Please try to never grow up.

My brother graduates from high school this June. I took some senior pictures for his announcements today (these were the best).

He found out his mission call is being sent out on Tuesday.

WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?

He's still supposed to be the little boy obsessed with Star Wars and Yu-Gi-Oh!

Soon I'll be taking pictures at his wedding and of his kids and stuff. NOT ACCEPTABLE.

Second day of school!

I didn't take a picture of myself for my second day of school (first day of TR classes), but I really should have. Because I looked hawt.

Anyway.

The morning was a little more rushed than Monday's was, mainly because on Monday, my first class isn't until 11:30, whereas on Tuesday my first class is at 9:00. So I immediately had to get up, get showered, do my hair and makeup, and get dressed. I made it to my first class (Doctrine and Covenants) fifteen minutes early...so I waited in the hall and played games on my phone. I went in, sat down, and five minutes later, a guy sat down next to me and introduced himself. About five minutes after that, I realized my old FHE brother was in the class as well and said hi (my old roommate's husband is too, but I didn't say hi to him). The class went on like all the other start-of-the-semester days are: we went through the syllabus. We were able to get a little into Section 76, but not by much.

Then I had to rush across campus to make it to my Issues in Global Climate Change class. As I approached the door, I saw that a good friend of mine from last semester is also taking the class. So that'll be fun. This class is going to be interesting. The teacher offers TONS of extra credit, and has a game/project going on throughout the entire semester where we create our own town/area and have to fix all of its climate issues. The way he presented his syllabus was very confusing, and at first I thought it wasn't what I signed up for. But after a while I realized it was and that all will work out.

These two classes should be fun and interesting. I'm excited to see how they unfold.

First day of school!

This is me on my first day of my fifth semester of college. Crazy. According to the world, I should be done in three semesters. Unfortunately, it's taking me a lot longer than the eight semesters everyone else does. 

Anyway. Today was actually a really great day. I woke up at 7 AM, which ended up being the dumbest thing to do since my first class isn't until 11:30 on MWFs. I ate breakfast, watched two episodes of "Community", did a little cleaning, talked to some friends for a bit and emailed my friend who is on his mission before I even considered getting ready for school. Then I did my makeup, hair, and got dressed. Still had time to sit around and do nothing before I left for campus at 11:30. Today it was CRAZY windy. Welcome to Rexburg, though. I'm just glad my hair didn't get too out of place. 

It only took me 15 minutes to get to my class, so while I was waiting I played Solitaire and Farkle on my phone. Then it was time for class. It's a Shakespeare class and its with a teacher I've really enjoyed in the past. I can tell I'm going to enjoy both of my classes from him this semester. Thoughts on this class: A) If you don't know how to spell "Shakespeare", you should not be taking a Shakespeare class. B) If you don't know how to read, you shouldn't be taking a Shakespeare class. C) It's going to be a lot of reading and writing. But that's kind of what I signed up for when I said I wanted to be an English major. 

Then it was time for my next class. Since it was in the same classroom (with the same teacher), I didn't have to move an inch. Glorious. This next class is a Literary Interpretation class. In it we study how to analyze literature. I've already taken it, and almost failed. Since I needed to get a C- for it to count towards graduation, I have to retake it. So at least I know what to expect this semester, right? This class will also be a lot of reading and writing. 

After that class, I walked down to the bookstore thinking I'd be able to get the notecards required for both classes. HA. There were lines that stretched across the store. So I'll have to use the remaining ones from last semester and make a trip to Walmart very soon (I need some food anyway). I then got my traditional Orange Sunrise smoothie from Freshens (the smoothie place on campus). SO. GOOD. If I had the money, I'd get one every day. 

All in all, MWFs should be fairly easy for me. I just have to buckle down and get all of the homework done when I get home from class, when I get home from work, and possibly even the morning of. As well as magically make time to get homework for TRs classes done and go to the gym. 

I can do this. Right?

Spring 2013.

A new semester starts tomorrow, and this time I'm actually in class. AAAHHH!!! I'm so nervous and not at all ready mentally--physically, yes. Except when it comes to walking up the mountain (hill) to campus.

To keep with tradition, here are my goals for the next semester:

*Make three new friends. I'm sick of staying home in my apartment weekend after weekend.
*Go on three dates. Two are already planned :D
*Workout three times a week. This will be a little more difficult to accomplish with the next goal...
*Work 25 hours a week. I've asked my manager to schedule me every day M-F from 5 PM to about 10 PM. We'll see how that goes. Since the gym on campus closes at like 11:30, we'll see if I'm able to make it there.
*Go to the temple every two weeks. I was unable to go at all last semester due to scheduling conflicts, so I DESPERATELY need to get back into a habit of going.
*Read scriptures and pray every day. Because I suck at doing this.
*Get a 3.0 GPA (which will hopefully get my cumulative GPA up). Because my current one is horrid.
*Never have my overall grade at a C or lower. Because C's won't help me get a 3.0.
*Read 3 books. Reading is fun.
*Pay for rent, food, and other bills easily.
*Save money for Fall semester.
*Write my story often.

I'm also going to be staying off Facebook (and other distracting sites) for the next four months in order to focus on my schoolwork. So this is where I will be updating my life.

Ready or not, here I go.

College is expensive.

For this upcoming semester, I will spend:
*Books-$170.
*Rent-$1030.
*Tuition-$1490.
*Food-approximately $350.
*Other fees-$850.
GRAND TOTAL: $3890

I know that's significantly less than what most other college students are paying, but most other college students have scholarships and Pel Grants and loans and daddy's credit card just waiting to be swiped. Me? I'm 100% on my own. I use my paycheck and tips to pay for everything I buy. I have absolutely no help coming in this semester. It's pretty fantastic.

The end has come.

There's a week left in the semester, and I SERIOUSLY doubt anything in terms of my goals are going to change between now and next Friday. So, here's how they went.

*Go on three dates: I went on two (one in Utah). One was alright, the other was AMAZING.
*Pay for everything easily: I was able to pay for everything, and it was fairly easy.
*Save money for Spring: I have about $1000 saved up, and my tuition is only $1490 (unless I miraculously get into the class I'm on a waitlist for). I CAN DO THIS.
*Great roommates: while they were great, we haven't really seen eye to eye this semester, and I have basically detached myself emotionally from them since they're all leaving, never to return to my apartment complex.
*Work forty hours a week: I've gotten anywhere between 35 and 40 hours most weeks this semester. Sometimes it's lower than 35, and a couple of times it's been higher than 40. Yay for money!
*Work out 30 minutes at least three times a week: There was a time (*cough* a month and a half *cough*) where I wasn't exercising and eating Domino's like it was going out of business. But I'm back in the game and going to the gym every day. I have to get a bikini ready body (just not for a bikini) by June. Wish me luck.
*Eat slightly healthier: see above.
*Read scriptures daily: I epically failed this. I think I read them once a week. Definitely need to get back into that.
*Pray morning and night: also epically failed. There was a time when I was praying. But it's been a while...
*Go to the temple every two weeks: I have been unable to attend all semester, whether it be because of work or personal reasons. Hopefully I'll be able to go back soon.
*Read three books: I did more than that, I've read FIVE. I read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harken, The Host, What Happens Next, and Matched. WOO.
*Get close to finishing story: HA. Nope. I haven't opened that notebook in about three weeks. I should probably do that sometime soon...maybe when I'm done with this.

All in all, I'd say it was a pretty good semester. On to the next!