School, school, school!

So, because I transferred to BYU from BYU-Idaho, my time in school extended by about a year and a half. (RIDICULOUS, RIGHT?) I went from graduating early to... a year late.

5.5 years of college... WHOO HOO!

Not.

Yes, my generals/foundations transferred because I had my Associate's Degree done. However, the Elementary Education program is way more in-depth and rigorous here. BYU-Idaho couldn't offer me a TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Oral Language) minor or an ELL/ESL (English Language Learner/English Second Language) teaching badge at graduation, whereas BYU here in Provo can. So... that explains why I have to take more classes and why I'll be here another year and a half -- basically I'll be more marketable, find a job more easily & I'll make more $ after graduation because I'll be graduating from BYU instead of BYU-Idaho.

Make sense?

So it's worth it, right?

I hope so because I'm really coveting all of those caps and gowns I'm seeing on my Facebook newsfeed from students at both BYU campuses! So many of my friends are graduating! It's like that Taylor Swift song...

"Well it's a sad picture, the final blow hits ya, and somebody else gets what you wanted again."

It's so annoying how LONG school is taking. I was talking to my mom on the way to the airport last week about it, and ya know what she said?

"Well, it's a good thing you're up there. Even though it will take longer (to graduate), I'm glad you're at BYU. Hey, at least that gives you more time to find a companion?"

YEP. Because I sure didn't get the MRS Degree at BYU-I-DO! Which, honestly... lesbihonest. That's completely fine with me. As much as I love my guy friends and all the guys at BYU-Idaho, the guys in Provo are a tad more driven. They're not just going to school to find a wife. I would say that at least 90% of the guys I talk to are either pre-med, pre-law or on their way to Grad school whereas up there...? HA!

I'm serious.

Plus, being down here at BYU has made me more driven and excited to pursue my education. There's something in the air down here that's contagious. On the Sunday before finals, I had never heard so many people say, "I have to study!" That never happened at BYU-Idaho. Well, now, we could go into the whole "BYU is the Church's school, but BYU-Idaho is the Lord's school" debate... but I won't get started.

My point is -- People here are driven and ambitious. And it's made me driven and ambitious. But I just want to graduate already...

!

Awfully Awesome.

First and foremost -- I am so depressed. One of my most loyal blog readers, Mariah Pugmire, has been shipped off to the MTC to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Finland. She'd message me on a weekly basis and say, "UPDATE YOUR BLOG!" whenever I was slacking. (Right now would probably be one of those times.)

So after only a week at my new job, I'd take working in the food industry ANY DAY over working retail. I usually work retail at home during the summers or during breaks from school -- and although I'm awesome at it, I absolutely hate it compared to the food industry. I have learned that hungry college students are a lot easier to please than rich, middle-aged mothers of toddlers. Not only that, when the restaurant gets busy, it's a lot more fun than when I store gets busy (and messy).

However, it's critical that I don't mess up on any orders or else I'll end up eating the "mess-up" entree.

No. Bueno. Gotta keep my figure.

I've also decided that this semester has truly been one of the best semesters of my life. (Oh, PS my life has gone by "semesters" since January 2010 when I started college. It's the only way I keep track of events in my life.)

Seriously. Last semester (Fall 2012) was the worst of my life (for obvious reasons). Even Spring 2012 when I was engaged to Tyler was really rough. But I think the Lord just knew I needed a break and some extra blessings, so He blessed me with new opportunities and new people. It's been quite refreshing. I mean, not only do I have straight A's for the FIRST time in my COLLEGE CAREER, but I have also made some amazing friends, have a great calling in my ward, and an AWESOME and FUN job -- where I enjoy closing! Oh, and a great social life. I counted, and.... I may or may have not gone on over 25 dates this semester with 25 different people.

Not even joking.

What more could a girl ask for? (*Knock on wood*)

The Lord truly does bless his children after much trial, testing, and tribulation. I could name countless blessings I've received this semester, but I think the greatest blessing of all has been the growth that I've gone through and the solidification of my testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I can't tell you the exact date, but I can tell you the exact moment that I felt the overwhelming healing power of the Atonement in my heart after all that I went through last year. Since that moment, I've been able to enjoy life and live it to its fullest. Although there have been moments of heartache and missing him, all I have to do is stop looking back and look forward to the future and future blessings that I've been promised time and time again. The Lord loves me, and He loves each and every one of His children. All we have to do is let Him into our hearts and take His advice -- follow the commandments. Following God's laws and letting the Atonement heal us will only bless our lives. From much experience, I know this to be true!

Anyway -- I had no intentions to make this a Gospel post, but you can't deny the feelings when they come.

Goodnight, ya'll.

Someone's gotta say it.

Is it just me that sees these all over Pinterest?

Ok -- I'm not going to pretend I haven't laughed at any of these before because I have. But it's almost the same at when I laugh at some Mormon jokes. I can laugh because I'm Mormon (and when it comes to Mormon culture -- some are hilarious because they're true). But sometimes... I just don't find them funny. 

Ok, ok. I used to laugh at a lot of Taylor Swift memes. But I've noticed the press has been really hard on her lately and so has society. And I'm not going to sit here and try to "protect" or "defend" her -- but I do want to state my opinion on the matter.

Number ONE. Taylor Swift is not Adele. They may be the same age, but they are two separate artists and have utter and completely two different styles of music. BEFORE you go crazy on me and rant about how much more "artistic" or "real" Adele is -- hear me out. Prior to seeing that last meme, I had NO idea that Adele was around the same age as Taylor Swift. I had NO CLUE why her album's were called "20" and "21" because based on her voice, her music and the fact she has a child -- I was under the assumption that she was in her thirties. Granted she makes me want to start cutting myself every time I listen to her, Adele has a very mature sounding voice and she is very talented. So, naturally, I thought she was older.

With that being said, Taylor Swift, like myself, is... 22. Like myself, Taylor Swift has probably kissed boys. She's also probably had her short-lived flings and been heartbroken a time or two. Or, on several occasions for that matter because either the guys she's dated are tools or flakey -- or, simply, it just doesn't work out for one reason or another. And then she's probably had a few legitimate boyfriends who have legitimately left her broken. And, of course, maybe one whom she has had to repeatedly tell, "We are never, ever getting back together" because she just couldn't put up with him or his crap anymore.

NOW... looking at my own, normal 22 year old life, I sit here and think... I can easily give her the benefit of the doubt because there have been SEVERAL occasions when I've needed to vent about a guy that I'm missing, a guy that I've been hurt by, and sometimes just a guy that left me in the dirt -- and there have been more than just that "one" guy that's done the exact same thing to me before! So, on that note, I've vented about guys (some boys) in a blog post -- some have even gotten more than one blog post "dedicated" to them. (Granted... they remain anonymous -- but it's still happened.) 

Does that make ME crazy? Does that make ME stuck in high school? Does that make ME the problem? 

Taylor Swift is 22. She lives a 22 year old life. She dates. She occasionally gets as boyfriend. She gets heartbroken. And, she needs to vent once in a while about it.

(And then... she makes millions -- but that's beside the point.) 

But before I end this post -- one more thing.

Taylor Swift may not be as great of a singer or lyricist as a lot of other artists out there. But, I will say this... She knows how to express my own feelings in a way that no other artist can. Without Taylor Swift, I don't know who else would write about my life -- or any other 22 year old girl's for that matter. 

So, to conclude, I'm a diehard and proud of it. If you don't like her, I'm completely okay with that. And we can still be friends -- I just had to make a point. But, then again...