What I've Learned in College

Yes I've learned all about how the brain works, abnormal disorders, all the stages of development starting at a zygote to 90+ years of age and how to properly block a volleyball so you don't break your hand.... Which I did! But that's not what I'm talking about with this post! Sure, there are a lot to learn when it comes to academics but there is SO MUCH more to learn at college... and here is a list of all of the things that college has taught me:

1. How to get ready in a time crunch.... PR is 30 minutes which included a shower, blow dried and straightened hair, make-up on, cute outfit with matching shoes and even accessories! I just might consider this my #1 college accomplishment!

2. Passive Aggressive notes left on whiteboards, the fridge and various other appliances are surprisingly effective when it comes to messy roommates.

3. The people you surround yourself with is ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL! They will make or break you! They will help sculpt and mold you into the person you come, whether you are consciously aware of it or not!

4. Stress breakouts are a real thing! Finals week every year is literally hell for your skin... Bump up your skin regimen about two weeks before finals and pray for the best!

5.  Contrary to popular belief, it's possible to live without properly daily nutrition. I'm still alive after 4 years of eating Ramen, canned and boxed food and the occasional vegetable or fruit here or there.

6. That being said, the freshman 15 is a MYTH! Well, for me it was anyway. As long as you eat your processed crap in moderation (Proper portion sizes) and exercise as you normally do (should), you'll be fine!

7. The triangle is all too real! The triangle that has sides consisting of Grades, Social Life, and Sleep. Triangle rules say you can only have two but you can never have three! This has been the dictator of my entire college career! I'll tell you right now, sleep and social life always win! Academics always, always suffer...especially when you're a freshman.

8. Spending WAY too much money on outings with your friends is INCREDIBLY easy!

9. If you even slightly entertain the idea of skipping class for even a second, you're not going to go

10. Studying is a complete joke! It's one of those things where you know you absolutely need to do it but you just downright don't want to. Until you take the first two tests and realize you have to study for the final otherwise you'll fail the class

11. On the off chance that you do decide to study, DON'T DO IT AT YOUR APARTMENT!! You'll get too distracted and nothing will get accomplished. Go to the library, the laundry room, anywhere that you're not used to being!

12. You don't HAVE  to buy your books and supplies from the campus store! The bookstore on campus has outrageous prices on most things and only have a limited supply of the used/cheaper books and of course, they sell out the fastest! Try other places like Amazon or friends that already have the books from previous semesters! Also, Chegg.com has the absolute best deals! You can buy or rent from them at incredibly low prices, It shows you the original cost, what you're being charged and how much you saved! You also get little gifts in the box when your book comes like cans of Red Bull, laundry soap, gum and other little things.

13. That being said above, you don't ALWAYS need to have the textbook for a course! Go to the first day or two of class and see if you have any assignments that come from the book. A lot of the times, textbooks are supplemental and don't mean a whole lot to the course! Do your research before so you're not wasting tons of money on books that won't even be cracked open the entire semester.

14. Goodbyes N E V E R get easier! In my experience, the incredible people I've met here become my family away from family; my home away from home. There are very few things in this world that I wouldn't do for my friends and having to leave them after nine months of adventures may just be the hardest thing I've had to do thus far in my adult life. Prepare yourself for that now!

15. iClicker/attendance/participation points will absolutely make or break your grade! READ THE SYLLABUS and make sure you don't get points for attendance before you decide to skip a class!

16. The institute ALWAYS has free food and treats! Whether it's Welcome Back Week, Finals week or any random holiday, make sure you stop by the institute for food!

17. Spectrum Magic! is a real thing! It may be called something different at your school but I am a firm believer in the student section helping the athletes when they're out on the court or field!

18. Family is EVERYTHING! I've posted time and time again about this so I'm not going to go into too much detail about it but when you move away to college, you realize how important your family actually is and how much love you actually have for them!

19. Great Value, Kroger and Western Family will become your brands of choice! They are cheaper than name brand foods and could save you hundreds of dollars in the long run!

