This tennis season was one of the most fun times of my life. I had a lot of laughs with some very good friends! While my partner and I took first at Northwestern 'A' Divisionals, we certainly didn't finish up the season at State the way we would have liked to. Although we didn't get the place we wanted, I did learn a valuable lesson from my coach. He asked each of us to write down goals that we wanted to accomplish during the season. My partner and I got so caught up in wanting to take first at divisionals, that we never actually filled out our goal sheet. We also became a bit cocky - because we were undefeated until the last game of the season. Our coach told us that goals mean nothing unless you write them down. I don't know if I totally agree with that, but I do believe that writing goals down helps to remind us of what we want to do with our lives when we get a little off track. Sharing our goals with those who will encourage us also helps us to achieve them. On that note, I would like to share some goals of mine that are very important to me. Most, but not all, of these goals revolve around my religion and belief in Christ. There are two types of goals I have: things "To Be" and things "To Do." So here are my "To Do" and "To Be" lists.
To Do:
- Graduate from Brigham Young University with honors (Right now my intended plan is major in Public Health and minor in Environmental Science) As of right now I want to study the link between the rate of recovery of a nation's population from a natural disaster and the rate of recovery of the environment from the same disaster.
- Live in a third world country (at the very least for five months)
- Get married in the temple (For any non-Mormons reading this, getting married in the temple is so important to me because when you get married in the temple, you also get sealed for time and all eternity to your spouse. We believe that our families are central to God's plan for us - and being sealed to your spouse also seals all children born between you two to be part of your eternal family. This gives me an incredible peace of mind, knowing that I can be with my loved ones once again. Only those who are living up to certain principles [pay a full tithe, no extra-marital sex, no drinking, no illegal drugs, etc.] of the Gospel are given a recommend [or pass] to attend the temple. So not only does getting married in the temple give me an eternal family, but it will help ensure that I marry someone who is living the same way that I do.)
- Have children - preferably all little ginger children - and raise them up to know a) that I love them and b) that Christ is their Savior. I love little kids and even though the world is beginning to look down upon being a mother, I can't wait.
- Keep in touch with as many loved ones as possible, and be continually meeting new friends. I absolutely love meeting people and hearing about what they really care about - what makes their eyes light up when they talk about it.
- Travel as much as possible - I was talking to my good friend Tami yesterday, and she was telling me about that the places she had been. Then she said something along the lines of, "Instead of spending money on expensive cars, my parents spend money on travel and memories." That is what I plan on doing; I believe that memories and knowledge will ALWAYS be worth more than material things.
- Live in such a way that those who know me will know that I believe in Christ without needing to ask.
To Be:
- Always up for a challenge and an adventure
- Positive and upbeat - not only in my words, but in thoughts and actions
- Kind
- Chill and not the kind of person who freaks out about a lot of stuff. Basically I want to choose my battles wisely.
- That person who always stops for people needing to cross the road
- Loving
- Always smiling or laughing
- Joyful in all my responses to situations in life
- Grateful - and continually express that gratitude!
- That person who people know they can come to for a listening, non-judgmental ear and a shoulder to cry on or someone to be happy with
- Compassionate towards animals (haha CORNY I know, but this is important to me!)
I feel like I am getting closer to some of these goals than I am with others. But each of these goals, whether it is something to be or do, are very important to me. I know that I will grow closer to the best person I can become by reaching these goals. I also know that in the process I will become much closer to Jesus Christ, my Savior, who died so that I could be with Him again. I will learn lessons, overcome obstacles, and reach some dreams that have been a long time coming. And from my standpoint, learning, overcoming, and reaching dreams are what life is all about. Hopefully, with this writing and sharing, my life can be a little more successful and meaningful than this past tennis season!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Two More Months
I recently got a job at the City Pool. As a lifeguard, you ask? No, as a cashier. Why? Because I get to send all the joyous little kids in to an excellent day spent at the pool, and don't have to yell at them for breaking the rules. I also (so far) have gotten quite a bit of time spent just waiting for latecomers or mothers buying family passes for their many die-hard, go to the pool every day children. I'm not the biggest reader, but it has been nice being able to bring books to read during that down time. I had forgotten how much I loved reading (I was the CRAZIEST most socially uncomfortable book nerd from about 3rd grade until 7th).
Well, I started reading an excellent book called Brave Companions. I used to be all about the fiction, but now I absolutely love learning about real people places and events, instead of unicorns, fairies and wizards. Well, Brave Companions, written by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner David McCullough, is a compilation of "portraits" of figures in history. I am not all the way through the book - but the first few portraits that I have gotten through amazed me. I am in the "Phenomena" section of the book - in which the people written about are those who have made significant contributions to science or literature. The thing that jumped out at me about two of these people - Alexander von Humboldt and Louis Agassiz - is their incredible passion for learning and knowledge. Humboldt and Agassiz were earnest teachers who did not simply teach their students facts, but actually how to learn. Aggassiz, for example, would give his students a fish upon first becoming their teacher. He told them to look at it, and would leave. For days, even weeks a student would have to look at a dead fish, until they learned how much they could learn by simple observation. They would get excited at what they would find - sharp teeth, the amount of scales or the interesting shape of the fins. Having graduated from high school a few weeks ago, I fear that these passions are very contagious, but unfortunately terribly rare. I think nearly every peer who graduated with me could say that many teachers these days do not legitimately have an earnest passion for what they teach. Many teachers do have a passion for teaching - but that is entirely different from a passion for learning.
