20. Evaluative Conclusion

This Semester has been amazing. I can't believe how much I have grown, changed, and learned in just a few short months. I'm grateful for this blog, which I think really shows my progress. I've always loved writing in my journal, but I haven't always had time. Blogging has been a good outlet for my thoughts, feelings, and dreams. 

I've really loved the theme for this semester. Talking about family stories and trying to figure out my own story seemed cheesy when we first started, but it has really made a difference in my life. Learning to write rhetorically, researching my family story, and telling my personal narrative have all built up to this point. The blog posts weave in and out of these papers, showing more casual, day-to-day life and random thoughts. It's all part of telling my family story. A story can be told by anyone, but it takes thought and time to tell it well. To tell it the way it deserves to be told. 

I've never seen the connection between family history and writing until now. But after this class, I am excited about my ancestors. I want to tell their stories. Family history is maybe one of the most important outlets for writing. So often we see it as finding records, or finding names. We need to remember that we are finding people. Someday we will just be names in the system, and if we want to be remembered as anything more we need to find a way to make lasting connections. I'm grateful for my ancestors and for the sacrifices they made. I can't wait to learn more about them and to possibly write about their stories. 

I'm still not quite sure what my personal narrative is, but I definitely learned more about it. I learned that I changed the most in between Junior High and high school. I learned that the pivotal moments in my life center around reading, and music, and my family. I try to be confident, kind, compassionate, and centered in the gospel. Things in my life have happened that specifically gave me those qualities. One of the best ways to learn about myself is to write and trace back my life story. That will help me figure out who I am, and help me teach my future children about me. 

In conclusion, I think in high school I learned how to write, and in this class, I have learned why I need to write. I have the skills, I just need to fine tune them. By practicing and becoming a more mindful writer, I can take writing in a new direction. It can really go in any direction I choose! By practicing telling Personal narratives and family stories, it's been proven that you really can write about anything. 

One common theme I noticed throughout my blog posts this semester is gratitude. I'll often end a post by saying how grateful I am for something. At first I thought this was repetitive and dull, but now I think it shows another part of my character. I'm grateful for people, experiences, and things learned. So in this evaluative conclusion, I would just like to end by saying I'm grateful for this class. I'm grateful for the ability to write. I'm grateful for my family and ancestors. And I hope to take what I've learned and run with it. I know I'll take these skills with me after finals week. 

Thanks, Sister Steadman

19. Grateful for My Roommates

My lovely roommates have taught me so much this semester--more than they will ever really know. I know that each one of them was placed in my life for a reason. I'm so grateful that I got to meet them, live with them, and befriend them. Hopefully we will be like those little old ladies who still stay in touch! :) I want to be part of their lives for a very long time. They are some of the people who have been most influential to me in my time here. Looking through my blog, I can see a little bit of their influence in almost every single post. Here are just a few things that I have learned from each of my roommates, and a few reasons why I love 'em so dearly. (For privacy reasons I will just post their initials!)

AW: She has taught me that fruit is good! Seriously, she has about five fruit bowls, and her fresh produce never goes bad. She loves eating fruits and veggies, and truly inspires me to live a healthier life. She loves to dance, and is constantly humming or singing some oldies song. Her love of music is contagious. AW gives the best hugs, and is so loving and kind. She adores babies and does this absolutely hilarious baby voice that we all try to imitate but can never quite capture. Her vintage style and quirky sense of humor keep us all laughing, and I will forever aspire to be like her.

ET: Cute little E is amazing. She has taught be to be punctual, in all things. She is energized, efficient, and focused. She loves to run, and is constantly doing what she is supposed to. I rarely see her waste time or slacking off. Her style is impeccable, and even though she laments her short hair, she looks beautiful with it long or short. She is funny and sweet, and very reverent. I love her so much and will try to take her energy with me on my mission.

ST: This girl is amazing. She's my opposite in some ways, but that's good, because I learn so much from her. She is bold, loud, and unapologetic. She says what's on her mind, and doesn't just sit around trying to guess what other people are thinking. She can also give great advice. That's the biggest thing I'll take away from her. If a conversation needs to be had, just say what needs to be said! She loves drama and theater, and has taught me to be passionate about what you do. I've also learned that it's okay to take long naps, indulge in netflix, and tell potty jokes like a six year old boy. Life is fun and loud and exciting.

