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.

13. Personal Narrative Brainstorm

See, hear, taste, feel. Describe the place with as much detail as possible.

Learning to play bass

Place: Junior High Orchestra Room. Big room, shelves,

People: Mr. Watson, Rachel, Isaac Bradford, Mom. (What do they look like, what do they say?)

Smell: Rosin, wood, faint hint of brass, smell of the car, expo marker

How will I present myself? Initially a little annoying, a little unsure. Show growth. Become more determined, more confident, more outgoing. Feel different, learned that I want to stand out, and be a good example. Tall, Bass player, example. Learned about how much I love music.

Plot: Be more character driven, but still needs a plot. Focus on subtle details and actions, show how I responded

Crisis: What is the crisis or conflict? How did I see things differently afterward?

Scenes: going to class, playing violin. Feeling frustrated, lost, left out. Watching Anna play Czardas, feeling super jealous.

Kelsey Schwartz

Personal Narrative Draft

The air resonated with music as the entire orchestra watched for the cue to cut off. A pleasant, slightly woody smell of rosin and sweat on instruments was barely detectable. Rows of black chairs specifically designed to help with musician’s posture were arranged in a semi-circle, all surrounding the most influential person in the room: our wiry, middle-aged powerhouse of a conductor, Mr. Watson. When he swiftly and enthusiastically drew his hand in a loop, the junior high band room was filled with a magical quiet for one fraction of a second.  The spell was quickly banished, however. A group of second violins in the back, including me, cut off late and shattered the silence. Instead of a beautiful chord, we hit an assortment of dissonant and poorly timed “open As.” A wave of giggles and groans swept through the small ensemble, consisting mostly of eighth and ninth graders.

“Okay people, we’re gonna run that again. Remember to cut off on four! Not three, not five!” Mr. Watson paused, speaking deliberately and looking mildly bewildered. “Four. Got it? Let’s go!”

We ran the piece again from the top, and practiced the ending again and again. Eventually it got to the point where Watson had each person play the note individually to make sure they were in tune. I hadn’t realized, but my finger was just a millimeter too high on the string, so I got called out. My cheeks were hot and probably flushed pink with embarrassment, but I finally got it right. I could hear some of the first violins groan, “Finally!” I slouched a little lower in my chair, trying to become just a drop of water in the sea of violinists. Small scrolls and bows filled nearly half the room; I could just hide among my peers.

After a couple more run throughs, our teacher launched into one of his classic “Watson stories.” Anyone who knew Watson knew that he loved to talk, evidenced every year at Parent Teacher Conferences when his line stretched halfway around the cafeteria. I absentmindedly fiddled with my violin while Watson’s voice echoed down the open door and into the hallway. “Music is more than just learning an instrument. It will help you with your school work. It will make you more confident. It’s a skill that everyone…” He rambled on, but I wasn’t really paying attention. From across the room, I could see the two bass players leaning against their giant instruments as they gently dozed off.  I pressed my fingers into the cool, coiled strings and then watched the little white indent that formed in my finger slowly turn pink again.

Suddenly, Watson clapped his hands together, abruptly ending his words of wisdom. “So, we’re pretty much done for the day. I only have one more announcement before you pack up.” He looked right at me, and I instantly sat up a little straighter. “Class, we need more bass players for next year. If any of you violinists would be willing to switch, I bet you could have a really fun time learning a new instrument.” He continued, “You would have to be fairly decent at your current instrument, and probably don’t switch if you’re super short. Oh yeah, and we only have boys right now. A female bassist would be pretty epic.” For a moment it felt like Watson’s bright blue eyes were boring into my forehead. A tall, girl, violinist. It was like he was specifically choosing me, for a special mission. Something that could be different, something I could excel at! I slowly raised my hand.

“I’ll try it.”

“Great! Fantastic! Come in after school today and we’ll talk!”

