Senioritis is real.

This is definitely the longest I've gone...without writing here or in my journal! What in the world? I've relied on pictures and quick notes I jot down in my trusty app that will help me remember times or things people say that impact me. I'm used to writing down everything, so I hope I don't regret the time I haven't had to just...write.

As for a little update on my life, well--I am in the midst of midterms and...just about everything else. I had to let my job go for the rest of the semester because I just wasn't getting everything done. I've now got a perfect amount of time to get just a little ahead in my last year of schooling to keep myself sane. Side note: I try to get everything done before 9 pm because I have a very important FaceTime call until I go to bed. Also, (since I didn't grow up in the dance studio) I've had to spend a lot of extra time on my own learning choreography for--what, about 18 songs?--that need to be performance worthy in four weeks! We take fun breaks to make sure we don't go completely insane:

This is what we look like when Randy tells us to belt singing harmony
and do five chaines at the same time. Just kidding. It's only two. 

So with the rest of my time (hah) I actually go to class! But since I'm a senior, they aren't the normal classes. I'm producing the 12 o'clock noon news on Tuesday and Fridays for...dun dun dun...the number one rated student newscast in the Nation! It's my capstone at BYU, and it's always an adventure. 

Fridays is CoogTube...women tell all! No, I'm not a feminist.

It was cute that one time that I thought I had time to be in the BYU Republicans club. Although I haven't been to a real meeting yet, I've spent a few breaks in between classes helping out at the booth! So that counts, kinda? I think I'll have more time Winter semester. Cross your fingers.

This was a lot more awkward for the people walking by.

Last but not least, I definitely have time for some post-mission fun. The NYRM camaraderie is real and we'll almost drop anything we can to be with each other, even if it is just for a few minutes. I've found myself day dreaming lately of how I was in the beautiful fall colored leaves last year in New York, almost done with my service, which gave me a confidence about saying whatever I wanted, when I wanted. (Appropriately, of course.) Missionaries will know that once you've been out for so long, you just say anything. That hasn't changed, really. Anyway, I just love my NYRMies.

My nephew and brother with our gang symbol for the "Celestial District."

Well, I think that's about it. Our first performance is next week at Homecoming Spectacular! I can't even wait. Finally, all of this rehearsal will pay off. It's hard to perform in front of a huge mirror looking at yourself doing everything wrong! It will be fantastic to perform in front of an audience. Changes everything. Which reminds me...

ONE WEEK UNTIL MY MAN COMES. No, I'm not excited.  Just kidding! 

And like I said...Senior-itis is real, people. 

One big project.

I started a bigger project than I thought. A much bigger one.

A few weeks ago I decided I should probably start digitizing all of my journals. That way it would make it easier to find stories, people, experiences...but most of all, to make sure I never lose any of my past seven years. Even just writing in my journal daily is a huge project in itself. So, last night I only did a couple hours worth, and only got through a month and a half. Great, I've got, let's see, seven years to go. Looks like I found myself a project over Christmas break!

Now, I don't consider mine a "diary." Some girls try to write Nicolas Spark's novels about their love lives, including how great/bad their best friends are...but all I have is simply what happened to me and what I felt through the process. It's not terribly interesting. It doesn't need to be.

I've noticed though, that my journal entries have gotten significantly longer and in more detail throughout the years. When I go back to read them, it's almost like I'm understanding why things happened because I know the outcome, or vice versa. It is so interesting, and quite hilarious to be honest. It's one of my favorite things to do! I can remember so much more about high school and the beginning of college because I wrote it all down and I re-read it. I can see how much I've changed, and how much other people have changed. Let me repeat, it's so interesting.

via: pinterest

"You have to know the past to understand the present."
-Dr. Carl Sagan

What I'll be doing with my children (thank Pinterest for the idea) is I'll keep a journal for each of them throughout their growing up years and give it to them either when they move out or get married. The entries won't be as long as mine are, but I know that my best treasures are hand-written letters from my parents. How great would it be to have an entire journal full of things your parents thought about you since day one? I'm excited. Hopefully I'll be able to keep it a secret.

Here's the plug: If you haven't started keeping a journal, start tonight. It's one of the best things that I've ever done.

Dream job...coming to life.

So I have to start small. But doesn't everyone? I've got to get there somehow. 


