October 30, 2013

How do you say "I'm terrified" in French?

This was the story of probably the most terrifying but most rewarding moment in my life. I went to France after my first year at SUU for my EDGE (Education Designed to Give Experience) project. This is a program where you choose from one of five centers on campus - Outdoor, Leadership, Creativity, Community, and Global - and design your own project to do outside of the classroom. I chose to do a study abroad and it was definitely amazing: incredible food, museums, shopping, amazing food, school, beaches, hikes, new friends (and delicious food).


I had been taking French in school for seven years but I wasn't super confident in my ability to actually speak it to people, especially when I got there and tried to talk to my host family and all the students in my class, who were amazing at French. But, the longer I stayed, the better I became, and eventually it was all summed up in the situation described here. I missed my train and was all alone in a giant train station where no one spoke very good English. As I'm sure you can imagine, I was scared out of my mind, but I made it. It turns out my French actually was good enough for me to find myself a new ticket and the train I needed, and I've never felt more proud of myself.


If it wasn't for the EDGE program, I probably never would have had this amazing opportunity to spend a month of my life in France and grow personally in ways I couldn't even imagine at the time. Plus, I got to knock out half the credits I needed for my French minor in just four weeks, in a different country, while paying the same tuition I pay at SUU. It was basically winning all around.

And the food... ahhh.

October 29, 2013

It starts with a D and ends with ecisions.

If you've been reading my blog for a while, I'm sure you came to this realization long before I did, but I'm just going to come out and say it. My greatest fear is making decisions and I don't know how to face it.

I mean, I should have figured this out a long time ago, honestly. My entire life, I have either jumped into things without thinking about them or put them off until I was forced to do something. I only applied to one college, for heaven's sake. If that's not a fear of decisions, I don't know what is. And you have patiently read about my antics of changing majors and going on missions and other madness.

Unfortunately, I am nearing time to make one of the bigger decisions of my life so far: graduate school. I've already decided that I'm going, and after much deliberation, decided that I'm going to do student affairs. Just reaching those two conclusions has been awful enough. But obviously, I can't only apply to one school like I could for SUU because I don't have the knowledge that I will get in for sure. I'm panicking and I haven't even applied anywhere yet!

But seriously, even thinking about the whole process of applying and then deciding what to do makes me want to curl up under 20 blankets and never come out. I know it's not that big of a deal and that I'll know what to do when the time comes, but for some reason my body can't process that. I never get stressed out about anything except for this. I need help.

Someone tell me how to get over my fear of decision making without making decisions.

October 14, 2013

Forever red.

This past weekend was my last homecoming as an undergrad, and it could not have been more of an adventure.

Luckily, I got work off at the last minute. I was super pumped that I would actually be able to go to the football game, since it's my last year and all. Unfortunately, because of work and homework and doing an open house for SUU in Provo, I couldn't attend any of the activities Monday through Thursday.

Friday finally arrived and with it came Colby, who drove up from St. George to entertain his college girlfriend's homecoming excitement. The plan for Friday night was to go to Forever Red, which is always a big concert with free food, fun, and fireworks, and then of course to go to true T-bird afterward. We made pork quesadillas right before going to Forever Red even though there was going to be free food, because according to Colby: "When they say there's going to be free food, there's never food." (Amateur.)

I was a little nervous that Colby was going to think this whole homecoming thing was super lame, because first of all he went to UVU and secondly, he told me his first impression of me was that I was going to be an obnoxious girl obsessed with her school. (He still hasn't figured out that's exactly who I am... shh.) Luckily my fears were abated when we got to campus and were greeted by an a cappella quartet composed of 50-year-old men. Definitely the coolest and most un-lame thing that could happen.

We met up with some friends, got free food (which there was plenty of), and watched some great opening acts and fireworks before Hellogoodbye finally appeared onstage. They were incredible, just like I remembered from middle school, and even ended with my favorite song of theirs: Oh, It Is Love.


Then, it came time for true T-bird. Let me just explain that the worst thing that could have happened during homecoming week at SUU happened: I got a cold sore. The stresses of life became too much for my little body to bear and so from my lip sprouted a hideous fever blister. Luckily, though, my relationship is not based solely on looks and with the help of modern medicine, that blemish subsided enough for me to make my boyfriend a true T-bird. The real highlight, though, was watching some girl rape-kiss a member of Hellogoodbye. Classic.