And with that, the bell brightly chimed and the class disbanded, quickly scrambling to put instruments in cases, and music folders in backpacks. I wiped rosin dust off my instrument as my best friend Rachel came up beside me, viola in hand.  “Isn’t Watson the greatest?” she asked, her dark brown bob bouncing. “He’s like the cool uncle that everyone wishes they have.” I laughed at the description, but it was actually pretty spot on.

We hummed our favorite part from the Tchaikovsky piece we had been working on, the melody drilled into our brains after so many repetitions. Her low alto voice was perfect for singing the viola line, and my high range could almost hit the violin notes. “How are we gonna harmonize if you switch to bass?” she inquired, brushing her bangs out of her face. “There’s no way you can sing those low notes. Plus bass parts are so boring! They practically play the same note the whole time!” I played with my hands and looked down. She had a point. I had never really thought about the bass part before. It was so low, it kind of just slid unnoticeably under the rest of the orchestra. I stole a glance at the bass players putting their gargantuan instruments away. A tall boy with calloused fingers and a plaid shirt wrapped his arms all the way around the scratched school instrument and easily carried it across the room. My arms were like undercooked spaghetti noodles; was it even possible for me to lift the thing? In my chest, I could feel my heart pounding. I wasn’t the type of person to try new things. I knew how to play violin, it was safe, and I could blend in. But something about those deep frequencies and rich wood was calling me. Maybe I could be a new me, maybe I could be a bassist.

After school, I nervously tugged on my backpack straps as I walked into the orchestra room to talk to Mr. Watson. The only sound came from the dull murmur of conversation in the hallway, and a ninth-grader’s trumpet blurting as he emptied out the spit valve. Watson clapped me on the shoulder and steered me towards the basses. I hadn’t ever really been on that side of the room before, and it seemed more open. Window light poured in, and an air conditioning vent circulated cool air.

Watson pulled out a bass and handed it to me. “Why don’t you just try one out, see if you like it. If you want to play bass next year, I’ll let you take one home for the summer so you can become familiar with it.” I stared at Watson, incredulous. “You would let me take one home?” “Yeah, absolutely! Anything you need to learn.” I rested my hand on the gently sloping shoulders of a deep mahogany bass. The neck cradled perfectly in my hand. The giant scroll twisted exactly like a violin, but about five times the size. It was like a giant conch shell, promising sounds of the ocean and a mysterious past. Not quite completely sure how to produce sound, I simply plucked the lowest string. The sound was electric. Shockingly low, buttery, rich, and so incredibly deep. The vibration sent a small earthquake through my hand and into my soul. I plucked another string and heard a thunderstorm. I laughed out loud and looked at Watson, who’s bright blue eyes were smiling. “Yeah, I think I’d really like to be a bass player!”

***

My fingers were flying faster than ever before, barely acknowledging the string for only a fleeting second before moving on to the next note. The entire orchestra swelled on a crescendo, then crashed to a hushed pianissimo. To my left and right were gray haired professionals, confidently cruising through the complicated pathway of notes. The basses lined the outside circle of the orchestra, almost hidden in the back. But that didn’t mean we weren’t important. The lower registers supported, lifted, and carried the higher notes. Almost as one, every single musician hit the final note of Dvorak’s masterpiece. I pulled my bow across the strings with everything I had, my right arm aching but my heart full of joy. The cut-off was perfect, and the silence that followed was complete.

I looked out to the audience, and only saw the chandeliers barely twinkling from the reflections of the spotlights. The sparkly auditorium was filled with an almost tangible, reverent hush. Suddenly, the crowd erupted into thunderous applause and rose like an ocean wave. I thought back to when I had first tentatively plucked a single note in Mr. Watson’s classroom. That one note and the roar of the crowd were like water to a plant. Giving me confidence, giving me life. I had grown so much since I started my journey of learning bass. My face hurt from smiling as I turned towards the audience and bowed.