20. ^^^That being said, eating out will absolutely wreck your bank account and your health. It's ok every now and then if it's for social reasons, a special occasion or you're in a time crunch, but definitely don't make a habit of it!

21. Utilize the free services that are available to you through your school and student tuition & fees! These can including psychological counselors, medical clinics, academic resource centers, printing centers, computer labs and other places on or around campus! This, too, can save you money in the long run!

22. DON'T procrastinate your math classes!! Your allotted time will run out, you'll end of having to take the accuplacer and may end up having to repeat courses that you've already taken! Save yourself the time, money and stress and take math as a freshman! Get it out of the way so you're not taking it as a senior, when you should be graduating and then adding another year when you thought you were finished.

23. Don't get caught in the "Daily Parking Charges" trap! Buy a pass at the beginning of the year and use it for the duration! It may be a lot up front but it's MUCH cheaper than daily charges. Otherwise, walk or bus it!

24. Getting mail is almost as great as Christmas; probably a close second!

25. Celebrating even the littlest of holidays is fun in a college setting! And I'm talking about giant St. Patrick's Day Feasts, GALentine's Day parties, National Pancake Day, etc.

26. Fun Fact: In college, NOBODY cares what you wear to class! As a freshman, this is something you won't understand. For upperclassman, it becomes apart of you. whether it's 10 pounds of make-up with heels and a hand bag or Aggies sweats and a Disneyland T-shirt, people really couldn't care less.

27.  Get involved in activities outside of the classroom-- volunteering, athletic games, intramurals, celebrations, church activities, dances, parties... This is where you meet new people and create the best memories! It also gives you a nice break from studying!

28. Get out in the sun as much as you possibly can! Thanks to living in Utah, it's here for a short time during the school year and gone again too soon!

29. On the first day of class- pick a seat and stay there! Don't be that person that throws off everyone else because you randomly decided to sit somewhere else on any given day!

30. Cops hide EVERY WHERE! If you are known as a speeder, be prepared to pay a lot of tickets! They'll get you, I promise!

31. You won't always like your roommates! You'll have some that you absolutely love and you'll have some that you absolutely hate! I've been lucky in that I've enjoyed all but maybe two of mine and even then I've dealt with it! It's all about what you make of it!

32. The boys at college are 5 times hotter than what you're used to seeing back home and in high school. Maybe it's because they're fresh faces and you haven't seen them before or maybe you're just used to all the ones back home that you're friends with. Either way, college is babe central!

33. The sides of your car will be dinged 1,000 times! I know we're in college and you'd think it was common sense but my green machine is flecked with white scratches down both sides of it and I know for a fact that it wasn't purchased that way. In 4 years of being here, I've only had 1 person leave a not about hitting me...... #SoAnnoying

34. While at school, your Suzy Homemaker side definitely comes out! You may think that you're the least crafty or artistic person in the world like I do, but I promise you! You'll try a lot of new things whether it's crafts, recipes and other things!

35. Course Evaluation Surveys.... TAKE THEM THE FIRST TIME YOU GET THE E-MAIL! Don't delete them thinking that you're outsmarting the system just by not taking them. You will continue to get e-mails over and over until the surveys are taken. Safe yourself and your inbox some grief and take them right away.

36. You will go through ridiculous amounts of clothing. You'll feel like you're needing to do 4 loads of laundry weekly

37. And while we're on the laundry note, your laundry is not safe in the complex washers and dryers. There are lots of inconsiderate people at college who think of only themselves. There may be times when you find your dripping wet clothing sitting on top of the washer you were using while someone else clothes are now in washing instead.... it's happened to me before and it's incredibly annoying. Just remember that you have laundry in and check it frequently!

38. 11 PM or later is the absolute best time to shop at Wal-Mart for groceries. Yeah, you'll have to navigate around the employees unloading food from their freight but other than that, there are very little other shoppers there. They are also putting out their newest shipment of produce! That way you can get fresh stuff and not have to worry about all the people that have touched your food during the day.... just remember to grab fro the back of the stack/row!

