Personal Narrative Reflection

After our strenuous research paper assignment, I really enjoyed the chance to write a personal narrative. This assignment gave me a chance to reflect on my life and remember a time in my life where I experienced growth and learned valued principles. The criteria of the personal narrative is different than any paper I have written before, but I feel I was able to adapt well to this new assignment and wrote my paper in accordance to narrative format.
After pondering on my life, I concluded that I learned a valuable lesson when my family moved here to Utah. It was a trying time for me, and through perseverance I was able to make the transition. My narrative deals with my feelings about the move, and a few things I experienced during my first few weeks in Utah. I also included what it was like being able to visit my grandparents more often. This was the biggest change I have had to deal with in my life, and I personally feel that I learned a great deal from this experience.

My Family

Living in the dorms in college has really made me more grateful and appreciative of the time I had living at home. I lived in a house and had control over the temperature,my mom was there to provide me with food and clean clothes. I have had the opportunity of going home a few times over the semester and have loved that time I have had to be back home and not having to worry how I will get my next meal. I am truly grateful for my family and their support! I should have expressed my gratitude more while I was still living at home, because now looking back, living at home was such a gift! I'm really looking forward to Christmas break and being at home for at least two weeks!

The Freshman Fifteen

So its pretty much proven that many freshman college students gain around 15 lbs in their first year of college. It does not happen to everyone, but it is not uncommon for it to happen to many of those that are away from home for the first time. Personally, my diet has been cereal, pasta (in many forms), granola bars, and whatever is being served at the Cannon Center. I often find myself very hungry and did not think I would be a victim of the freshman fifteen. I even started a weekly workout routine with my roommate that consisted of push-ups and ab workouts every other day. Between working out, walking to class and around campus all day, and marching band practice, I assumed there was no way I would gain the common 15 lbs. However, I went to the doctor a few weeks ago to get my mission physical and to my dismay I clocked in 11 lbs heavier than I was at the start of the semester. I'm hoping the majority of the weight is from muscle I have gained through working out, but I'm sure alot of it is due to my stress, sleeping patterns, and diet. Indeed I still have a few more pounds to gain to get to 15, but there still is a whole semester left.

BYU- A School Unlike Any Other

Looking back at the semester, I have really enjoyed my time here at BYU. I'm so glad I chose to come to this university. I knew it wouldn't be the easiest road to take, but I really did not want to end up anywhere else. The thing I have loved the most is the overall atmosphere and the gospel's influence on every subject. Having the spirit contribute in your learning process is something you won't find anywhere else. My teachers have continuously made gospel insights in class over the semester that have tied into what we were learning very well.
Today in PDBio, Dr. Jellen pretty much summed it up. Today was his last day because of a trip to Israel, and he left us with his humble testimony. He told us that above all, the Gospel is what is truly important. He bore a very uplifting testimony that brought the spirit. Where else can you find that in a classroom? I am very grateful for the chance I have to be a student here at BYU, and for the Gospel that has blessed my life this semester in school and in many other ways.

Snow is Upon Us

Once again winter is here. I've lived in Arizona for most of my life and always loved Arizona winters! They're not too cold and usually in the 60's during the day. After moving to Utah, I experienced my first "white Christmas" during the winter of 2007. I really don't mind the snow falling on the ground, but i absolutely dislike driving on snowy roads. I have had my share of mishaps on snowy roads and this is one of them:
It was winter of my senior year and I was driving to work after school. The roads were covered in snow and I was going faster than I should have been. The road i needed to turn onto was coming up and I hit the brakes, but just started sliding off to the right side of the road. I was headed right for a stop sign and was about to slam into it, when suddenly I hit a curb and was launched over a ditch on the other side of the curb. I flew through the air and landed in the front yard of someone's home in between a tree and a telephone pole. I sat there and felt so lucky to be free from harm. To add to my luck, about 45 seconds later, a truck pulled up and asked to pull me out. I gratefully asked for their help. The owners of the house must not have been home because nobody every came outside. The only damage done to my car was my front bumper became somewhat loose. I was very lucky that nothing worse happened to me or my car! Be careful driving in the snow!

