Classes!

I keep saying I'm going to tell about actual school....and I figured now that the semester's practically over would be a good time (:
Besides that, I'm sitting in the airport about to go HOMEEEE...but I have to wait another two-ish hours :)
So here we goooo :)


I'm taking 6 classes at a total of 16 credits this semester.  Let me walk you through my schedule...

MONDAY/WEDNESDAY/FRIDAY :)))

I roll out of bed at 9:20, throw on a jacket and join Janel, Lydia, and Shelby for breakfast.  Seeing as I get more tired every morning, Shelby normally comes and knocks on my door, loudly I might add, and wakes me up.  Afterwards, I come back to the dorms until 10:45, when I leave for my first class.
MUSIC 101 :))
This is probably my favorite class, because it is very low key. It's held in the Madison Recital Hall so it's a huge class. Katie Schurtz saves me a seat everyday. :)
BIO 100 :P
From then, I walk across campus and down four flights of steep stairs to the RB for Bio.  I have that class with Whitney. I hate the subject but it's actually a fun class because our professor is crazy!
WRTG 150
I walk right back up those 4 flights of stairs (ughh!) to Writing. I love writing, because it's my only small class and I know everyone in there.

After class I meet Shelby for a "quick" lunch in the Cannon before going back to "study" before my favorite class.

MUSIC 117 aka GUITARRR!
Bro. Green is legit and plain cool, besides being an awesome guitarist! Alyssa Adair is in my class and it's soooo cool to have like 60 kids playing guitar in one room! I only have guitar on M/W which is too bad but my day ends 5 p.m.

TUESDAY/THURSDAY :)))

HISTORY 201
I have my favorite hard class at 9:30 that goes until 10:45.  My professor is awesome. It's complete lecture, not like copy down the power point slides--copy down every word he says! We always have these awesome political discussions that somehow always relate to the Church as well!

After that I go straight to Devotional or back to my dorm.
Whitney and I always go to lunch together and afterwards, I have my last class.

RELIGION 121
Book of Mormon with Brother Griffin. So spiritual, so uplifting, so enlightening.  My friend from my ward Jared and I sit together and it's the best class ever.

Well, those are my classes...and they are great (:


♥♥♥I love BYU♥♥♥

Lessons Learned

I think the Carrie Underwood song is appropriate song of my life for the past week or so.
Not only do I love her as a country music artist, but her lyrics really ring true to my heart this week.
"And every tear that had to fall from my eyes Everyday I wondered how I'd get through the night, Every change, life has thrown me...Some pages turned Some bridges burned
But there were lessons learned."

I learned A LOT today. Not only about myself but about life, politics, history, science, and most importantly...BYU.

I'm convinced this is the best college EVER and I know for a fact that it's where I'm suppose to be, where I fit in, and that is a great feeling.

Take today for instance. In my history 201 class, we've been talking about how climate affected ancient civilizations.  We talked about how climate is continuing to change like it did in the Medieval Era. I was struck by the book we read, and how he talked that my generation and my children's generation are going to suffer we don't do anything. I had one of those "I'm gonna change the world!" feelings when I left, which aren't very practical. Still, I was kind of affected by the class and kept thinking about it.

Then, Whitney and I decided to go to this lecture for extra credit for Bio. I know, gross. But I need it....haha. So I went with the attitude of this is going to be REALLY boring.

Surprise!!!! It was the COOLEST thing ever! The lead scientist in conservation, Dr. M. Sanjayan came and spoke. He talked about almost the same thing that we discussed in History class. His main point was that conservation could play a big role in providing a helping hand because nature has value.  However, at the end, he said this--"There are seven billion people on the planet, and for the most part, life is good. However, this good life is coming at a big cost, which your generation and your children's generation will have to pay to see the best in life."

WOW. Again, I was sitting there thinking, I need to go tell the world that we need to change or I'm gonna have to pay!!!

