chippin away

We're in the midst of the body of our project now. I believe I mentioned our DS is Gordon B. Hinkley- probably one of the best examples we could find for Help Others. Our topic is just set up for service. I gave blood about two weeks back during Rivalry Week and in retrospect wondered if those hours counted towards something. If it was just for saving lives, that works too. Then, that Saturday I went to the temple for a couple of hours to do baptisms. It was my first time ever going by myself so that was a really cool experience for me. I went fasting and actually ran into some people that I knew both on the way and inside. This Thanksgiving weekend I also set aside some time to work on installing the indexing program on my new mac and worked on a batch. I just wonder if other things that I do count towards these "hours." I'm going down to Mexico this Thursday through Sunday on a service trip with Kaiizen. Can I document that? That'd really take me over the "required" time.

-I just don't like to think of my service in time. I do it because that's who I am.-

our first meeting

We were able to gather as a group on Tuesday and figured out what we need to get done. If felt so good to be done with things ahead of time. I love having a topic to really focus and point my studies to in this class now. Our topic is help others and our scholar is President Hinckley. Everyone is pulling their part and stepping up to the plate. I really do think we're going to be able to do something great.
Our service project is going to consist of indexing and going to the temple to do baptisms. Just today I gave blood and wonder if I can count that hour long process. I'll talk it over. Today really didn't feel like a Thursday. Sad. They're my favorite day of the week.

the preparation begins

We met with our groups and have begun the planning process. Our topic is Help Others, something I feel that we can do very well with. Our disciple scholar at the moment is Gordan B. Hinckley, however, I think this may need to change and become something a bit more creative. While I love President Hinckley and acknowledge all that he has done for people the world over, we should instead highlight an individual that doesn't usually receive much attention. Who is this individual you may ask? I'm still mulling it over so check back in in a few. Shannon, Amy, Mike and Graham will be excellent group members and together we'll all really be able to accomplish something amazing.

recapping

College life is busy! Tonight was our Night of Asthetic Beauty. While it was planned to last for two hours, it ended up going from 7 till 10. And while technically it was for Humanities, I left the night feeling Spiritually strengthened and wishing to increase my own talents.

We also just received the email for our group assignments for our final. My topic actually sounds like something I'd enjoy sharing; my group doesn't seem half bad either.

I still really do need to sit down and write out my goals. GAH! And I want to write in my journal. Good, better, best, never let it rest till the good is better and the better is best. A life lesson to learn from.

This is a really scatter brained-y one. My apologies.

field trip

Gah! I was doing better at remembering to write these earlier. I guess that's just what happens as I get busier and busier. During class last time, we relocated to the JFSB gallery of the history behind Joseph Smith, BYU and institute/seminary. I'd have to say my favorite part of the exhibit was the art. What can I say? I'm a nerd like that. There was an oculus in the ceiling, the stunning spiral staircase that incorporates so many different mediums, and the simple paintings and pictures that hang on the walls. There was a bit of underlying symbolism with the light, vines and Shepard- each was to remind you of Christ.

I wandered the area with Katie and Gracie, but really didn't take in much of the actual displays. It's one place on campus that I want to be able to fully enjoy on my own time. I'll return... with camera in hand.

the "snow day"

We did not have a Univ 101 class last week, so I don't really have much to say about it. I still have to annotate the papers about it tonight.

One major improvement in my life that I could credit to this class is time management. More and more I'm seeing the importance of this and am working on creating a set schedule for myself. Also, last night I spent about two hours going through a large stack of papers I had accumulated since the beginning of the year and actually determined what was necessary.

So, off to more work. Sorry this blog really has nothing to say. Hopefully I can work on my quilt this weekend and finish fixing my computer.

PMA

Jolysa was truly inspired last class period as she spoke on positive mental tapes. We were to grade our Humanities class the following hour and a lot of students were apprehensive over what would happen. Jolysa was able to calm the fears of many and led an incredible discussion how we are loved by our Heavenly Father and how we have the ability within ourselves to improve our grades and learning styles.

In Art History last year, we spoke of a similar idea that was experienced in the Renaissance. The people armed themselves with a Positive Mental Attitude. Their PMA allowed them to create many of the advancements in the art world.

By arming ourselves with confidence, we are able to accomplish incredible things.

meeting with an advisor

Just a bit of an update, I have been in to speak with a counselor about my major and how the education I gain today will effect my life into the eternities. I still am feeling very confident about seeking after a degree in English. The question just remains as to what, if any thing I will minor (double major?) in. The kind man armed me with sheets listing major requirements and instructed me to begin taking the required classes next semester. Wow. Just jumping right in then.

