Well, it's official. I'm now a student at Utah State University. As you've probably gathered from my lack of blogging, life has been pretty crazy. So finally, I'm here to give you the details of how college life has been so far.
Moving Out and Moving In: Wow. I did not know I had so much stuff. I didn't think it would all fit in my dorm room (especially my shoes) but amazingly, everything fit. It was so weird moving. It just didn't feel real. After a day of driving, moving, unpacking, and getting Aggie ice cream with the fam, it was time to say goodbye. Like I said before, it didn't seem real. I knew I was going to see my family the next week because I had to take my final state CNA exam, so it just felt like was going off to efy for a week. I few tears were shed anyway, and off they went. My roommate Brooke, and I were the only ones there that night. I cannot tell you how weird it was. I had every emotion in me. Excited, nervous, anxious, happy, sad, confused, disorganized, comforted, feeling all grown-up but at the same time- a helpless child, and so much more.
Way too many shoes for my own good.
Megan and Aunt Cami brought me some food the day before I moved. I had mentioned before how fat I was going to get in college because I wouldn't be able to afford healthy food, so they gave me all healthy foods, or "reduced fat" sweets. It made me smile. Kathy Palfreyman came by as well and gave me a super cute ice cream scoop. Perfect for the first week when I ate cookies n' cream ice cream with fresh peaches. Man, did it hit the spot. Grandma W came to say her last goodbyes as well. I am so loved it's just crazy.
This all fit in my dorm... it seems impossible but it's true.
Goodbye empty, echo-y room.
Hello new room!
Getting Aggie ice cream the day of the move.
The day after I moved in was Sunday. Brooke and I had the place to ourselves, but luckily we had church to give us something to do before our other roomies came. It was the most unforgettable church experience. We met as a stake in the "golden toaster" church (it looks like an old fashioned 70s toaster) and met in the cultural hall. We were singing the intermediate hymn when all of a sudden the lights went out. Instead of using the breath taken in to sing the next verse, there was an audible sound of breaths leaving as people laughed because we couldn't see our music a single bit. It was pretty much pitch black. Our stake president gave his talk in the dark, which funny enough, was about stars and being a light. And when it came time to meet with our bishops, the stake president shined his iPad light on each of their faces so we could see what each of our bishops looked like. Needless to say, it was an unforgettable Sunday. Later that night we had ward prayer. This is new to me, but I absolutely love it. People can put names on the board of those who need an extra prayer on their behalf. Then we all kneel together and pray. I love it.
After church, Brooke and I realized we'd have to make our own Sunday dinner. Neither of us cook a whole lot, so this was quite the challenge. We were very proud of how things turned out. Nothing burned, and our first official college dinner of chicken, potatoes, broccoli, milk, and Nutella in strawberries was quite scrumptious.
Eventually all our roommates moved in. Dakota, Sydnee, Kaitlyn, Lindsie, Brooke, and me. Amazingly, we all get along super well and have had some fun "roommate bonding" moments. One time in particular we went blanket flying in the field outside our dorm. While doing so we found a cat and decided that someday we'd shave it (it's on Brooke's bucket list). Oh, the adventures you have in college.
Sydnee made super cute labels so we could find stuff around the kitchen.
Kaitlyn brought cereal dispensers... I love her to death.
One day, I couldn't take it any longer. I took everything out of our fridge and organized it. And then I cleaned our kitchen. It's amazing how when the kitchen's clean, everything else is okay. It feels like home.
This is our living room. I know it's not much now, but we have some great plans in store for it. Just you wait. ;)
Although I moved in Saturday, August 20, school didn't start until the 29th. On Monday (22nd) and Tuesday (23rd) I went to Aggie Blue, a leadership conference for incoming freshmen. I was placed in the "Aggie Blue Ducks" group and we had a lot of fun. I met some awesome people and we had a great time learning about leadership and doing a service project at the American West Heritage Center. On Wednesday, I went home to prepare for my CNA test on Thursday. More details to come. Saturday, I said another round of goodbyes and headed back up to Logan. Again, it didn't feel real, and it still doesn't. I don't know why it hasn't hit me yet, but I'm sure it will soon enough.
Aggie Blue Ducks
Monday, August 29th, was the first day of school. The first day of college. I didn't get lost going to any of my classes, and I really like my professors. Especially chemistry. I was afraid that going to a science class, I would have a strict, mean, or weird teacher, but he is totally goofy and awesome. Same with the rest of my classes. I was especially happy for choir with Brother... er, Dr. Huff. I've sung in our stake choir under his direction and was so so excited to be under him again in the women's choir. He's incredible.
And Institute. Oh Institute. It's a glorified seminary, that's for sure. And for some lucky reason, Brooke and I were somehow able to enroll in one of the best Institute teacher's classes. We didn't know that when we enrolled, but when I'd tell people who I had, they told me I was so lucky to have Brother Jacob's class because it was full and people try so hard to get in his classes. On the first day, kids just kept coming and coming and coming into his class. He had to keep turning them away if they hadn't enrolled for his class. I'll bet there were at least 100 people he had to turn away. No joke. That says a lot about his teaching to me. And I assumed correctly because after the first day in his class, I was blown away. I've never before thought about 1 Nephi in the way he directed my thoughts that day. And the Spirit was so strong. I'm so excited for what this semester will bring by being in Brother Jacob's class.
First day!
Roomies :)
I've decided that college is never boring... the first day of class, there was a guy playing his bagpipes outside my dorm. There's also been a party practically every night on my floor or some other floor in my building. I guess I have to consider that I do live in one of the most social housing buildings on campus. It's great fun though. I've met lots of fun people, and Brooke and I even started our own party one time! The same night we played the most ultimate game of spoons I've played in my life. Holy cow. Brooke got some pretty sweet footage of the event that I'll see if I can post sometime. All I can say is that Utah State is gonna be a blast.
The rest of the week was crazy. It's called WOW (week of welcome) and there is so much that goes on. Bands, comedians, the most crazy game of Bingo, an 80's dance, Aggie ice cream, free food, day at the Quad, and so much more. There was also a blood drive going on. Those of you who know me know how much I love blood drives. I volunteered almost every day and donated myself on Friday. Nothing beats saving a few lives. We called it the "Blood Battle" because we competed against all the other schools in Utah. Let's just say USU creamed everyone else combined. I wish I took a picture of the poster, because the mark for donations from USU was about 10 times as high as the other poster. The lady who took my blood even mentioned how amazed she was at how many students at USU take the time to donate blood. Yup. That's just how we work at Utah State. We're awesome like that. ;)
On Thursday, all of us happened to be in the kitchen at the same time. A true miracle with the way our schedules work. I took this opportunity to hurry and grab my camera so we could get our first roommate picture. After all, we all still looked cute, and Steve (practically our 7th roommate) was there studying. Perfect opportunity. Our first picture was slightly awkward... you can kinda tell we all just barely met each other.
The second shot was much better. I'm sure by the end of the year, pictures will be awkward, but in a different way. We'll be taking weird pictures because we're so close with each other. I can't wait. :)
Now it's Labor Day weekend and I'm back home with my family. I missed them lots the past week. It'll be weird to say goodbye for the third time, and not knowing for sure the next time I'll be home. This has definitely been a time of growing up for me-- lots of new experiences. And I know this is just the beginning. I've got many more experiences to go. But so far, being an Aggie is totally worth it.
Melissa and I got matching bandage colors. Later we even asked a nurse to give us a little pink bow made of the bandage stuff to put on our purple bandage.