BCS Never Fails To_____

The college football bowl match-ups were announced yesterday and teams were selected for each Bowl Championship Series (BCS) bowl and non-BCS bowl. There has been a long debate whether the BCS should be eliminated, and college football should adopt a bracket playoff postseason similar to NCAA basketball. BYU ended up ranked 14th in the BCS and therefore is once again headed to the Las Vegas bowl. The discussion of this postseason, however, is the match-up between TCU and Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. TCU and Boise State are both non-BCS teams and were probably looking froward to playing a "harder" BCS team. The BCS, however has matched them up against each other, so there is no chance for a team from a non-BCS conference to take down a BCS team like Utah's win over Alabama last year. TCU and Boise state were looking for a chance to really shine and prove that they are BCS caliber teams, but they have been deprived of this chance. I really do not agree with the BCS staff on this one, and really would like to see the end of the BCS. Its very unlikely, but one can dream, can't they?

BYU Basketball Game @ ESA

This last weekend I drove up to Salt Lake to attend the BYU vs USF basketball game at Energy Solutions Arena. As we approached the stadium, we were stopped behind cars and I noticed a homeless man on the sidewalk ahead of us, holding a sign that said, "Homeless-Anything will help." Usually when I see people on the street, I don't stop and just continue on my way, but for some reason I was in better spirits and decided to help him out. I pulled out my wallet and found that I only had one dollar in cash. I pulled the dollar bill out, but felt I needed to contribute more. Since I didn't have any more cash, I decided to give him my ticket to the game. The snow made it extremely cold outside, so the arena would give him a warmer place to go. I felt a great sense of happiness knowing I helped someone out, even if it was just something small.
I got to the stadium along with my friends, and with our all-sports passes we were able to get 4 more tickets next to each other. We entered the arena and found our seats. To our surprise we were on the 7th row in the lower bowl seating of the stadium! They were absolutely great seats and we had a great time at the game (which of course ended with a BYU victory)! Now, I don't know if we were blessed with better seats because we gave to a homeless man, but i would like to think so.

Christmas Season Challenge

Christmas is a great time of year. Snow is falling and neighborhoods are illuminated with Christmas lights. Amidst all stress that comes from school it may be difficult to fully experience the spirit of Christmas, but I hope that you will find time to serve others and focus on giving. With all the hustling shoppers ans latest games and toys, the real meaning of Christmas seems to have been buried. I would hope that we will all remember Christ this Christmas and act as he would-- always serving others.

Beer Pong

This weekend, I went to the University Mall to get some Christmas gifts for my siblings. Upon wandering around Sports Authority, my friend and I came across a beer pong set. We both looked at each other, and the next thing we know, we walked out of the store with the beer pong set in our bag (after purchasing of course). That was our first mistake.
The second mistake was the our choice of beverage. This is BYU, so of course we did not use beer. We decided to use orange-strawberry Sunny Delight. The dark pink liquid looked very tasty inside the jug, but we would soon realize this drink would be one we will forever avoid.
We got back to our dorm, filled the cups about half full of the Sunny Delight, and set them and set them in the triangular formation on both sides of the table. One by one, each cup was eliminated and we drank the juice. The taste made me more sick with every cup I drank. By the end, I had the sickest feeling in my stomach; I had to lay down on the couch and could not move. What a horrible idea for some Friday night fun: drinking way too much Sunny Delight.

Social Dance

Back in July as I began to plan out my classes for the semester, I never had the idea enrolling in a dance class. When the time to register came, I added my freshman academy envelope and still needed a few classes to surpass the 14 credit requirement. I happened to come across the social dance class and found an openings. Initially, I still didn't add it because I felt dance classes were for girls. My father, however, said that he took a beginning dance class in college and really enjoyed it. I consulted with a few of my friends and came to the conclusion that I would register after all.
This semester, my social dance class has been one of my favorite classes. I've discovered that dancing is a great way to communicate and get to know different people. With the rise of texting and online social networking, dancing is one way you can actually communicate in person. This semester I've learned the foxtrot, cha-cha, waltz, swing and polka! I have had so much fun learning all of these dances, and the class has been a great way to get my mind of stressful matters such as biology and chemistry homework.

