MY BYU EXPERIENCE

Can I say how much I absolutely love Brigham Young University?
I can't. Words do not describe how much I love and honor this University. There is something about it that makes me happy. The students, the life, the activities, the service, the involvement. I love every bit of it.

Going to the Traditions of Honor tonight really helped me to further appreciate the fact that I chose to come to this University. Even though the way that I made the final decision was a little weird, the Spirit really prompted me to come here and for whatever reason that one day when I was sitting in seminary just fumbling around with my scriptures and reading in the Doctrine and Covenants I came across a verse that said, "Ye endeavored to receive the blessings that I had promised you, but there were fears in your hearts and that is the reason that you did not receive them". For whatever reason, this scripture seemed so applicable to me. I was struggling between going to BYU-I and even applying to BYU. My Mom was like just apply to BYU. But deep down inside I knew I didn't need to go to BYU-I. I didn't look into registering for classes or try to figure out how things worked, I didn't like it that I would have had to wait until January to go. So I applied to BYU and visited their webpage every day in Yearbook trying to figure things out. I wanted to get in SO bad. I got on the waiting list, so I waited and waited and waited... well not that long :) I had envisioned in my head me getting my acceptance letter in yearbook but I put it out of my mind and set myself up to be denied. Well one day I thought I'd get on besmart.com and check out my acceptance status and I was sitting there in yearbook and I got on the page and logged in and it said BYU- Accepted Summer Term. I put my hand over my mouth and said oh my gosh and immediately went to the office to call my Mom at work, which resulted in a happy scream from her. I headed out on June 17 to school and then started classes on the 23. Not much of a break between graduation but it was worth it.

So my reason for coming here was inspired and I feel that Heavenly Father really really wants me to be here. I have grown so much here. I feel like a whole new person. I am involved in things that I would have never been in before. I know people from all over the world and I know people that are involved in all kinds of activities. I have a wonderful boss with wonderful co-workers who always do something to make me laugh. I have friends that I can have fun with and a wonderful ward family who I can turn to. A Bishop and Counselors who I love to death! I have been blessed with so many wonderful things and I see that if I had gone anywhere else I would have missed out on this. I would have missed out on being a true Cougar!! I would have missed out on bleeding blue and white! I would have missed out on the opportunties I've had to share my testimony through service, talent, and example. I am so blessed and I thank Heavenly Father every day for allowing me to be here at this wonderful Institution.

When I leave here and pursue a teaching career, I will be proud and honored to say "I graduated from Brigham Young University". Great things will be expected of me and great things will be required. I WILL "Enter to Learn and Go Forth to Serve". Serving my future family, my future students, and my Ward. I know that by being here I am being prepared for the life ahead of me.
I am so blessed to have a such a wonderful BYU Experience. I'll remember it forever as the character molding time in my life.