A goal I am now setting on my own that that one has been accomplished is to schedule my time a lot better. I need to sit down with my planner and really figure everything out. And set goals for myself. So, this is me informing you so that you may now check up on me. Thank you so much for all your loving guidance Jolysa :)

online myMAP

Alright,so this last week we received a wonderful email informing us to take an online quiz through FA to better assess this incoming class, its needs, and our personal goals. The test really was like any other personality analyzer I'd gone through in the past; usually there's at least one a year through some sort of program. So, take the test and thought that'd just be it- JK! So then there's all this pondering about the questions they'd ask. Do I really have good study skills? Am I sleeping enough?

A few days later I found an email in my inbox- the results were in! Click the link and it takes me to a page on the BYU website that has all sorts of cool information. It showed my ranking on the assessment in comparison to the others that took it and had lots of background information that gave more background to the questions they asked. And the graphics were user friendly! If they had done the application process with something as simple and straight forward as that, I would have had a lot less stress.

This weekend is General Conference and it's pretty much like another holiday down here. Kids are plotting how to get home, get tickets and how/where to watch. Personally, my Mom and sister are coming down Friday, a friend is taking me to the morning session Saturday, and then I have a birthday party Saturday afternoon. I may be coming home Saturday night (with all my laundry done at home for free) and then just chill, study, and watch gen con down here at home.

A lot of the questions on the test were about homesickness. I think I'll be homesick when I go up this weekend. This is home. This is where I live. I love my family, I've just gained another one down here. If you're one of the one's dealing with thoughts of home, meet new people and make friends like crazy. You feel cool when you can say hi to everyone you meet, and it really puts you into the community down here.

I have another goal I'm working on- every one's names in the ward learned by the end of the month. Once I have the ward menu, I'm studying up!

people and the brain

This is coming just a bit later at night-- slipped my mind for a bit. In our last class we talked about the brain and how it influences us as people. Along with a link to our Humanities class in discussing the Sophic and Mantic individual, we discussed testimonies and how we can know that truth is before us by recognizing the witness of the Holy Ghost.

I paid attention to this in my other classes this last week to see if I would really know when truth was before me. My Book of Mormon class had many faith strengthening moments.. something I usually expect from doctrine study. What I really came to know this last week with the Holy Ghost's witness is the importance of my Physical Science course. While it's just a basic GE, I know that the things I am learning in it now will help me in the Eternities as I create my own Worlds.

Kahi was hit by a car just the day before class last week and is an incredible trooper. He made the trek on his crutches to each of his classes. I know first hand being hit by a car is not the greatest feeling in the world, especially when all the soreness sets in the following day. Everyone's doing a great job of helping him out. I should see if I can visit him tomorrow. That'd be a good plan.

hula happenins

On this assignment I'll admit I procrastinated. Reading President Eyring's talk really inspired me and learning a hula to go with it only made me think of my art history teacher from last year. While I'm obnoxiously outgoing, I didn't quite want to look the part of a fool in front of my peers.. really my dancing skills are nill.

But it must be completed! I had taped it- I adore my camera but that's a whole other story- and decided to review it a couple of times before venturing out tonight. Once I had it pretty good I set out to my victims... err, anxious pupils.

I decided to go to Maser Hall- with three long time guy friends from middle school not in FA, they wouldn't let me down :) Will West wast first and only too happy to swivel his hips just a bit too much and help me out. Thanks Will. Then a quick jaunt across the basement took me to Mike and Tanner. At first they were very skeptical of my motives and made me perform like the uncoordinated fool I am. Upon being reassured it was for a homework assignment they stood and allowed themselves to be molded. Muah ha ha ha! Hopefully they have it down pat. Special thanks goes out to Will's unsuspecting roommate Matt Randall and dear Jenn Wright for just being in a wrong place wrong time situation and learning as well.


I still need to meet with an advisement center to meet my goal-- I'll attempt to schedule that tomorrow. I'm also working on uploading the video I taped in class. It's really high quality though and Facebook isn't quite sophisticated to handle its awesome at this time.

And if I have time in the near future, I'll find and post the link to Eyring's talk and our/my notes on it. Maybe favorite quotes? We'll see.

establishing a blog for all the classes

This blog now encompasses both my personal life and experiences, as well as assignments for my English 150 class and my University 101. I could have made up separate web addresses for each of these, but I'm in a mood to conserve and retain that which I have no need to use. I don't need to create 20 different web addresses for myself and remember each of their passwords so this is how it's going to be.

To negotiate the differences, all my English assignments will have the tag "ENG 150 H" or something close to that, and all my Freshman Seminar blogs will have the tag "UNIV 101." It'll all make sense. No worries. You're smart.

Since there is no real direction to the Univ 101 assignments yet other than to record experiences, I'll just write that I'm loving the course. It's really making me think about my major and my life. I am so grateful to Aunt Cheryl and all that she taught me last year. I'm pretty much obsessed with Art History, I adore music, reading, poetry... any aesthetic experiences really. I love that we can discuss gospel in the middle of the class. My testimony grows with each day I have down here.

That'll be all for now I suppose. Once I have a prompt, there'll be more direction.