39. Group projects are a complete joke! You'll have rock star group members and you'll have absolute crap group members who leave you to pull the weight for everybody! Be sure to advocate for yourself and discuss the problem with your professor if needs be! Don't stress yourself out for the sake of the group when you don't have a group to work with! And... May the Odds be Ever in Your Favor!

40. And last but certainly not least, college has taught me, that even though this has been a completely stressful, crazy, and demanding ride.... I wouldn't trade it for a second. I'm absolutely obsessed with my campus and in love with the people I have come into contact with. I have another year left of school, but if it were up to me, I wouldn't ever leave this place! Once an Aggie, Always an Aggie..... :)

Until Next Time, " A college degree is the key to realizing the American Dream, well worth the financial sacrifice because it is supposed to open the door to a world of opportunity." -- Dan Rather

The Value of an Education

Pre.

Head start. 

Elementary. 

Intermediate. 

Jr. High. 

Middle. 

High. 

Post Secondary. 

Primary. 

University. 

College. 

Secondary.

What do all these words have in common.....?

They are all forms of school/education! Every single person reading this post right now has had some form of education, whether formal or informal. Someone, somewhere has taken the time and has taught you how to read. HOW COOL IS THAT?! Love letters, the newspaper, instructions, road signs and maps... sooo many things are available to you because you can read!

Now... imagine life without that ability. imagine not being able to read.... do a math problem... knowing how to speak properly... Being able to learn facts in our history or knowing who the current president is.It's crazy how often we take education and oh so often! There have been so many times, while being away at school, the phrase, "I hate school!" has slipped from my lips. That as well as, "Why am I doing this to myself?", "This is stupid!", and "That's it, I'm dropping out and becoming a stripper!". It's always been expected of me to go to school. NO EXCEPTIONS. Maybe that's why I've felt this way at time? Maybe I was just feeling a load of pressure on myself at the time? It's taken me 4 years of schooling to FINALLY understand and really appreciate my education! 

It slammed me today during a presentation in my Women and Gender studies course on Culture. We were discussing the importance of education as well as the average salary of a college graduate versus a high school graduate. I started a "big kid" job yesterday with full time hours ,benefits and higher pay than I've ever received from any job I've worked so far. When I was going in for my interview, a girl from one of my college classes was walking out. We were talking the next day in class about how our interviews went and if we were going to accept the job or not. Another girl that sits by us asked if it was good pay. The other girl that interviewed said that she would get $10/hr. When I was interviewing, the supervisor told me that I would get $11/hr because I already have my Associates degree and then my pay would go up once I finish my last two classes and receive my Bachelor's. Also, that one little thing was the thing that put me above all of the other applicants and landed me the job. 

Never have I been so thankful for this college experience! Never have I been so grateful for all of the stress, caffeine, tears, debt, late nights and struggling! I am sooooo thankful that I have been able to go to college for so long, regardless of the amount of student loans I have racked up! I am so thankful for having the opportunity to go to school on such a beautiful campus and meet some of the most incredible people! My father has always said, "It will pay off. I promise you it will eventually pay off!" I am now starting to see it pay off little by little and I am so so happy and thankful for that!

Until Next Time, "The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet." -- Aristotle

America

There's something that really infuriates me more than almost anything in the world.... More than people talking during movies and slow walkers! More than people trying to talk to me while I have my headphones in and even more than people leaving the milk carton out on the counter... I can't think of anything that makes me more angry or upsets me more than people not putting their hands over their hearts whenever the flag is being presented. Continuing on your way like nothing is happening and not even giving our flag a passing glance is one of the most disrespectful things I can think of. 

The American flag stands for bravery. It stands for freedom. It stands for courage. It represents the incredibly hard times we've been through as a country as well as all of the joy and opportunity that is experienced here as well. It represents all of the men and women who have shed blood and given up their lives for a cause; something that they believe in. It breaks my heart to see someone not paying respect to those men and women through the flag. You may not be an advocate for war, but those people died for you to be able to have that opinion. Whether you approve or not, those people are still fighting and dying for you. 