Rachel: Big blue eyes, long eyelashes, freckles, short brown bob, in love with Benji, viola player, my best friend. Pushy, a little bossy, very talented musician

Mr. Watson: Bright blue eyes, receding hairline, blond, tan, athletic, passionate, hilarious. Tells bad jokes and gives life advice, “cool uncle,” been teaching for years. People took the class just because of him. Trombone player, very kind man, father, teacher, loved music, strict but good

Mom: Brown hair, blue eyes. Looks like me. Loving sceptic, approaches life with caution. Carpool driver, music major, supports education, busy mom of five kids

Isaac: Cute boy playing bass. Didn’t notice him until I crossed the room. Really good, tall, brown hair, big eyes, glasses, strong

Make the room divided: Violin side, bass side, to show conflict

12. When to Start Celebrating?

Have you ever thought about the irony of skipping Thanksgiving? Not completely skipping it, of course, but jumping straight into the Christmas hype? It seems like as soon as Halloween is over, the nation plunges right into Christmas carols and shopping. Thanksgiving is a holiday about being grateful for what you have, and for appreciating the people you are with. I feel like when we get excited for Christmas in November, we kind of start to forget why we even celebrate Thanksgiving.

The tradition in my family is to always set up our Christmas tree on Black Friday. We decorate our entire house, and jam out to Harry Connick Jr.'s Christmas albums. (My mom's favorite.) But in our house, Christmas doesn't come a day sooner. My roommates however...are beginning to change my perspective..

We have a tree in our dorm. We have lights and snowflakes and listen to Christmas music constantly. And I actually love it. They have convinced me that there are only a few months in the year when we can do this, so we might as well enjoy every moment of it. Christmas is a wonderful time full of family, friends and service. I love the lights, songs, and feeling in the air as the countdown begins and Christmas Eve quickly approaches. And I'm learning this year  that loving Christmas doesn't mean I hate Thanksgiving.

I can celebrate Thanksgiving and be completely grateful for what I have, without being caught up in the commercialism of Christmas. In fact, I can celebrate Christmas without being caught up in commercialism! The spirit of the holidays is a wonderful thing to have in your life. I don't think I'll complain nearly as much if in the future I hear Christmas from Halloween to New Years.

And maybe I'll just have to dig up or write some Thanksgiving songs so I feel like it's getting some credit. It's a holiday that deserves to be loved, too. :)

11. Art and Music Bring Joy to My Soul!

   I'm absolutely humbled and overjoyed to realize just how much I LOVE music and art. I've always been more right-brained, preferring creativity over logical thinking. But I've just felt so full of joy over the past few days. I got to practice violin and bass, and really play, for the first time in a couple months. Realizing that I have this ability, even though it's rusty, made me so happy. Vitalli, Bach, Mozart, and Thais came to life and I just played music. I'm also in a Celtic Ensemble, which has been so much fun. The way harmonies and melodies weave together absolutely blows my mind. Throw a good beat in there, and it's nearly impossible for me to not jam out. All music is good, but I just have such a special appreciation for classical and traditional music. It makes you sit back and really listen. It takes work to really hear it and love it for what it is. I'm so grateful for music in my life, and the happiness it brings to me. Good music truly is uplifting, and a "prayer of the righteous."
   Now on the subject of visual art. I stopped by the Museum of Art on my way back from class today, and it was one of the best ideas I've had in a while. I know we'll be there again on Monday, but it was nice to just take a quiet moment and think about life and art. I went down to the exhibit that features paintings and sculptures of Christ throughout the centuries. It was absolutely beautiful. The care and time spent on every single brushstroke made me think about how much the artists must love the Savior. The expressions they captured, the symbolism they captured, and the feelings the paintings evoke are so powerful. Next, I stopped by the "Potato Eaters" exhibit. I was completely moved. Each painting is so nostalgic and touching. They portray family life and memories of the artist. Her thick, bold brushstrokes were incredible. And the art almost looked like black and white photos fading from memory. I'm just really glad I stopped by, and spent some time thinking about life, religion, family and art. All good things to think about. :)
  At the same time, I've been working on my final project for my photography project. I'm focusing on colors, textures and patterns in fall leaves. I know I still have a lot of work to do, but I feel like my photography has come so far in just a few years. It really feels like I'm creating art now, not just mindless snapshots. I know I've said this a lot in this blog post, but I am seriously so grateful for the beautiful world we have been given, and the ability to interact with it through art and music!