KB: Okay, KB may be the sweetest girl on the face of the planet. She's so Christlike and caring. All she tries to do is to lift other people up and to be strong. She has her fair share of struggles, but she is truly a light in our apartment. (All of my roommates are!) K is hilarious and fun to be around. She's lovely and kind and so spiritual. From her, I've learned that a home can truly feel like the temple. We've met her family and visited her home, and I've never felt the spirit so strong in someone's house before. You can really tell how much her family cares about each other and how well her parents have taught her.

MW: M is my actual "room roommate," and man, is she amazing. She moved her from California, and has had to adjust to college life, culture shock, as well as dealing with some personal issues. Through it all, she remains bright, bubbly, and passionate about life! I love her more than words can say. She's stylish, kind, nonjudgmental, loving, and all around inspirational. She's talented, and more than anyone else, has changed the way I view the world. She has taught me to be more open-minded and adventurous. I will forever be grateful that I got to be friends with her.

I'm going to be leaving in just a few weeks once Fall Semester finishes up. It's such a weird thought to think I will be moving out and leaving these wonderful ladies behind.  But I know that I'm supposed to go on my mission, and I know that each of them has helped prepare me for my mission, in a way. I'm so grateful that we were able to click and bond in the way that we did, I know that doesn't happen for all roommates. I know that Heavenly Father puts people in our lives for a reason, and that meeting my roommates has influenced my life so much. Apartment 1217 Girls Forever!!

18. My Hopes and Dreams and Aspirations (EEK!)

Okay, this is scary. Wanna know why? Because I've never really done anything like this. I've never really been super sure about what I want for my life. I know I have plans...I just don't know if I've ever really vocalized them. Especially not on the internet. So here it goes! The all-inclusive report of what this Tall Girl wants from her life.

I want to serve a mission

I want to get married in the temple

I want to have a career that if fulfilling and lets me make a difference in the world

I want to have a family

That's normally all I would say. That's where it would end. But today I'm going deeper.

I want to serve a mission. I want to share what I know to be true with the people of Cancun! I want to bring joy to their lives and spread the gospel like the trump of an angel. I want them to know they are loved, and that there is a plan. I want them to know that how they live today matters for eternity. I want to be a successful missionary who works hard, doesn't give up, and learns from discouragement. I want to be fluent in Spanish so that I can share the thoughts and intents of my heart without a language barrier. I want to invite the Spirit and be full of joy.

I want to get married in the temple. I want to find someone that makes me perfectly and incandescently happy. I want him to be a worthy priesthood holder that will work hard, and will be involved in the raising of our family. I want him to be handsome, kind, funny, tall, and close to God. If he puts the Lord before me, that will be perfectly okay with me. I want a white dress and hundreds of beautiful photos documenting every laugh and kiss of that day. I want to be married in the Salt Lake Temple, because that is my home. And to me, it represents everything that I've ever worked for and hoped for in a temple marriage. I want to make sacred covenants that will help my marriage last far beyond the grave and into eternity.

I want to have a career that is fulfilling and lets me make a difference in the world. I want to do something that makes me happy. I haven't quite decided what that is, though. I love music, and could be a professional musician. I love photography, and could definitely pursue that path. I love writing, and psychology, and history, and being with people. How can I fit those in? I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for me and that I will find a major that I am passionate about. And hopefully that will lead to some sort of career that allows me to do everything I want with my life. But all I know for right now is that I want to be smart and vibrant and change the world in any way that I can.

I want to have a family. That's where I'm going to start changing the world, in my own home. I want to raise children who are polite, kind, and adorable. I want them to know how much God loves them, and how much their parents love them. I want them to have vibrant testimonies of Jesus Christ, their savior. I want a home where the spirit is present, and it feels like a temple. I want to be neat and tidy, and provide wonderful traditions and opportunities for my children. I think I want anywhere between 3 to 7 kids. Seven is pushing it, but it's possible. :) I want my home to be loud and fun, a place where they want to bring their friends and where we can feel safe.