Max Hall's Postgame Comments

As anyone reading this probably knows, Max Hall expressed his feelings of hate towards Utah and their fans after the victory on Nov. 28th. Max was still feeling a lot of emotion from the game, and given more time to calm down, probably wouldn't have said what he did. Nevertheless, what he said indeed had some truth to it. Hall stated at last years game that members of his family were spat on, had beer poured on them, and had very inappropriate things said and done to them. So, Max definitely had a good reason to express his strong dislike for the Ute fans in saying that they were classless. I agree with Max that there are indeed A LOT of classless Ute fans. Every fan I saw at the game was obnoxious and was only trying to get on the nerves of the BYU fans around them. However, I am sure there are some decent fans of the U of U that just come out to enjoy a great game and not cause trouble.
Max later apologized, which was the right thing to do, but still stood up for his family. The bottom line is: There are fans and players from both BYU and Utah that are very passionate about their team, and really have a strong dislike for the other team and their fans. Hall just expressed his feelings publicly, but everyone else was thinking it.

BYU vs Utah Rivalry

After moving to Utah, one of the first things my dad did was purchase season tickets to the BYU football games. In doing so, my family has been to almost every home game for the past few years. My family always looks forward to the rivalry game against Utah and are especially enthused when the Holy War happens to be at Lavell Edwards Stadium. As a student now, and as a member of the BYU Drumline, I have been fortunate enough to be at every home game this year, and was able to be at the rivalry game this past weekend.
Even before the band got into the stadium, I could tell it was going to be an intense game. Many passionate Ute fans made there way into the stadium at about the same time as the band, and a few expressed their hatred towards us by yelling really obnoxious things. I really wanted to throw my stick at one Ute fan with a red mo-hawk, but was able to contain my anger.
The game proved to be a thriller as passionate fans from both sides cheered extremely loud when their team made a good play. I will always remember the sight of Andrew George running towards me and into the end-zone, scoring the game-winning touchdown in overtime...followed by thousands of students rushing the field. The only people left in the stands were practically the band, and the older fans that would have had a hard time jumping onto the field. It was a night I will always remember: BYU 26-Utah 23.

Blessings Through a Trial

There I sat in the basement of our Arizona home on a typical warm evening. I was camped on the couch in front of the TV after another long day at school. I felt relaxed and my mind was blank, until I heard my father yell something from upstairs.

“Family meeting in five minutes,” yelled my dad.

“Why? Family night was yesterday,” I thought.

What could this urgent family meeting possibly be about? Did my parents plan a fun family vacation for this summer? Or was the news not so good? I tried to spend as much of the five minutes still on the couch, but I was overcome with curiosity and could not relax anymore. After those five minutes had passed, I slowly made my way up the stairs, as I tried to pinpoint what the subject of the meeting would be. I arrived at the top of the stairs to find the rest of my family assembled in the living room.

“We were waiting for you,” my younger sister said in a sarcastic tone. I took my place on our leather couch as my father got up to address our family.

“As you guys know, we have been talking for awhile about possibly moving to Utah.”

“Is he serious?” I thought. That idea had been put to rest for awhile. The idea had been brought up before, but I did not think we would actually move to Utah.

My father continued, “Both of your grandparents have not been doing very well health wise, and they may not be on the earth for too much longer. I have prayed many times about what we should do, and I really feel moving closer to family would be the right thing to do.”

I looked around to find my mother in tears and began to ponder to myself.

He really expects us to just get up and leave? Arizona had been our home for the past 12 years! I was almost 16 years old and was nearing the end of my sophomore year in high school. I had many good friends and had built great relationships with many of them over the years. We were in a fantastic ward, and I really did not want anything to change.