Reading these portraits made me realize just how excited I am for BYU. I think in high school it is easy to get caught up simply doing the required work - because that is all the school and teachers really care about you doing. Most teachers don't really care about what you actually learn - they care about you passing. In college, teachers don't even have to care about you passing! However, one of the things that continues to impress me about BYU is the university's outlook on education. If you look at the "Aims of a BYU Education," the main statement says, "BYU seeks to develop students of faith, intellect and character who have the skills and the desire to continue learning and to serve others throughout their lives." I am so proud to be attending a university where not only are solid facts important, but the experiences that will matter more than knowing the difference between eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Things like service opportunities, the Honor Code, friendships, passions, and most importantly, faith in ourselves, the world around us and a Higher Power. There is so much more to education than worksheets and comparative essays and book work. While part of the reason I'm going to BYU is to gain experience and learn facts so I won't have to be a City Pool cashier for my whole life, there is so much more that I have to look forward to. I leave in two months, and can't wait to be in an environment that will foster a true passion for life-long learning.
Well, I started reading an excellent book called Brave Companions. I used to be all about the fiction, but now I absolutely love learning about real people places and events, instead of unicorns, fairies and wizards. Well, Brave Companions, written by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner David McCullough, is a compilation of "portraits" of figures in history. I am not all the way through the book - but the first few portraits that I have gotten through amazed me. I am in the "Phenomena" section of the book - in which the people written about are those who have made significant contributions to science or literature. The thing that jumped out at me about two of these people - Alexander von Humboldt and Louis Agassiz - is their incredible passion for learning and knowledge. Humboldt and Agassiz were earnest teachers who did not simply teach their students facts, but actually how to learn. Aggassiz, for example, would give his students a fish upon first becoming their teacher. He told them to look at it, and would leave. For days, even weeks a student would have to look at a dead fish, until they learned how much they could learn by simple observation. They would get excited at what they would find - sharp teeth, the amount of scales or the interesting shape of the fins. Having graduated from high school a few weeks ago, I fear that these passions are very contagious, but unfortunately terribly rare. I think nearly every peer who graduated with me could say that many teachers these days do not legitimately have an earnest passion for what they teach. Many teachers do have a passion for teaching - but that is entirely different from a passion for learning.
Reading these portraits made me realize just how excited I am for BYU. I think in high school it is easy to get caught up simply doing the required work - because that is all the school and teachers really care about you doing. Most teachers don't really care about what you actually learn - they care about you passing. In college, teachers don't even have to care about you passing! However, one of the things that continues to impress me about BYU is the university's outlook on education. If you look at the "Aims of a BYU Education," the main statement says, "BYU seeks to develop students of faith, intellect and character who have the skills and the desire to continue learning and to serve others throughout their lives." I am so proud to be attending a university where not only are solid facts important, but the experiences that will matter more than knowing the difference between eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Things like service opportunities, the Honor Code, friendships, passions, and most importantly, faith in ourselves, the world around us and a Higher Power. There is so much more to education than worksheets and comparative essays and book work. While part of the reason I'm going to BYU is to gain experience and learn facts so I won't have to be a City Pool cashier for my whole life, there is so much more that I have to look forward to. I leave in two months, and can't wait to be in an environment that will foster a true passion for life-long learning.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
The End and the Beginning
A friend showed me this song just a few weeks before graduation, and it hit me how well it addresses how I feel. I've lived in this small town for ten years now, and it has taught me more than I ever would have thought. In the middle of third grade, through fourth grade, I hated Montana - the people, the weather, my school. If you read my journal from that time, I was a pretty bitter little kid, not to mention crazily awkward. Somehow, I managed in the years that followed to become a people person. I don't know how or when it happened, but that was the best change of my life. I have come to absolutely love people - especially those different than me. Class of 2011, you have seen me through the best and worst years of my life. Both of which happened in the last four years.
"Now we're back to the beginning, it's just a feeling and no one knows yet. But just because they can't feel it too doesn't mean they have to forget." We are all moving on to different roads. We moved from the top of the kid-totem pole to the bottom of the adult totem pole. And we will certainly see each other again - reunions, breaks, around town. We've made it through so much together, and apart. I will miss the amazing memories and the people.
"But you'll come back, when they call you, no need to say goodbye." I hate goodbyes - so I'm not going to say one. Because you guys will be with me forever.
"Now we're back to the beginning, it's just a feeling and no one knows yet. But just because they can't feel it too doesn't mean they have to forget." We are all moving on to different roads. We moved from the top of the kid-totem pole to the bottom of the adult totem pole. And we will certainly see each other again - reunions, breaks, around town. We've made it through so much together, and apart. I will miss the amazing memories and the people.
"But you'll come back, when they call you, no need to say goodbye." I hate goodbyes - so I'm not going to say one. Because you guys will be with me forever.
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