Scripture Mastery

When I originally started here at BYU in the fall the combination of education and the Gospel was something I had to adjust to. Growing up I always heard “keep church and state separate”, so coming to a private university that openly discusses the gospel of the LDS church was amazing and shocking all at once.  Now that I have adjusted though, I believe that incorporating the Gospel into my education has been a great and powerful blessing in my life.

I think the greatest blessing has been my religion classes. Again, it was a major change from the relaxed seminary atmosphere I had experienced in high school, and I was discouraged when I didn’t know the scriptures as well as other students did. Yet after I fully dedicated myself to learning new things about the scriptures there hasn’t been a day when I haven’t learned something new. I am grateful for my current professor, Brother Largey, because he exemplifies a love for the scriptures that I have not seen from anyone else before. He can probably quote half of the Book of Mormon word for word, it’s insane. I have a goal to become a scripture expert like him someday, and I am so happy I have religion classes to push me to learn! 

Learn to Play the Guitar

I am not a very musical person, except for jamming out in the car with my radio, but I’ve always wanted to learn to play the guitar. I know it’s not exactly a unique bucket list item, but I think it would be a great skill to have. I would love to be the person that everyone took camping just so we could all sing and hang out around the campfire while I played the guitar. Some of the best camping trips I’ve ever had have involved a good guitar session around the campfire.

Besides singing along to the radio I have played the cello for 6 years, so my guitar dream isn’t completely unfeasible. I mean I can read music and my fingers have already been toughened by the think strings of the cello. I would also like to say that I’m not completely tone deaf and that I can keep a steady beat, so I hope that would help. I may not ever become an expert on the guitar, or even decent for that matter haha But if I do nothing else, I at least want to learn one song on the guitar. And I will learn it so well that people might think I am good at guitar. 

TV Free

I think we can all agree that Netflix is awesome, and also that it is horribly addictive. You find me a good TV series on Netflix and somehow all my time goes down the drain without me even realizing it. For example the other day I planned on watching one episode of Dr. Who (my latest Netflix series) after a long night at work, and then four hours later I figured that it was probably time to go to bed. Netflix is like popcorn or candy: you can never just have one piece of candy and you can never watch only one episode!

Before I die, I would like to go at least one year without watching TV… and yes that means no Netflix too. I lose so much of my time to Facebook, Netflix, “I waste so Much Time” (At least they are honest with their name haha), etc., that I think getting rid of just one form of media would be extremely beneficial. Mainly, I think it would be amazing to see how much I could get done without all these distractions. I’d probably find some other meaningless activity for relaxation, but it would help a little at least. 

English Symposium

At the English Symposium on Friday I decided to go to the panel on Creative Nonfiction to fill my hour requirement, and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. It’s not that I didn’t think that the pieces would be good, because I thought they would be amazing (which they were). But I also thought that their writing would be over my head, or that it would be something that only experienced writers could fully appreciate. So I was surprised when I really felt what the writers were talking about. I haven’t had the exact same experiences as the writers but I could relate, because they talked about feelings and emotions that I think everyone has experienced in one form or the other.

I was especially impressed by my teacher’s essay. She talked a lot about regret and the pain of losing someone close to you, which I can really relate to. I think I was specifically impressed by her story because it introduced to me a person I hadn’t met before. When she talked she was not my teacher anymore, but a woman who has had experiences and emotions that I could relate to. What I loved most was her ability to perfectly describe an instant. She was able to describe what it feels like to be sitting next to someone you love, and those moments when pain overwhelms you. I felt like I was there, feeling what she felt while also remembering my own experiences. I didn’t know that was possible.

 I am not the best at writing; in fact, I even have a hard time just saying what I feel most of the time. I am glad I went to this symposium because it taught me that your writing can be an outlet, can build a deep connection with your audience, and that it can perfectly preserve moments and memories. I learned that through your writing you can share with people who you really are, and I think that is amazing!

