the best four years

Last night I took the last final of my undergraduate career at Brigham Young University and on my walk home, I got a little emotional walking through campus, and not as a result of my test score (I actually did way better than I thought!) Honestly, aside from my parents joining the church, BYU has been one of the best experiences and decisions of my life.

Freshman Year (August 2009-April 2010)

It is no secret that my freshman year was my worst year of college and one of the worst of my life. I hated everything about BYU and refused to give it a chance. Many nights were spent in my room or on campus studying while everyone else made memories and friends. One shining aspect of freshman year was the friendship that developed between Jadyn Cherry and me. Jadyn and I were kindred spirits and basked in our antisocial activity together. We hated everyone, went to yoga, watched an embarrassing amount of The OC and missed our stupid boyfriends together. I chose my major this year after failing chemistry and coming to terms with the fact that I wouldn't be going to med school. Freshman year sucked, but Jadyn is one of my best friends to this day and I love our friendship and am so glad we found each other that dismal year.

Sophomore Year (August 2010-June 2011)

Jadyn and I were roommates and lived in a g-h-e-t-t-o house with crazy people. This year was insane and dramatic but a lot of fun. One of my favorite memories was going to Arizona with Jadyn twice- once for her grandfather's funeral and again for Thanksgiving. Above is us at the Grand Canyon. This was also the year I took my favorite class at BYU- PD Bio 220 Human Anatomy with the legendary Rachel Tomco (who I have learned is getting married this summer and this was her last semester teaching at BYU! I'm so excited for her.) 

Also during sophomore year I had my favorite BYU experience. On a whim I decided to join the BYU Model United Nations team. I was intimidated in the beginning and didn't really make friends the first semester, but after winter semester and competing in New York, I've made some life long friends, some of who I consider my best. MUN was such a rewarding experience and I gained so much confidence after competing. I consistently use MUN to answer those "Describe a time when you were a leader/worked in a team/were faced with an ethical dilemma" questions in job interviews. I would recommend it to anyone. Plus, BYU is really good at it and we win every year.

Junior Year (August 2011-August 2012) This was probably my favorite year at BYU. I moved in with my MUN TA's, Kylie Cox and Ashley Ysasaga. Together we saw Chris Brown in LA, ventured to Brianhead, sang a lot of Celine Dion, girl-talked and ate a worrisome amount of sausage egg McMuffins. These two are some of my dearest friends and I have met so many awesome people through both of them. In October I met Preston Kutney, which was cool I guess. I stayed in Provo the whole year and had the best summer of my life with my new best friend in the entire world. 

Senior Year (August 2012-April 2013)

Holy shi I'm a senior. This year has been so insane and challenging and so blissfully happy and carefree at the same time. I took the GRE, applied for grad schools, got rejected from grad schools, got engaged and in two days I will graduate. I live with three amazing girls- Blythe Beecroft, Brooke Zollinger and Brooke Ellis and all three are the best examples to me and make me want to be a better human. I've dressed up in some of the most bizarre costumes and attended some of the best dance parties this year. I've cried a lot about the stupidest things and not-so-stupid things. I've probably gotten myself in the best shape of my life since I quit dance in high school. I've written a hell of a lot of cover letters, interviewed for a lot of jobs and prayed A LOT. I'm still praying. I'm still interviewing. I read the entire standard works! Not all this year, but I finished two days ago. I've learned how to cook a lot of really delicious things and learned that I might actually like cooking and even baking. I've learned that generic is just as good as name brand for everything except Wheat Thins. I think I know what it means to really love someone, and I know what it means to care more about someone else's happiness than your own. I've learned that things change and your plans don't work out and your five year plan may not be anywhere remotely close to what you envisioned your senior year of high school and it's okay because you've learned so much that you never would have learned if you stuck to your five year plan.

My parents will be in town Thursday and Friday for graduation festivities. I cannot wait to see them and for Preston's family to finally meet my family. I still can't believe I've completed four years college. I feel too young to be a college graduate. I'm trying to make my blog posts less lengthy, so I'll close with this: BYU will have a place in my heart for eternity. I will do everything in my power to have my children attend this university and will cheer for BYU basketball til I die. I know I would not have had the same incredible spiritual experience and growth had I attended a different college. This place is special and I love it with all my heart. Here's to the best four years. Congratulations class of 2013.