Getting the Diploma

Flashback to January of 2008, it was my senior year and had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do after high school. College was always the plan but I didn't know what I wanted to do or where to go. I literally couldn't envision a life outside of high school. I was terrified of college imaging hours of studying and struggling at even the "easiest" of schools. For one reason or another I just thought that college was this grueling educational battle and I was not confident that I'd be able to succeed. 

Much of my family had attended BYU (even my own dad did a brief stint there playing football) and the idea sounded nice until I thought about all the "Zoobs" and The Honor Code. I felt I wouldn't last one semester without getting kicked out for wearing flip flops or something dumb like that. As blasphemous as it sounds, I seriously considered going to the UofU (don't judge it was in a rough time of life). Though unsure of what I wanted, I applied to both Utah State University and the University of Utah with my BYU application partially filled. I knew when the deadline was for all the schools and yet didn't try hard enough to ensure that I submitted my BYU before the deadline.

After being accepted into both USU and UofU, I had concluded that I would go on to become an Aggie (they gave me a housing scholarship that sweetened the deal). Then one day as I was checking my email, BYU wrote and told me that though I had applied late that I had been accepted to Winter Semester. My mom (along with other family influences) had pretty much said if BYU accepted me, I'd be a fool to decline. With this in mind, I planned accordingly.

During that summer and following fall semesters I worked hard on my Associates Degree at Weber State. Classes actually weren't hard at all and I got an 3.9 GPA, even with that good grades I attributed to Weber just being one of those "easy" schools. Finally it was January 2009 and my time to attend Brigham Young University. Leaving home was incredibly hard. I had to say goodbye to my then puppy Rudy and family. Back then I wasn't too emotional about things and so I was surprised at how sad I was to leave home. I fought back the tears as the neighbor boy (who also went to BYU was driving me down to my new dorm) was in the car with me and I didn't want him thinking I was a baby. Finding friends (not to mention my way around campus) was hard at first but I surprisingly enough figured everything out pretty quickly.

 My time at BYU was incredible. I met some of the greatest people and had adventures I would never forget. It was not at all what I'd imagined college to be like! I actually had fun and loved every moment of it. Though far from perfect, I cant imagine doing anything different. I think that's why when it was all finally over, I was sad. Once again I had come to the conclusion to yet another incredible chapter of my life but the difference was this time I was ready for change.



What I gained from Brigham Young University was more than just a piece of paper saying I'd graduated, in reality i received so much more. I learned to challenge myself, to balance my time and determine whats most important, I made friendships I know will continue throughout my life, got to see the world thanks to study abroad appreciating different cultures and religions, I had to go outside of my comfort zone so many times that I feel more prepared to face this every changing world, in all I learned that I can conquer anything.

The Time I Almost Drop Kicked Nelly Wachsmuth

We all have that friend (or in my case friends) who seems to think borrowing is a 100% acceptable way to live. Whether its your favorite pair of Hudsons or 6 eggs, something about borrowing seems OK. Now the thing is it is ok! Except when you do it constantly...

That was the case with my ol' friend Nelly Wachsmuth. It should probably be said right about now that Nelly is a sweet girl bless her heart. BUT that girl was like Hurricane Sandy when it came to destroying people's stuff. Clothes would literally come back with holes making you wonder if she spent her spare time in Miss Trunchbull's Chokey. If it wasn't your shirt it was your food. My friend Hannah once told me that Nelly had asked her if I'd noticed that she drank my diet pepsi juice. Whaa?? Last I checked, I never let anyone drink my favorite diet pepsi juice. Honestly I could go on and on (bathroom supplies, the car, spare change, Steve Madden boots, anything that hangs in a closet, etc) but I will stick to the clincher.. My general chem book.

Now I know what you're thinking, she ruins your 7 jeans and you freak out about a general chem book? People, its called the straw that broke the camels back! So the deal with the book. I'm a poor college student realizing the necessary investment of education in a career driven individual's life. This being said, I do what every student hates to do. I buckle down and buy the $200 book that you'll probably only read twice. The particular book in question we actually have to read for class and oh so conveniently for Nelly we are in the same class. At the beginning of the semester when she'd ask to borrow my book for the quizzes  I didn't think much of it. 

Then November rolls around and my sorry completely overwhelmed and ADD though not ADD brain realized, she's borrowed your book every week!!! To say I was annoyed is an understatement. I ain't no government hand out! Get yo cheap A**  a freaking general chem book and quit free loading off me. My alter ego Ysang Twan (I've always imaged that I was Asian in an alternate universe) was about to bust out in all kinds of crazy karate and drop kick her! But I didn't. The Hamilton in me prevented any kind of Chinese Boxer Rebellion from going down so that last night when she asked to borrow my general chem book I plastered the most winningest smile on my face and said, "yeah just a second, let me grab it for ya." 

So whats the moral of the story? There is none! Its called life and sometimes it just ain't fair.