10. Changing Colors, Changing Me: How BYU Has shaped my Worldview

Watching fall leaves change often causes people to reflect, and Thanksgiving makes you remember what you're grateful for. As I reflect, I'm grateful that I can be here, and I'm grateful that I'm having experiences that will shape my life forever. Coming to BYU has definitely changed my worldview. In only a few short months of being here, I feel like I've changed so much as a person.

Before I came to BYU, some of my friends and neighbors warned me that it was a school of people who are preachy, judgmental, and all fit in a cookie-cutter mold. To some extent, some of these things are true. But for the most part the people I've met have been absolutely wonderful. I've met people who are kind, inclusive, intelligent, and fun. It's inspired me to be a better person. Not everyone at BYU is perfect, in fact we're far from it. The environment is competitive and can foster negative feelings of comparison. Even with these few drawbacks, I have found BYU to be an amazing experience that is changing the way I think.

In high school, I knew almost everyone. I was good with names, I was outgoing, and friendly. Here, I barely know anyone in a throng of so many students. It makes me feel small, but it also helps me realize that there are so many different people with so many different stories. And we're all going through the college experience together. Even though I feel like I might not have as many friends here as I did back home, I've been loving the opportunity to meet people and extend my circles.

One of the biggest things that has changed my worldview is meeting my roommate Michaela. (Also known affectionately as Mickey.) She's from Los Angeles, and the transition to Utah culture has been a bit of a struggle for her. By talking to her about her experiences growing up, and comparing them with my own of living in Salt Lake City, I've learned so much. She's taught me that there are good people around the world, no matter their race, gender, religion, or background. She's taught me to be more accepting of others. She's taught me to be adventurous, to get outside my shell, and to live life more spontaneously.

I loved growing up in Utah, and I've loved living in the "Provo bubble." It's not perfect, and it's a little overbearing at times, but I love being surrounded by others who share my standards. At the same time, coming to college has allowed me to meet a very diverse group of people. We all have different stories to tell, and we all have something in common.

So many aspects of my life are shifting and changing. My mission call, the election, new roommates, new classes. As I'm experiencing college, living on my own, I know that I am changing. Hopefully for the better.

9. America, we have Melanoma (Thoughts on the Election Results)

Obviously there are a lot of emotions and thoughts about the recent election of Donald Trump as the President of the United States of America. Hopefully I can share how I feel and be both articulate and sensitive about this matter.

I am not a supporter of Hillary Clinton. I think she is untrustworthy, and I don't agree with her policies. However, as I watched the results come in last night, my heart started to beat faster and I realized I was hoping for a Democratic win. In my mind, I had already prepared for four years of saying, "President Clinton," and had basically resigned myself to HRC's presidency. It was so shocking to see so many states turn red, and to realize that Trump was actually in the lead. I kept waiting for California's 55 electoral votes to be processed and to change everything. But even with California, it soon became evident that the race was playing out very differently than I had anticipated. 

Trump's candidacy has seemed like a joke from the beginning. My roommate ironically put it, "Donald Trump is like the back mole you wish you got checked out." When he won last night, I quietly whispered, "America, we have melanoma." And it might be terminal. It was mildly entertaining to watch Trump's antics throughout the campaign process, but mostly just terrifying. He is a giant, egotistical toddler who has just been handed nuclear weapons. None of this is funny anymore. I had faith that American citizens couldn't possibly be dumb enough to elect someone so blatantly racist, sexist, and crude. But I guess Trump's bad publicity was better than Hillary's minimal publicity. He played to a large group of American's who feel that by including minorities and women, and by taking a step forward, we are losing American values. In my opinion, this simply isn't true. But Trump found an audience, and his loud, brash rhetoric moved them to action. 