Hi my name is Anika, and I am a sugar addict

I have realized that I have somewhat of what I call a “sweets problem.” Today I had cupcakes and ice cream, the day before I had cookies and milk, the day before that I had cookie dough… I think you can see where this is going haha. I can’t remember a day that I didn’t have at least a little something sugary. To make it worse my roommates also love to cook, so there is always something good lying around. It’s a serious problem. Last year my family was supposed to be having “Healthy 2012” and even then I couldn’t give up the sugary goodness! The best I did was going without chocolate for a few months.

 Here’s the goal: No sweets for a year! I can do it… I think. I figure it won’t be that bad after I get used to not having sweets, but for those first few months I will be fighting it.

Second Goal: not really related to what I was talking about before, but I also want to be vegetarian for a year. My sister and her family did that this past year and she said it was great! I also really love meat, so this won’t be easier either, but it’s about time I started eating healthier.

Grades

I’m just going to come out and say it… does anyone else think that college is crazy hard? And by this I mean in comparison to high school. In high school I would always put my homework off until the night before (or even the class period before) and I always seemed to slip by. It’s not that I didn’t pull my weight in high school, I think I did, but I also think that people had a lot lower of expectation. In high school I feel like I got baby-sitted, and now I’m expected to be responsible… WHAT?! In all seriousness though, college has been a great growing experience for me. I used to rely on others for everything: to remind me to do my homework, to cook, and especially to do my laundry! Oh man I miss not doing laundry. Growing up is hard, but it’s worth it. I like this more independent version of me.

So, in order to prove how responsible I am, I am adding to my bucket list a goal to get a 4.0 GPA (one semester). I didn’t do half-bad my first semester here, but I know I can push myself harder. Ideally I would like to have a lot of semesters with straight A’s but let’s start small eh? 

FHE scavenger hunt

Yesterday for Family Home Evening my “family” and I did a scavenger hunt, and it was a blast. We had to do everything from shoot a 3 pointer on the basketball court to giving out numerous “high-fives” in order to win. As we were going to different apartments in our ward I realized how many people I didn’t know and who didn’t know me, and that made me realize something. It made me realize how important it is to put yourself out there and to be kind. I am a very naturally shy person, and I usually have to psych myself up before I will talk to someone new, but when I put myself out there last night, people were very open and kind to me. I met several new people in my ward and felt great afterwards. And I don’t know if you can necessarily call this “bucket list worthy”, but I have made a personal goal with myself to be friendlier. I am going to start out small with something like giving one compliment a day and by just smiling at people. Eventually I hope I will be able to make friends wherever I am and be able to comfortably chat with anyone J

You're kidding right?

"When I'm not working, I am the laziest person. I can literally lie on a couch and watch television for 15 hours. I hate people who say 'Oh, I’m addicted to working out', I just want to punch those people in the face." -Jennifer Lawrence

Maybe I’m the only one that can relate to this statement, but come on, how can you be addicted to RUNNING?! You know what I’m addicted to? Cookie dough. I think that’s more normal.

If you know anything about me you know that I dread exercise almost as much as I love food, which is a very bad combination. But almost a year ago I did something that I thought I would never be able to do— I completed a half marathon. It’s true that I was slow and that I did have to stop to walk multiple times, but the point is I did it.

And no matter how much I hated it, that experience taught me an important lesson. It taught me that hard work can break the boundaries we put on ourselves. I’ve always told myself that I’m not an athlete, and whenever someone tried to convince me to go running or join track I told them “it wasn’t my thing.” I may not be what you would stereotypically label as an athlete, but when I worked hard I did something that I said I couldn’t do countless times.

Next item on the bucket list? Run a full marathon.