I want to travel. I want to experience every bit of the world that I can. I want to learn how to scuba dive, even though that thought terrifies me. I want to taste new foods, listen to music, learn how to talk to strangers, learn how to stand tall. I want to do a headstand in yoga. I want to get an A in Physical Science. I want to watch every single movie on my list, and try things that push me to be braver and kinder every day. I want to meet people who inspire me. I want to give service to others. I want to learn how to cook really delicious things. I want to learn how to balance a budget. I want to teach people new skills. I want to take beautiful photos of the world around me.

My dreams are scattered and random. But there's some order to them too. I want to be a fun, beautiful, wonderful example of a Latter-day Woman who knows who she is and strives to become better. I want a lot of things from my life, and I hope that if they align with God's plan, I will be able to accomplish all of them. I think I don't have a really solid plan for my life because I have a lot of faith. I trust that things will work out. But it's good to know what goals and dreams you have. They give you direction and help you decide what you want to become. I'm grateful for the opportunities I have had in my life so far, and am so excited for the future to come.

17. Oral Presentation Planning

Next Monday I will be giving an Oral Report as my final in Writing 150. I want to be really prepared and do a good job, so I'll start by just brainstorming a few ideas here. The idea that seems the most promising is the one I will work the hardest on and present to the class. This will also be a good way to reflect on what I have learned throughout the semester.

Cite as You Write 
This is one of the most important little phrases I will take with me from Writing 150. This made all the difference in my research paper. I found all these wonderful sources, included them, and then closed the tab before taking note of the page number. When it came time to turn in our final drafts, I had no clue how to go back to my original sources and actually put them in my final bibliography. Even though I had RefWorks as a great tool, if I had just made my bibliography as I wrote it would have been a million times easier. To teach the class about this, I could share my experience in writing my research paper, and we could work on writing a mock research paper. I could have a few sources prepared and we could create a bibliography on the board. A good zinger would be to start with a catchy well known acronym like "CTR" and "WWJD." Then write on the board, "CWYW." And ask the class what it could stand for. (Cite While You Write.) This will give them a catchy, memorable acronym to help them remember and keep this principle with them long after this class.

Zingers: Description Exercise
The personal narrative taught me the importance of using good details. They can really make or break a story, because they create the interest. To start off this lesson, I would bring in the actual Hostess Zinger treats and pass them out to the class. This would just be as a bit of a joke to catch attention and provide the "zinger" that is so important to oral presentations. Then we could practice describing the zingers. How do the taste? Smell? Sound? Look? By pushing creativity in this exercise, I could teach the class about the writing skill of using good detail words. I could also use examples from the textbook to provide some examples and create a really good lesson.

Audience
One of the very first things we learned about in this class is audience. We went through the music of different decades and discussed what an audience in each time period would have expected in writing and how they would react to different things. This activity was really memorable and proved the point well. To teach the class about audience again, I could provide examples of different audiences and we could practice writing the same prompt but adapt it for each audience. I could use, a four-year old girl, a teenage boy, and a magazine for elderly people. Something that provides a lot of variety and could spark creativity in the class. The example of how Elder Oaks adapts his writing would be really good to use too, just to remind them of what we have already learned.

Mindful Writing
I think this could be a really good topic for an oral presentation. The textbook is witty, conversational, and I learned a lot from reading it. By discussing it with the class, I will have plenty of material to share and a topic that can actually help them in their future writing. I would specifically cover one skill from the textbook and share how it can help make us more mindful writers. A zinger could be an object lesson where everyone passes a paper around and writes the first word that comes to their head. It will be nonsense! This will show what un-mindful writing looks like. When we are unfocused and unorganized, our papers can be a mess. By taking a little time to add direction, our thoughts can become much more coherent.

I'm excited to give this presentation! I want to do my best, and be entertaining and informative. I think these ideas give me a few good places to start, and we'll see what I actually end up presenting!

16. Procrastination is the Devil

Procrastination is probably my worst habit. It's something that I've been working really hard to change for years, but haven't seen much progress with. It's also something that I think a lot of people struggle with. In high school you can usually get away with it, but in college and especially later in adult life, procrastination doesn't fly. If you forget to pay your bills, you're in for it. Or if you put off a big presentation at work, your job could be on the line. That's one reason why college is the perfect time to try and shake the bad habit of procrastination. It starts by taking it one step at a time. With January rapidly approaching, my goal is to put an end to my procrastinating skills once and for all! Here's my plan to stop procrastinating and save the world! (Okay, maybe superhero work will be my goal for next year....)