The next morning, 7:00 came early as did the realization that I had made a horrible error: signing up to run the SUUper Sorrel 5K when I haven't run any distance at all since June and also it was an all time high temperature of 32 degrees outside. I reluctantly bundled up in all my Nike gear: shoes, socks, hoodie, gloves (and Forever 21 tights... no one can afford tights from Nike) and headed out the door to the starting line.

Mile 1 was a piece of cake. Then Mile 2 hit and I started choking on the bone-chilling cold air and almost threw up on the side of the trail. Then my cheap tights kept falling down and my ponytail kept falling out and my music kept getting too loud and too quiet. Then I hit Mile 3 and told myself I would run the rest of the way even though my foot really hurt. By the time I crossed the finish line I was literally near death. But there, lo and behold, was this saint waiting for me with cinnamon rolls and chocolate milk. Hashtag luckiest girl ever.


We went back to my house to eat and shower before going to the parade. The weather had magically turned bearable and I was supposed to actually be in the parade with all my PA friends, but my foot was seriously messed up from that run so I opted to sit on the curb and enjoy.

The tailgate was next, where Colby broke his 8 year long no-hot-dog streak and I accidentally nailed some kid with a football.

And finally, the homecoming game. We played Portland State and it was a lot of back-and-forth and a lot of standing on my practically broken foot, but SUU pulled it off, I learned the fight song, and Thor got to ride in a helicopter, so it was basically winning all around. I even convinced Colby to wear an SUU shirt and cheer for my team.


All in all, I wouldn't change a single part of my last homecoming. This weekend, along with everything else going on in my life lately, is bordering on perfection.

October 9, 2013

"Fall" in love with SUU. (Get it?)

If I could choose my favorite time of the year in Cedar City, it would definitely be October. Even though school is getting more serious and professors give out the bulk of their assignments for the semester during this month, there is nothing quite like walking to class in the crisp autumn air and going out of your way to step on crunchy-looking leaves.

This month it's finally time to put on boots and scarves and curl up in the library with a cup of white hot chocolate and a good book (or a textbook...). And then on the weekends, to put on your favorite oversized SUU sweater and cheer on our T-birds at the football game.


It's time for haunted houses that are put together by the greeks on campus, and to start getting together an original costume for the huge Halloween party known as the Scream that happens at the end of the month.

It's time to bundle up for Forever Red, the concert under the starts that happens for homecoming week, and to start putting on chapstick more often in preparation for true T-bird night.

It's time to gather all your friends for the next season of the Walking Dead.

It's time to start running on the indoor track in the PE Building when you're too scared to brave the cold mornings, and time for afternoon bike rides in Cedar Canyon underneath the changing leaves.


It's time to grab some warm cider and a blanket and watch the homecoming parade on Saturday morning.

It's time to start Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings movie marathons and eat s'mores with your roommates on nights it gets dark and cold too early.

Basically, it's time just to cherish being at SUU in October, because it's the best.

October 2, 2013

Chaos.

I'm resisting the temptation to begin this post with the words "It's already October." I know you know. We all know and we're all pumped! October is the month of pumpkin spice eggnog, crunching leaves, boots and leggings, changing colors, crisp air, canyon bike rides, haunted houses... Basically the best time of the year.

I'm hoping and praying that I will find the time to enjoy it, seeing as how my life lately has been chaos. I'm still working at the treatment center that I've been working at since April, but in addition to that I have taken on the responsibility of managing the #tbirdnation blog and the admissions Instagram page, as well as helping out with other social media. Plus taking 12 upper division credits and institute and probably getting a church calling. Good thing I'm happiest when I'm busiest! For real though.

However, in the relatively small amount of down time I have had recently, I've managed to pull off a few fun activities: nighttime mini golf and board games, a really interesting yoga class, a delicious and eventful birthday party for my roommate, a bike ride through Snow Canyon, and a trip to Sand Hollow. I just realized that even my free time isn't really that relaxing. (Yoga should have been... but just visit Sage Hills and you'll understand.)

In light of this, my goals for the rest of this semester need to include taking time for myself. I've been attempting to relax by watching Mad Men and have made it through a whopping one episode. So, over the next few weeks I plan on watching a few more episodes, spending some time with my family, and going to a normal yoga class. And maybe taking a few more YouTube breaks, because we all need more of those.

Here'e the winner of my favorite one I've seen lately! Watch it all the way to the end.