I hope they call me on a mission

 I hope they call me on a mission, when I have grown a foot or two…. Or when I turn 19 J

With the recent announcement that women can now serve a mission at the age of 19 (instead of 21) I have added something new to my bucket list! I am excited to say that I have officially started my paperwork for serving a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I can’t wait to go. It has been a crazy ride for me ever since President Monson got up in the last General Conference and changed the face of missionary work. I never thought a mission was for me before that day, but ever since then I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I went back and forth for a long time, and I didn’t want to make my decision right when I heard the announcement because I didn’t want to get caught up in the excitement and make the wrong decision.  But after much thought and prayer I have finally decided there is no better place I could be next fall than serving my Heavenly Father wherever he sees fit. I love the Gospel and I can’t wait to share that love with others!

Short News Break

I know I just finished telling you all about I will be sticking with my bucket list theme for the blog, but that’s not exactly true… I will still be throwing in the occasional news update in order to keep up with my special project, which is to watch the news at least an hour a week in order to stay up with current events and improve my writing.

So anyway, when I was watching the news this week I learned how the Pope is elected, which I thought was extremely interesting! I’ve been a member of the LDS Church my whole life so I know a lot about it but I don’t know much about any other religion. For those of you who may be uninformed like me, here’s one thing I found interesting: after each round of voting in the Vatican they burn the votes. When there isn’t a 2/3^rds majority vote they add a chemical to the voting slips in order to make the smoke turn black, signifying that a decision on the new pope has not been reached. Then when a consensus is finally made the Vatican burns the votes again, but this time without the special chemical, letting off a white smoke, letting the crowd waiting outside know that a new pope has been chosen.

Becoming a Fry Cook

This title is for you, Kiersten!

Anyway… As I have mentioned a few times in previous blog posts, I currently work at In-N-Out Burger in Orem, Utah. Before you scoff at me for working in the fast food business let me just tell you that my job is great. It is the perfect college job because it pays well, I can have a free meal every time I work, and they are really flexible to work your schedule around classes and all the other craziness.  

Now that that’s cleared up, I want to tell you about my current In-N-Out goal. My goal is to go from a level 3 to a level 4 before I transfer to the In-N-out in Centerville at the end of the semester.  At In-N-Out there are seven different levels of employees and each time an employee is certified in a higher level they receive a raise. As a level 3 I am specifically good for working the drive through, and I got my raise by becoming certified in taking orders over a head set, etc. For my level 4 though I have to learn how to make fries, which is not as easy as it sounds haha My goal is to become a “certified fry cook” by the end of April!

Hello Sunshine!

With the warm weather (okay well warm for Utah) I have been thinking a lot about summer recently and I can’t wait! I will be moving back up to my home in Salt Lake City and working full-time at In-N-Out, or possibly getting a second job. The details are a little shaky still, but the point is it is going to be nice to have a break from school. College has been a major adjustment and I think I need some time to recuperate haha

This brings me to another bucket list item, which may in fact be impossible, but that I am still going to try to do this summer. It is my goal this summer to be active and to spend so much time outside that I get a tan for the first time in my life. I’m not saying like a slightly darker shade of white like usual, but full on golden brown. I realize that this is most likely physically impossible (if you have seen my parents you would understand), but hey a girl can dream right? Really I just want to get out there this summer. I want to go on a road trip with my best friend, go on countless hikes, rock climb, swim… ah. All I can say is that summer cannot come soon enough!

Who knew I would like blogging?

This blog has unintentionally turned into a continual bucket list, but I am okay with it. At first I thought I would only post a few times about my “bucket list” items, but the more I wrote, the more I realized how many more goals I had to write down!  I realized that this blog is mostly just for me anyway because I’m usually the only one who reads my required three blog posts a week haha I started this blog because I had to, and I had no intention of keeping it around when writing 150 was over. But now I think that having a blog of goals will be a great motivation to me and will be interesting to look back on as my goals in life change. I have heard that you are much more likely to reach your goals if you tell others about them, so I figured this would be a good first step in becoming a goal reacher rather than just a goal maker. Even though I won’t post three times a week anymore I think I will keep this blog around, because it will be nice to have a place that I can always come and write down what I want to do before I “kick the bucket”