Maybe it's my own personal bias due to what I've experienced first hand with soldiers but I can't think of anything more disrespectful to the veterans, those currently serving in the armed forces or to the families of those soldiers who have been killed in battle. Former president Ronald Reagan said, "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same." Are we fighting for it...? Are we protecting it? Maybe this is me going off on a tangent but this topic is so near and dear to my heart and it honestly hurts me to see such disrespect happening! I hope whoever reads this can take a second and think about what the flag means to them and everything that it stands for in this country and maybe, just maybe, show it just a little bit more respect! :)

Until Next Time, "The cement of this union is the heart-blood of every American!" -- Thomas Jefferson

Mom and Dad

Ever since I left my small town Heber 3 years ago, I have realized something very important.... I am utterly and completely obsessed and in love with my parents. When I moved away and had to do everything on my own, I noticed how much I absolutely missed them and how much they actually did for me. I miss everything from having a curfew and having to check in to running my siblings around town to soccer games and church activities. In light of missing them so much, I'd like to take a few minutes to brag about them... and tell them how much I appreciate them! So here goes....

Mom:

My mother is absolutely beautiful. She knows everything there is to know about being a mother. She can clean up after sick kids in the middle of the night without getting sick herself. She plays chauffeur to everyone in my family so she is constantly on the go. She can tell if there is something on my mind that I need to talk about with a simple text message. She isn't unappreciated although appreciation may not be shown to her on a daily basis. She taught me to drive in her own truck, regardless of all the grey hairs that I caused. She is one of the hardest working women that I know and I admire her for that. She is the world's fastest typer, I think I get my skills from her. She is a big softy when it comes to our kitty, even though she says he's dumb most of the time. Thankfully, she has taught me everything she knows about cooking and cleaning, my husband will thank her one day for it. She's seen me at my absolute worst and she has seen my at my absolute best and has remained proud of me at any state of being that I am in. We've had our fair share of fights and yes, the majority of the time, she's been right. She's always been there to dry my tears. When she couldn't dry them, she cried with me. One of my favorite past times is driving and singing country music together. Whenever I smell cinnamon and pine cones, I think of her and how she's decorated our house for Christmas. There is no telling where I would be today without such a strong example and influence in my life. I love my mother more than anything on this planet and I can't even begin to explain how thankful I am to call her mine! I love you to the moon and back, mama! :)

DAD:

There is one guy that will have my heart forever(Alight, there's 2 if you count my brother), and it's this man right here! He's incredibly calm and loves peace and quiet. Often times, I'll walk into the living room and see him standing at the front window just looking outside. He's says it's much more interesting than staring at four walls all day. He is an incredibly hard worker. He is my personal ATM. I wouldn't be in college now if it weren't for his belief in me to succeed. He's incredibly educated and has degrees from many different schools. There's no way my family would even be existent without him and his constant support. He may not be my biological  father, but he might as well be. He loved and supported me like his own for as long as I can remember. For years and years, I wanted nothing to do with him, but he loved me regardless. After growing up and FINALLY realizing that he wasn't the bad guy in the situation, I had a complete change of heart. I've never been more rotten to a person in my life and I've never felt more awful about it after. If I could go back and change things, I would in a heart beat. But I am doing my best to make up for it now. He is the one that I miss the most when I am away at school. Often times, I'll get random e-mails from him wishing me luck on tests or interviews and they make my entire week. I don't tell him thank you enough, but THANK YOU dad! Thank you for being my dad, my example of a hard worker and for always being there to support me! I too, love you to the moon and back!

L O V E my cute parents! :) Also, while looking through these pictures, I noticed that my father is always on the left side and my mother is always on the right.... random coincidence...?? 

Until Next Time, "Parents are like God because you wanna know they're out there, and you want them to think well of you, but you really only call when you need something." -- Chuck Palahniuk, Invisible Monsters