Take it "Adoraday"

My incredibly wonderful AP English Literature teacher was and is, a self-proclaimed, "procrastination prophet." Her goal is to campaign to stop procrastination. She's quite inspirational, actually. In her classroom, she has a big yellow sticker that says, "A Door a Day Keeps the Procrastinating Monster Away." She promotes "Adoraday," broken down into "A Door A Day." This means that you go through one door each day, you do things in steps. Breaking down big projects like this can help you be more productive and get more stuff done faster. This philosophy really helped, especially with giant reading assignments in her advanced class. Whenever I think about how I'm procrastinating, I'll think of Ms. Thackeray and her lovable, memorable "Procrastinating Monster" sticker. Another thought is, if you take life "A Door A Day," you'll find yourself "Adoring" your days! Life is more enjoyable when you don't have heavy responsibilities looming over your head.

Life Will Fall Into Place

One object lesson that will stay with me forever is when my friend from Young Women's taught us a lesson about prioritizing. She filled a jar with sand and then tried to shove several large rocks into it. There was no way they could possibly fit! Then she put the rocks in first, and dumped the sand in second. The rocks all fit, and the sand filled in the spaces around the rocks. This lesson shows that if you put the important things first, like the gospel and your family, the less important things like school and your social life will fall into place. Balancing everything is hard, and is one of the key background factors behind procrastination. But if you can prioritize and put the gospel first, procrastinating won't be such a big issue. The little things in life will work out, and everything will be balanced.

Just Do It
These wise words of wisdom from the viral internet video of Shia Lebeouf are cheesy but true. Just DO it!!! Don't put stuff off, just get it over with! Rip off the bandaid, write that essay! Don't let your dreams be dreams. If you don't take action, you'll never get anything done. By getting up out of your seat and actually doing something, you are taking the first step in defeating procrastination.

Do Not Procrastinate the Day of Your Repentance
 Alma 34 teaches us perhaps the best advice against procrastination. Verse 33 reads, "And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed."

If we don't act while we still can, it will soon be too late. We try our hardest not to procrastinate the day of our repentance. So why do we procrastinate the day of our oral report?? Don't wait until the last minute, whether it is to meet our Savior or to write our blog posts. From the biggest issues to the smallest, we will be happier when we get tasks done sooner rather than later.

Now, clearly I am writing this post very last minute. But I think I've definitely improved on procrastination during this last year, and I intend to improve even more over this next year. You can only do your best every day. I hope that by following these words of advice I can stop procrastinating and change my life.

15. If Disney Princesses Got Sick

I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. It's a phrase we've all heard before, but it's too accurate for me right now. Over Thanksgiving break, I cuddled and played with my darling little sister. Unfortunately, that little sweetheart had a cold and she passed it on to me. So right now I'm shivering, dripping, sneezing, and shaking. I thought I'd do a lovely blog post about the many joys of being sick. Here are, in my humble opinion, the five worst symptoms of a bad November cold. And in honor of my four year old sister who lovingly shared her germs, I will compare each symptom to a Disney Princess.

1) Sneezing. I sneezed four times in a row in class today. Sneezing is awful because it's out of your control. Holding it back only makes it worse, you just need to let it go. (Like Elsa!)

2) With sneezing, comes another part: Runny noses. My nose has been dripping like a fire hose. It seems non-stop, and means constantly blowing my nose. Being surrounded by tissue boxes and the trademark red nose are key indicators of being sick. Pocahontas is the princess for this symptom, because just like she doesn't know what's around the river bend, I never know when my nose will stop running like a river.

3) Headaches. The constant dull ache never really goes away. It makes it hard to socialize without grimacing. Headaches are particularly debilitating because the problem is in your head. No one else can see how upset you really are, so you just have to push through. This princess may be a bit of a stretch, but I'm reminded of Esmeralda. With that giant bell tower in her city, I'm sure she probably got a headache every once in a while. You just want to escape to a quiet cathedral and find a moment of peace.

4) Sore throat and coughing. I'm combining these symptoms, because they alternate, come and go, and are equally annoying. They make opening your mouth to talk painful, they are brash, relentless, and painful. When your voice is gone, you may even sound a bit...Scottish? Okay so this is a stretch too, but I think Merida is perfect. Her red flaming hair can represent the red flaming state of your sore esophagus.