My biggest regret is that we didn't nominate a Republican candidate with good values and actual conservative beliefs. I don't even think Trump is a Republican. He certainly doesn't act like one, or stand for any conservative values. And with the level of distrust that lost Hillary the race, it almost seems like any Republican could have beaten her. However, in many ways Trump is like an anti-Hillary. While she ran a very polite, traditional campaign tailored to her voters, Trump's campaign was unexpected, loud, and unapologetic. Hillary is the iconic, untrustworthy politician. Trump is the definition of unqualified. Her campaign focused on empowering women, his focused on demeaning them. It appears that every aspect of Trump's campaign and him as a person is nearly directly opposite of Hillary. 

It's also hard to realize that so many people chose not to vote. Yes, it was a nearly impossible decision. But it's one that we are blessed to be a part of. Many people are genuinely afraid for our nation, afraid for their rights, and afraid for their lives. It's sickening to think that they are feeling this way. Election day should be a day to celebrate, not to dread. It's a day to celebrate democracy and America. But this election will truly be remembered as a historic day. It's my hope that out of this fear, we will be able to pull together. That good will step up against evil. And that America will be reminded of what we really stand for. 

My only consolation is that Donald Trump is not in charge of our nation. There is a system of checks and balances. There are people who have a voice. And above all, there is a God who has promised that "unto the righteous [America] shall be blessed forever." (2 Nephi 1:7) These are the last days, and prophecy is being fulfilled. We just need to have faith that if we live our lives righteously, the decisions we make in our own homes will have more impact than those made in the White House. Heavenly Father has a plan for us, and he will protect us, even when iniquity abounds and we are surrounded by turmoil. 

Whatever comes of this election, hopefully people will learn from it. I'm grateful to be an American, no matter what happens. 

8. Boulder City or Bust!

Bring on the good times! Last weekend, my roommates and I hit the road and went to Vegas! Well, sort of Vegas. We visited Boulder City, a beautiful desert town just outside of Las Vegas. Two of my roommates hail from B.C, so it was a lot of fun to see where they grew up and to meet their families.

We started our trip on Friday afternoon, right after everyone got out of class. We drove all afternoon and arrived at my roommate's house around 10 pm on Friday night. The only scary hold-up was a brief encounter with a very condescending police man, who pulled our driver over for going too slow in the left lane. She didn't get a ticket, but was still pretty shaken up by the experience. Luckily, the rest of the driving was very safe and super fun.

Saturday morning started off with a visit to the beautiful Las Vegas temple to do baptisms for the dead. It was really different from any other temple I've visited, so it was interesting to perform the ordinances and to feel the spirit. We even got delicious cinnamon rolls from the temple cafeteria.

After the temple, we enjoyed an amazing lunch and then took a short drive to Lake Mead to spend the afternoon boating. This was easily the best decision we have made all semester! It was so nice to be out on the water, away from the chilly temperatures and looming homework deadlines back in Provo. Everyone got to try water-skiing, and then we got dragged behind the boat in tubes. My arms are still sore from being practically ripped out of their sockets. Tubing was epic, and everyone was cracking up as people flew off left and right. We finished off the evening with an incredible homemade dinner of chicken, artisan bread, asparagus, and russet potatoes, and then watched a movie on a backyard projector.

We went to church on Sunday, and got to see my roommate's sweet baby niece be blessed. The ward was so welcoming, thoughtful, and spiritual. It's always amazing when you travel to realize that the Church is the same across the United States and around the world.

On our way back to Provo, we talked, jammed out to music, and laughed uncontrollably as the sunset turned the Nevada sky pink behind us. It was such a fun roadtrip that really bonded us and made us closer friends. I know I will always remember the fun times we had in Boulder City!!