Yesterday I spent a few hours in our new BYU broadcasting building during the pre-pro and taping of TrueBlue. It was AWESOME. TrueBlue is the BYUtv sports show basically summing up what happened in BYU sports throughout the week. Highlights are pulled, feature stories on big athletes are written--it's sports 24/7. I got to sit wide-eyed in Production Control Room 1 with all of the producers, watch them yell out commands in their headset, and see it actually happen on the huge bright screens that were all over the walls. This was the real deal, they aren't students anymore! (Well, Elevennews is the real deal...but you know what I mean.) So basically, I was in heaven. This is exactly what I want to do. And I get the chance when I'm only 20 years old? Another reason why my major, specifically at BYU, is arguably the best. I mean, who else has their own state-of-the-art building right on campus?

Cross your fingers...I hope I get to be their production assistant. Oh, and I also get to produce CoogTube next semester. BOOYAH. CoogTube is our student-run sports show on channel 11, Fridays at noon. I'll give a shout-out to Briana, she's one of the anchors this semester, and does a fantastic job! 

Briana and I. She's anchor of CoogTube, AND our football secretary.
Samantha Steele and Hannah Storm, anyone? We love our job.

As one of the first female sportscasters, I may be following in my mom's footsteps, but let's be honest...what better footsteps could I follow? 16 years at ESPN did my mom wonders and brought our family a love for sports I don't think can be measured. Here she is in her "golden days" (get it...that incredible 80's jacket) doing a promo for Scholastic Sports America. She also covered College GameDay, World Cup Skiing, World Cup Soccer, the Kentucky Derby, etc. 

 

My mom back in her ESPN days. I think she looks even better now! 

Visiting mom at work. Bristol, CT

So what if my ringtone is the ESPN theme song. What else do you expect?

Halfway done.

I'm halfway done with my first semester of being an upperclassman. I have three more semesters to go.  But really, halfway already? Where did this time go? I swear I was just sitting in my Book of Mormon class freshman year at 7 a.m. wondering what the heck I was thinking signing up for something that early. Now I'm closer to graduating than I am to living at good 'ole Heritage. Oh...Heritage.

Two and a half years later, I've still got final project ideas to think of, midterms to take (thankfully all online...we can thank journalism again for that one), and a lot of Cougar Club hours to work. No, I'm not counting down until Christmas break....ahem...9 weeks. I do find myself planning weekends in very far advance so I have something to look forward to on my calendar, and occasionally just writing in fun things so it looks like I'm doing something cool.  I did go bowling with the Wilk Crew last Monday though. That was an epic day for my social life.

Lexi and I bowling with the Wilk Crew. My worst day bowling yet...
although I came in second place and was happy about it!

I have done very well this semester, and I accredit it to getting enough sleep, living with my cousin and Kaitlin, and signing up for classes that are helpful to my life. I've noticed that I've been very motivated in going to every class, because I know I am going to learn something there that I will need for future reference. And when I say future I don't mean for my next test. I mean, the future. My theory hasn't let me down yet. 

I also have to mention the front page article yesterday morning: "A profession not for the faint-of heart" Read it. Yay to Briana for making front page! 

Now after you've read that, can I say how proud I am of my major? Not enough. It was created for me. And also can I say how proud I am of my friends in the major? They're going places, and I'm lucky enough to have my name next to theirs. Everyone is outgoing and so eager to make friends in the newsroom. It's the perfect place for me. 


It's Wednesday, and my week is practically over. Then onto another week, booked with a trip to the State Capitol for my research class, then onto looking forward to another weekend...that will be spent in Park City with friends! Hooray for mom booking a lodge up at the Marriott. After that...7 weeks until Christmas break. Optimism.

Next baptism: Anderson Cooper.

This is the greatest thing I've ever seen. Okay not the greatest, but seriously. It's up there.


Being a journalist, this is the stuff we live for. Hilarious interviews. But it gets even better when the interviewee starts bashing on...our "cult" in this case...and has to backtrack, because in the middle of the interview he realizes he's losing his congregation to the LDS church as he speaks. This is simply fantastic. I got this straight from his "What We Believe" website:


We believe that God instructs Christians to cultivate loving relationships as a community of believers. Therefore, we will actively pursue personal, family, and staff relationships characterized by integrity, mutual accountability, mutual serving, mutual encouragement, and mutual honoring. (http://www.firstdallas.org/about-us/what-we-believe/)


He obviously exemplifies all of that plus more in this interview: An-der-son! An-der-son!

Mr. Jeffress, I'd like to introduce you to my "mormon cult" friends Chad Lewis, Bryan Kehl, Trevor Matich and Jason Buck. Wanna say that again? 

Seven things.

