I know I have been terrible at writing on my blog the past couple of months. School has engulfed my attention and honestly blogging has been the last on my priority list. I wanted to write blog about my college experience... since I graduate in 53 days. I am thrilled beyond words to be this close to being done. I had know idea it would feel like this nor that it would come so soon. In just a few short months I will be able to call myself a graduate of Health Promotion and Education with an emphasis in Community, also being eligible to become CHES (Certified Health Education Specialist) certified. Wow what a mouthful! Being in college was not like I expected, it was much more. I have been through the worst of worst and the best of best experiences. I would like to share with you what I have learned in the past four years (From beginning to end), I hope you can get a good laugh about it. To those who have yet to start college, I strongly encourage you to start thinking about going. You will become a new person and have a wonderful time. Ready?
-When I first started college, I used the map from orientation for the first week of school. Yes I was one of those nerdy and paranoid freshman students. I carried every book for all of my classes everywhere I went. I lost so much weight because I was carrying around a heavy backpack around campus. I had my classes spread all over campus (big mistake) and long gaps between each class (another mistake). I had class every day Monday through Friday (ahhh kill me now!). I loaded up my schedule and didn't really have fun. I finally convinced myself that it was okay to branch out, start talking to strangers, and I joined an LDS sorority. Here's a shout out to all my Theta Ladies!!! This is where I met brand new people, went on a few dates, and started to enjoy college. I believe that this is what saved me (for my first year).
-I learned that college is way fun, but you have to make it fun or else you get sucked into a boring routine.
-I learned that Professors don't really care about what you are doing in life, if an assignment is late or you forget to do your homework, the good old "My dog ate my homework" is no longer applicable. You pay attention to due dates or points start automatically being deducted. Here is a hint though... most of the homework is given about a week before it's actually due, so just stay on top of it and you will be just fine.
-Extra credit... so high school ha ha. I can literally count on one hand how many professors have given me extra credit in my four years of college. However, the classes that handed out extra credit, I passed with flying colors without the extra credit. Which means those professors rank high on my favorite list.
-I have learned to run off three hours of sleep, whether it be from studying, writing a paper, or having a social life. I have actually learned lots of patience from this.
-I have learned to study hard for weeks before a test and 20 minutes before a test. Both are wonderful ways to pass classes. Now I don't suggest you study for every test only 20 minutes before... but if you need to and you totally forgot, it works.
-I have learned to get over a failed or low graded assignment or test. Life moves on and most likely I didn't do well because of procrastination.
-Besides what I said above^^ I have learned to procrastinate to the last minute (something I don't normally do) and still finish things on time.
-I have learned to not drink caffeine and still survive, even in the late nights, and early mornings.
-I have learned to work in groups and individually very well.
-I have learned which buildings to avoid, which buildings have acceptable bathrooms and which do not, and which buildings are great study places.
-I have mastered taking power naps on the train and still being able to hear which stop I am at.
-I have learned to drink water, lots of it, to stay awake in class.
-I have learned that more people than I ever thought would, smoke, drink, and party.
-I have learned to walk fast from HPR North to lower campus in 10 minutes, even if my legs are burning. Walking back from lower campus back to HPR or Annex... I can do it in 11 minutes!
-I have learned to get ready (showering, doing my hair and make-up, and getting dressed and eating breakfast) in 45 minutes.
-I have learned that in order for a year long project to take place, a lot of patience is needed. This experience alone deserves a post. However, I have loved working on my senior project "Oh Baby" (Operation Healthy Baby and Better You) with the three most amazing girls! There has been so much effort that was put into it, I am so pleased!
-I have learned to eat healthy and be healthy!
-I have made so many friends and friendships that will last
-I have learned that money is the devil... student loans Ahhh!
-I learned that if you don't take time for you and relax, you will become super stressed and not want to do anything. Learning this early will help you out in the long run and help you be the best student ever.
