What I have learned this semester

First I have to say, wasn't General Conference wonderful?! I loved it! So beautiful. My favorite talk was Neal A. Anderson's about the three kids that were trapped in the ruined building after the earthquake in Haiti and the father prayed that at least one of his children would be alive and then they heard a baby crying and then they heard his son singing "I am a Child of God" and they dug through the wreck and found all three children still alive. BEAUTIFUL! I was literally bawling. My roommate came in the room to find me sobbing. I turned to her with tears running down my cheeks and cried "you just missed the most beautiful talk."

It has been a good week for me as far as spiritual experiences go. I went to the temple on Friday and it was so peaceful and so beautiful and I was able to really put my life in perspective. I walked out of the temple beaming and humming. And then we had General Conference. It's just been great.

During the week it was kind of stressful because I had a lot to do. I had Geology, English, and Spanish tests. I had an English project. I had my medals exam for Dance. I had a Book of Mormon essay. I went to the induction banquet for Phi Eta Sigma...yeah busy. But I'm not sick of school yet, which is good since I will be staying for Spring and Summer terms.

I just wanted to talk about some of the things I have learned at BYU so far though. You know, as far as life lessons go. Because as I am coming to the close of my first year at BYU, I have been looking back at who I was when I first came here, and how much I have changed, how much I have learned. There's the basic things, like how to live on my own, how to cook my own food, how to live with roommates...but it's more than that. I've learned to absolutely love my roommates. I've learned that some things really aren't that big of a deal. I've learned that mistakes happen, and you shouldn't be afraid of making choices and making risks just because there is a chance that you might fail. If you want to do something, you should go for it, and then if it doesn't work out, then you learn from it. My dear roommate Becca has taught me this.

I've also learned that the saying "you can do anything" isn't true. I definitely cannot do "anything" I  want on my own. But with the Lord's help, I can. I should always trust in the Lord and he will get me through. He always has. My testimony has grown so much this semester as I have learned to rely on the Lord in everything. I have learned also that every day is a bad day...but every day is a good day. Every day something is going to go wrong, and you can choose to be pessimistic and ungrateful. But the Lord always gives us something each day to be thankful about, and as long as we remember that the Lord loves us and we count the blessings in our lives, every day becomes a good day.

I have learned, thanks to a friend of mine, that mornings are a gift from God. I have learned that I love geology and I now want to major in it. I have learned to love and appreciate simply learning. Getting an education is so important, and you should not limit yourself to learning only what you think you want to learn. Take new classes, explore other options, and just appreciate the ability you have to learn.

I have also learned that part of getting an education is being involved in activities. When I graduate, I do not want to just walk away from BYU with a diploma. I want to have become a better person. I want to have made a difference. I want to soak up my experience here. When I was in high school, my focus was all on grades, and I joined very little clubs because I was afraid they would interfere with my homework. I have learned here how to prioritize and manage my time so that it is possible to do other things than homework. This is why I am in dance, I am in clubs, I am in Phi Eta Sigma, I go to dances, I do service projects, and why I want to do Study Abroad, eventually be a part of the women's choir, serve in a leadership position in Phi Eta Sigma, and maybe in a few years I can join a Ballroom Dance team. That may seem like a lot, but I will take things one at a time. Because, as I said, I am going to soak up my experience here at BYU. I am not just going to get a diploma. I am going to get an education and become someone.

One of the other things I would like to share that I have learned, although it is kind of personal, I feel it can apply to many people. In high school, I did not feel like I had very many friends. Of the friends I had, I didn't feel included. I tried really hard to be their friends, and while some of them were really great, many more of my friends I just felt like I was trying to gain their approval. Then I came to BYU and I made the greatest friends I could ever ask for. It was as if the Lord was saving me for these friends. During high school, I wondered why it was so hard for me to make friends and why I wasn't included. But if I had known that I was going to make such great friendships in college, it would have made it totally worth it. It DID make it worth it. I just didn't know it at the time in high school. A lot of things are like that in life. Dating is the same way. Again, I wasn't asked out on dates very much, and I'm still not. But it's okay, because I know the Lord is just saving me for the right person. He has plans for me in the meantime. The Lord has plans for all of us. So if you ever feel like, why is this not working out? Why can't I make any friends? Why won't anyone ask me on a date? Remember, you are loved by the Lord and something great is in store for you. That's my thought for the day.