The other class is titled Gospel and Christian History and its packed full - standing room only if you're late.  I love these classes because they are typically taught by people who have spent time in the Middle East studying the history in the area.  This class is no different.  Brother Peterson has been there, he can depict real images to us, and my favorite part was how he was able to break down much of the biblical jargon, back to its Hebrew roots, that can be so difficult to understand.

Its going to make for a busy semester juggling these two classes with the rest of my busy life, but I couldn't be happier to be learning again!