As the day of our departure drew nearer, my attitude seemed to change. Maybe moving wouldn’t be so bad? The idea of having to make new friends and attending a different high school did not excite me, but hopefully it wouldn’t be too difficult. The school year ended, the summer had arrived, and I made my final goodbyes to my friends in Arizona.

The morning of June 21, 2007 came too soon as we finished loading the moving truck and prepared to leave for good. I will always remember when my family knelt in prayer for one last time in the living room of our Arizona home. My parents were both in tears, but the Spirit was there, and that is really when it came to me that moving closer to family was the right thing to do. We arrived at our new home late that night and my new life in Utah had begun.

That summer seemed to go by faster than a gazelle being chased by a hungry bear. School was here once again, and I still had not made very many friends. I was reminded of my freshman year as I aimlessly walked through the halls trying to find my classes. I hated the feelings of loneliness and emptiness I felt in each class as I sat with nobody to talk to. It was a smaller school and it seemed like everyone else knew each other. It felt like everyone was watching me as I wandered through the lunchroom trying to find a place to sit and eat my lunch. Thankfully, the feelings of uneasiness did not last long after I was able to find a job as a referee and umpire for youth sports. After my first day on the job, one my fellow employees, who was female and around 20 years old, approached me.

“Can I have your number?” she asked.

I gave her a blank stare and thought, “I think you are a little old for me?” She quickly realized what I was thinking and said, "Oh it’s not for me, it’s for my sister!” We both shared a laugh, and I ended up hanging out with her sister that night. She has become one of my best friends, and it’s a friendship I will cherish forever. As the weeks passed by, I made more and more friends and became more comfortable with each day of school.

While finding friends was important to me, spending time with family was the main reason my family moved to Utah. While living in Arizona, we visited my grandparents only two or three times a year. Now that Rexburg, Idaho is only three hours away (rather than fifteen), we have been able to visit them a lot more. I love the smell of my grandma’s homemade cookies and the wonderful taste of her famous French toast. I also look forward to games of soccer, baseball, or football in the back yard with my cousins. Grandma’s house is not all fun and games though; living on a farm is hard work. Every morning we get up early, load bales of hay onto the back of my grandpa’s red truck, and then drive though the muddy roads and out to the pastures to feed the cows. The cold wind in the early morning, along with the smell of fresh cow pies was never my favorite smell, but working with my grandpa was always enjoyable. Working on the farm really has brought our family closer together. Our family has grown a lot closer over the past few years through the simple chores that we have completed on my grandpa’s farm.

Unfortunately, cancer has taken the lives of all my grandparents since my family moved to Utah. Grandma and grandpa’s house will never be the same, but what a blessing it was to visit them a lot more over the past few years.

Personal Narrative

I have decided to base my personal narrative on the change I experienced through moving to Utah halfway through high school. At first I really didn't like the idea of the move, but now looking back, it was for the better. The message I will portray is that although change can be scary and nerve-wracking, it also can be good and bless your life. Now, if I can just motivate myself to actually start writing the paper...

Highlight of the Semester

Today Andrew, Steve, and I went to the Wilkinson Center after biology to "study chemistry." We sat down at a table with some cute girls, but after about ten minutes they left. We were somewhat disappointed, but that quickly changed. To my surprise, Harvey Unga came and asked if he could sit with us! Of course we said yes, and he sat down and to eat his lunch. Then we had that moment that everyone has when they see someone of high status. Is that really Harvey Unga? Soon after, two more members of the football team came and sat down with him and ate their lunch. Harvey said he was still hungry, so Andrew recommended Taco Bell and that is how the conversation got started. We talked about where we were from, what music we like, and then finally got on the topic of football. We chatted with him for around ten minutes, and that is ten minutes of my life I will never forget.