-I learned to hate watching T.V but learned to love watching movies (go figure)
-I met so many people and went on so many dates. College really opened up my mind set about who I would encounter with and who I would talk to. Before I met Spencer, there was a joke going around in my family to see how many dates I would go on in one week (sometimes it was three or more). It was actually really funny. I went on dates with guys from my classes, guys from the train, guys from my ward. I am such a weirdo. Luckily I have been blessed to find the man of my dreams and can't wait to spend forever with him! I love Spencer to Pluto and Back!! Soon we will be married (I know you are all asking and wondering when, I know when, but I can't announce it yet! There you go, secret is out!)
-I learned that friendships from my childhood are the most valuable. I have the bestest friend in the whole world and I can't imagine my life without Cierra Larsen! She has made my college experience the best. Even though we went to different schools and had crazy schedules, we could always pick up where we left off.
-I learned to work hard. All four years I have kept my grade point average above a 3.5 and worked 20-30 hours a week. It has been the best thing ever, and has taught me how to be organized and to manage my time very wisely. I have learned to keep a day planner with me everywhere I go. I write in it all the time and check it daily.
-I have learned to capture the moment. Spencer hates this but I take so many pictures of everything we do. One day when I start to lose my mind, I can only hope that these pictures will flood my memory with the most happy time of my life. (Sorry babe, but thanks for being a trooper with me!)
-In college things are not handed to you. You have to search high and low for good articles for papers, homework, and examples. You must do countless lit searches, but I actually found that most of them are very interesting.
-I have learned to take lots of notes and type really fast. (This may be a bad thing ha ha)
-Study groups are for your advantage... you will do better if you go to them.
-Sometimes crying just happens. Let it happen, it feels good to let it all out.
-Don't study in bed, you will fall asleep almost every time.
-I learned that I can't go a day without food. So... I took food with me to school every day be it snacks for full meals. I even found a few places with microwaves. The cafeteria on campus is way overpriced, yet I ate there a lot. I now understand why there are so many restaurants around campus, just a train ride away.
-I learned to rely on the power of prayer. Sure did bring me so much comfort. I am grateful for the gospel, it has answered so many questions, especially during my most challenging times.
-If you have a question, you have to be brave and ask. Professors wont do squat if you don't go to them. They are there to help you pass and get that "A" you have always wanted.
College, so far has been wonderful to me. I can't wait to walk and finally receive that diploma I worked so hard for. Stayed tuned for pictures and such! Thank you to everyone who has pushed me to pursue this dream of mine. You know who you are, there are too many to list! Let's go Utes!!
-When I first started college, I used the map from orientation for the first week of school. Yes I was one of those nerdy and paranoid freshman students. I carried every book for all of my classes everywhere I went. I lost so much weight because I was carrying around a heavy backpack around campus. I had my classes spread all over campus (big mistake) and long gaps between each class (another mistake). I had class every day Monday through Friday (ahhh kill me now!). I loaded up my schedule and didn't really have fun. I finally convinced myself that it was okay to branch out, start talking to strangers, and I joined an LDS sorority. Here's a shout out to all my Theta Ladies!!! This is where I met brand new people, went on a few dates, and started to enjoy college. I believe that this is what saved me (for my first year).
-I learned that college is way fun, but you have to make it fun or else you get sucked into a boring routine.
-I learned that Professors don't really care about what you are doing in life, if an assignment is late or you forget to do your homework, the good old "My dog ate my homework" is no longer applicable. You pay attention to due dates or points start automatically being deducted. Here is a hint though... most of the homework is given about a week before it's actually due, so just stay on top of it and you will be just fine.
-Extra credit... so high school ha ha. I can literally count on one hand how many professors have given me extra credit in my four years of college. However, the classes that handed out extra credit, I passed with flying colors without the extra credit. Which means those professors rank high on my favorite list.
-I have learned to run off three hours of sleep, whether it be from studying, writing a paper, or having a social life. I have actually learned lots of patience from this.
-I have learned to study hard for weeks before a test and 20 minutes before a test. Both are wonderful ways to pass classes. Now I don't suggest you study for every test only 20 minutes before... but if you need to and you totally forgot, it works.