Rules are as follows: Seven things about yourself. Then nominate 7 others to do the same thing. (a.k.a. it will help you think of interesting things to say when you have to introduce yourself in a new class.)

1. If you haven't guessed, I am obsessed with Fall. I love everything about wearing sweaters, having my nose cold, having an excuse to walk into Starbucks...anything. And don't forget the orange/yellow/red tint to everything. It's so...warming. I even bought a mustard yellow shirt on sale today to celebrate.
2. I keep every letter ever written to me, and I have recently put them in a huge binder. I keep it right next to my bed and quite often skim through them to remind me of the fantastic people God put in my life.
3. Speaking of writing, I write in my journal every night, and I have since the 8th grade. I've mentioned everyone who has ever made a difference in my life. If you're reading this, you're probably in there. More than once.
4. I routinely put on my "thinking goggles" when I am trying to think of something while talking to a person. I honestly don't realize I do it. It consists of making a circle with my thumb and index finger and putting it over my eyes. Apparently I also go into a forward lunge every time I get excited about something. My cousins/roommates make fun of me for this--they call it endearing. 
5. I have an obsession with jazz music. Diana Krall, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, Harry Connick Jr. to name a few. I think I got it from my mom. Whenever we drive together we always have it on, and I feel like two old women living in their teenage years.
6. I am so happy with my major. (Broadcast journalism. Welcome, Anna!) I feel like the program we have here at BYU was created specifically for me and I seriously love going to every class. One of my favorite things is walking into the newsroom at the Brimhall and feeling like I belong there.
7. I LOVE CHICK FLICKS. I've fallen in love multiple times with Ryan Reynolds, Josh Duhamel, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Ryan Gosling. Yes, I cried in the Notebook.

K. You guys have to do it:

-Laura

-Hannah

-Rylee
-Mary
-Felicia
-Allison
-Erin

Why I'm a Cougar. (The Mascot.)

We're voted:
#1 Stone-Cold Sober University. (For the 11th year in a row.)
#1 Most Religious Students.
#8 Most Conservative Students.
 #18 Everyone Plays Intramural Sports (A kid in one of my classes yesterday asked our professor if he could major in intramurals. That's pretty legitimate...I guess. With that you would  think we'd be ranked higher than 18th.)


So yeah, we're pretty cool. Here are the top 10 reasons I chose Brigham Young University.

1. We all knew it was coming: Intramurals. Where else do you pray before war?
2. The steep hike up to Y Mountain. The view from campus is pretty, but the view from the Y itself is gorgeous.
3. Study abroad. BYU has one of the biggest and best study abroad programs that allow students to travel around the world to get hands-on experience we can't get in the classroom. 
4. The Honor Code. Yes, call me a mo-mo. But--it keeps us looking and acting professional.
5. BYU Basketball. A.k.a. Jimmer/Jackson duo. I'll miss them. And I've suddenly become a Kings fan. (That will never take precedence over my Jazz, however.) BYU Football also goes in this category.
6. Professors who care. I don't think I could have chosen a better major with better professors. They love their job, but they love their students even more. Even the GE professors--they really love what they do.
7. Devotionals. Every Tuesday morning at 11, not one student is in class, and has the chance to listen to a professor, apostle, or even the prophet give a devotional that is always what I need to hear. Next up: Elder Christofferson.
8. Counting my blessings that I actually got in: top 10 journalism program. Again with the professors. They inspire me. They make me want to be better journalist. I can't explain the peaceful feeling I have sitting in a class at the Brimhall, knowing that's exactly where I need to be. 
9. Diversity. I have friends from Russia, Columbia, Brazil, East coast, West coast...and everywhere in between. BYU literally gathers the world.
10. Hands down the best part: the application to our spiritual lives in every subject. There are so many spiritual applications you learn in a media law class, a physical science class, or even a Spanish class at BYU that you can't get in Sunday School. The Lord really is in every aspect of our lives, and it is absolutely rewarding to keep discovering that class after class.

Oh...Provo. Provo is a b-u-b-b-l-e. I'm very aware. We have to go to Salt Lake every so often to "get away" and to have some fun. But campus, I really love. I could never get sick of the feeling and never ever get sick of the people. And no, admissions didn't pay me to write this.

Obligated.

Most journalism students should have a blog. Right? Well I feel like I'm the last one out of everybody to get one. I swore to myself I wouldn't blog until I was at least a Mrs, but here I am, blogging. 


This is what not being in the newsroom this semester does to me. I actually miss...writing.