5) Finally, exhaustion. Being sick just makes you want to curl up in bed and do nothing but sleep all day. Your body is exhausted, and needs to rest! If you can fall asleep despite all your symptoms, you really are lucky, and you'll rest deeply. Sleeping for hours on end is one of the best ways to recover, and one of the only activities you really want to do if you have a cold. The princess for this symptom should be obvious: Sleeping Beauty! Maybe don't be kissing any princes though...you don't want to pass along your germs!

Well, now I feel a lot better! Even though I'm sick and nasty and disgusting, deep down I still feel like a princess. I'm sure even royalty have days where they feel awful. Thank goodness for Disney movies to get me through this cold! :)

Also, as a bonus, here is a link to a website containing GIFs of the cutest Disney sneezes. Guaranteed to make any sick day just a little brighter!!
https://ohmy.disney.com/movies/2013/03/10/disney-sneeze-gifs-the-best-thing-youll-see-today/

14. Response to Elder Bednar's Talk

I forgot to publish this blog earlier, but these are my thoughts from Elder Bednar's wonderful talks. I read these a couple months ago when school first started. They offer a lot of insight and inspiration. 

  When prophets speak, we need to listen. Their words can warn, guide, and protect us in these

perilous latter-days. Elder David A. Bednar warns and calls the “rising generation” to action in

his powerful addresses, “To Sweep the Earth as with a Flood” and “Things as they Really Are.”

The world of digital technology provides youth with both potential perils and limitless

possibilities. It’s our calling and responsibility to use the great power which we have been given

for good.

Elder Bednar begins “Things as they Really Are” by emphasizing the importance of our

physical bodies. The talk then shifts to focus on the digital world. At first, I found this shift

disorienting and slightly irrelevant. However, Elder Bednar is teaching on the principle of line

upon line, precept upon precept. He builds the concept of reality and fidelity on the precept that

our bodies are sacred. The devil doesn’t have a body, so he uses technology to specifically target

those who do. Bednar suggests that technology used improperly can “minim[ize] the importance

of our physical bodies.” Understanding the connection between our physical bodies and virtual

reality therefore gives us an advantage in fending of Satan’s attacks.

The article “To Sweep the Earth as with a Flood,” also by Elder Bednar, is similar to the

previous article because it talks about modern technology. However, rather than warning, the talk

calls youth to action. Bednar gives suggestions for how to use technology and shows examples of

successful mass media campaigns in the past, including several church sponsored hashtags and

the church released movie, “Meet the Mormons.” He describes the capacity for good the wide

reaching effects technology can have on the billions who interact with it each day. This article

warns about the misuse of technology in addition to possible ways the media can be used to

spread the gospel.

It’s interesting to compare these two articles. They were given at different times, 2010 and

2014. The need to understand the influence of technology is only increasing as time goes on. The

timing of these articles is important. “Things as they Really Are” speaks of understanding and

correctly using technology. It warns of becoming too engrossed with virtual reality and

forgetting to live wholesome lives. This article almost acts a prerequisite for “To Sweep the

Earth with a Flood,” because it prepared the members to not only shun harmful uses of

technology, but use it for good. In this last and final dispensation of “the fullness of times” it is

no longer acceptable to merely survive in the midst of technology. We need to use it for our

benefit. The Lord’s timing in the release of these papers was inspired and necessary to the

members. Heavenly Father speaks through his prophets, and uses them to prepare his people.

The time has come to literally “sweep the earth as with a flood,”. We need to sweep it with a

flood of good, righteous, and edifying messages that uplift and inspire. I want to be part of this

great wave. Elder Bednar, a living prophet and apostle, has called us to act. Jesus proved that it is

possible to “live in the world, but not of the world.” In these days, we are asked to live

surrounded by distracting and evil technology, but not succumb to their influence. Instead, we

are asked to use technology for the progressing of the Lord’s plan. It is no coincidence that

technology emerged in this day and age. It is also no coincidence that we were born at this time.

We need to stand for truth and righteousness in a digital age. It is our calling to both “see things

as they really are,” and make the conscious decision to “sweep the earth” with the gospel wave.