-I have learned to get over a failed or low graded assignment or test. Life moves on and most likely I didn't do well because of procrastination.
-Besides what I said above^^ I have learned to procrastinate to the last minute (something I don't normally do) and still finish things on time.
-I have learned to not drink caffeine and still survive, even in the late nights, and early mornings.
-I have learned to work in groups and individually very well.
-I have learned which buildings to avoid, which buildings have acceptable bathrooms and which do not, and which buildings are great study places.
-I have mastered taking power naps on the train and still being able to hear which stop I am at.
-I have learned to drink water, lots of it, to stay awake in class.
-I have learned that more people than I ever thought would, smoke, drink, and party.
-I have learned to walk fast from HPR North to lower campus in 10 minutes, even if my legs are burning. Walking back from lower campus back to HPR or Annex... I can do it in 11 minutes!
-I have learned to get ready (showering, doing my hair and make-up, and getting dressed and eating breakfast) in 45 minutes.
-I have learned that in order for a year long project to take place, a lot of patience is needed. This experience alone deserves a post. However, I have loved working on my senior project "Oh Baby" (Operation Healthy Baby and Better You) with the three most amazing girls! There has been so much effort that was put into it, I am so pleased!
-I have learned to eat healthy and be healthy!
-I have made so many friends and friendships that will last
-I have learned that money is the devil... student loans Ahhh!
-I learned that if you don't take time for you and relax, you will become super stressed and not want to do anything. Learning this early will help you out in the long run and help you be the best student ever.
-I learned to hate watching T.V but learned to love watching movies (go figure)
-I met so many people and went on so many dates. College really opened up my mind set about who I would encounter with and who I would talk to. Before I met Spencer, there was a joke going around in my family to see how many dates I would go on in one week (sometimes it was three or more). It was actually really funny. I went on dates with guys from my classes, guys from the train, guys from my ward. I am such a weirdo. Luckily I have been blessed to find the man of my dreams and can't wait to spend forever with him! I love Spencer to Pluto and Back!! Soon we will be married (I know you are all asking and wondering when, I know when, but I can't announce it yet! There you go, secret is out!)
-I learned that friendships from my childhood are the most valuable. I have the bestest friend in the whole world and I can't imagine my life without Cierra Larsen! She has made my college experience the best. Even though we went to different schools and had crazy schedules, we could always pick up where we left off.
-I learned to work hard. All four years I have kept my grade point average above a 3.5 and worked 20-30 hours a week. It has been the best thing ever, and has taught me how to be organized and to manage my time very wisely. I have learned to keep a day planner with me everywhere I go. I write in it all the time and check it daily.
-I have learned to capture the moment. Spencer hates this but I take so many pictures of everything we do. One day when I start to lose my mind, I can only hope that these pictures will flood my memory with the most happy time of my life. (Sorry babe, but thanks for being a trooper with me!)
-In college things are not handed to you. You have to search high and low for good articles for papers, homework, and examples. You must do countless lit searches, but I actually found that most of them are very interesting.
-I have learned to take lots of notes and type really fast. (This may be a bad thing ha ha)
-Study groups are for your advantage... you will do better if you go to them.
-Sometimes crying just happens. Let it happen, it feels good to let it all out.
-Don't study in bed, you will fall asleep almost every time.
-I learned that I can't go a day without food. So... I took food with me to school every day be it snacks for full meals. I even found a few places with microwaves. The cafeteria on campus is way overpriced, yet I ate there a lot. I now understand why there are so many restaurants around campus, just a train ride away.
-I learned to rely on the power of prayer. Sure did bring me so much comfort. I am grateful for the gospel, it has answered so many questions, especially during my most challenging times.
-If you have a question, you have to be brave and ask. Professors wont do squat if you don't go to them. They are there to help you pass and get that "A" you have always wanted.
College, so far has been wonderful to me. I can't wait to walk and finally receive that diploma I worked so hard for. Stayed tuned for pictures and such! Thank you to everyone who has pushed me to pursue this dream of mine. You know who you are, there are too many to list! Let's go Utes!!
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