Just my own opinions of course (it's my blog right??? haha) and tonight, I'm sitting here doing the same thing as every other night, Facebooking, blogging, listening to music and having a good time with friends, so obviously I wasn't thaaat effected. 

But I learned of these awesome lectures that BYU has ALL the time! I have a new goal to go to more lectures, just because!

So then....I learned something about the HFAC....they have SUPER COOL CONCERTS!

I have to go to a total of 11 concerts for my two music classes....yummy. So I saw that there was a Folk Music Ensemble concert tonight that would count for my guitar class.

Best. Spontaneous. Decision. Ever.

The concert was soooo legit, like a mix of international/folk/country music and it was so neat! Half the songs were originals and the lead vocalists for the last two bands was the same girl and she was AMAZING. I had serious chills.

So, new goal? Go to more concerts, even if they don't count for a grade!

BYU is sooo cool, there is always something going on, and I love life this week (and especially today :).

Goodnight world! :)

An EXTRA SPECIAL Devotional

Yesterday, I was sitting in my dorm room a little longer than normal because my 11 AM class was canceled.  At around 11:20, everyone in our hall started screaming in the hallway.  Whitney went out and ran back in the room screaming,
"PRESIDENT MONSON IS SPEAKING AT THE DEVOTIONAL TOMORROW."

Man, just typing that gives me chills.

President Monson is the latter-day prophet of our church. For him to come to BYU to speak is a HUGE deal.
I didn't see them nor did I get pictures...but apparently kids brought out tents and slept overnight outside the Mariott Center (the basketball stadium where we have these campus wide devotionals).  Kids I know went and stood out in the RAIN for four hours this morning to get a seat up close.
Sadly, I have class in the morning up to devotional time so my friends Janel and Jonathon went as early as they could to get us seats and we were in the top corner of the stadium! Craziness!

My history professor was hilarious this morning in class.  He's quite the sarcastic guy and yesterday in our class's Facebook page (weird how useful technology is!) a freshman girl posted that he should cancel class tomorrow because no one would want to go to class because we'd be late to devotional (class ends at 10:45, devotionals start across campus at 11:05) and most likely not get a seat. So at like 10:20 during class, Prof. Dursteler goes "Rumor has it that some of you are worried about getting to devotional...and apparently this one is pretty important...I mean I don't think the Prophet of God is more important than my class and we all know what he's going to say!" The class muttered "Get married!" He goes, "Well....that's not what I was thinking...but I guess marriage is more important than my class, get out of here!"

I decided to walk with my Sunday Playlist on my iPod to set the tone. I'm sooo glad I did. I arrived with tons of time to spare but the Mariott Center was already PACKED. Students had started sitting behind the podium because everywhere else was full!

A shot of the Marriot Center,
posted on BYU's Facebook Page

When Pres. Monson walked in, we all stood up and a hush fell over us. The Spirit was instantly strong and I had chills. He is quite the character and waved at us all to sit down, laughing to himself. M. Russel Nelson and his daughter also accompanied him.
And of course, when he stood up, what was the first thing he talked about? Marriage!!! He set off with a funny story about giving devotionals and how one girl thought he wasn't married because he can no longer where rings!
His message was on being an example to the believers, which here at BYU is interesting, as majority of us are obviously members. However, reflecting back on his words, I think his message is powerful and needed throughout the church today. He told of a missionary who needed surgery while on his mission in Canada and was sharing a room with 5 other men.  On the morning of this missionary's surgery, all 5 roommates refused breakfast, explaining to the nurse that this missionary had taught them of God and the gospel of Christ, and they were fasting for his surgery to go well.  The doctor explained as well that he would not cost him a fee because "someone on high" had performed the surgery.

He concluded with a quote from the Lion King, saying "Look inside yourself. You are more than what you've become." "Remember that you are a son and daughter of God."
It was by far the best devotional of the year and it was so neat to be in the same room as the prophet of God. During the closing prayer, I received a witness of the Holy Ghost that Thomas S. Monson is the true prophet on the earth today. I'm grateful to go to such a beautiful, spiritual, amazing university.