A Blessing in Disguise

Since moving up here to Utah in the Summer of 2007, my father has been searching for a steady job to support our family. He had a very good job in Arizona, and had faith that even in this time of economic hardship, he would be able to find a job. He did have a job for awhile at the Flying J offices in Ogden, UT, but the business filed bankruptcy and he was released. It was around that time that my Grandma on my mother's side became ill and moved in with our family so we could take care of her. She lived with us for around a year and because my father did not have a job, he was able to help my mother take care of her at home.

This past summer, my mother was called as Primary President in our ward, and was often in meetings on Sundays and a couple times during the week. However, my grandma was still cared for by my father who was still at home looking for a job. In September, my father had an interview with a big financial company. The interview went well and he was called back for interview, after interview, after interview. He was still able to take care of my grandmother though, because he still had not been offered the job. My grandma passed away this last October, and literally the day after she passed away, my father received a call from the company and was awarded the job. He had been in for around 12 interviews which is very abnormal, but in the meantime was able to look after my grandmother until she passed away.

I know the Lord hears and answers our prayers. Our family has been praying that my father would find a job for over a year, and even though it took awhile, I know the answer to our prayers was postponed so my grandma could be cared for.

Moving to Utah- A Testimony Builder

I have lived in Arizona for most of my life and really felt comfortable there. Having lived there for 12 years, I had many friends, but we were nowhere near extended family. All of my family members live in northern Utah and southern Idaho. In 2007, my father had been praying to decide if we should move closer to family or stay in Arizona. My father had a successful career, was in a management position, and we were in a great ward and had many friends. However, the health of my grandparents had started to decline. So, in the summer of 2007 we moved up to Willard, UT to be closer to our extended family.

It was hard for me transitioning halfway through high school, but I knew that being near family was important. I was able to see my grandparents and cousins a lot more in the past few years. In 2008, both of my grandparents on my father's side passed away due to cancer, and this last October, my only grandparent left on my mother's side passed away due to cancer as well.

I am grateful that my father was able to receive revelation for our family and for his counsel in my life. It was the right thing for my family to move up here to Utah. I was able to see my grandparent a lot before they died and now looking back I wish we could have moved here sooner in order to spend even more time with them. I am so grateful for families and I know that through God's plan, I will be able to see my grandparents again.

Research Paper

For my freshman research paper I have decided to research the link between cancer and exposure to farm chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers. A lot of the research I have found thus far deals with pesticides and the damage it can do to the human body. As I continue my research I will hope to find other links of farming chemicals to human health.
Both of my parents grew up on farms and all of my grandparents have died due to various forms of cancer. My grandparents were all exposed to various chemicals used in farming, and I hope to discover whether this exposure lead to their development of cancer.

General Conference

This recent General Conference was really the first time in my life that I have taken notes on the speakers' talks. I got so much more out of the talks and messages that were given. By taking notes, I found myself searching for the meassages and not just listening to the words. Elder Holland's talk is one I will remember for years to come. I had never felt the spirit touch me in the way it did during his talk. He spoke with so much confidence and I'm sure we could all tell, The Book of Mormon is definitely something he is passionate about.


I also really enjoyed Elder Uchtdorf's talk in priesthood session about work and education. A quote I found interesting was when he said, "When the a wagon gets stuck in the mud, God will more likely bless the man who gets out to push, rather than the one who offers a prayer to (to get unstuck)." Prayer is definitely important, but we also need to know how to work. Elder Uchtdorf also mentioned that, "Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire." I found this quote very inspiring for me as I continue to pursue an education. His words were very encouraging, and I will continue to look back at my notes of conference to remind myself of the direction given to us by the leaders of our church.

Keeping up with the Hustle

If there is one thing I've learned these first few weeks of school, its that the college life is busy. Classes, homework, and extracurricular activities have taken up most of my time. Because i'm on the BYU Drumline, I also have to find time to practice my music. We rehearse 3 times a week as a full band, and Saturdays are busy if the football team happens to be playing at home.

I certainly have started to manage my time better,however, by finishing what homework I have before finding time to hang out with friends. Although, its usually after 10 pm when I do get everything done. I have been learning a lot and really think even in the first few weeks I have grown mentally and spiritually.