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Freshman Year at BYU!

BYU is amazing. It's just plain amazing. I absolutely love it here! These past three weeks have just been so full of fun and blessings! My classes are fantastic, I've met some wonderful new friends, and have just been having the time of my life! My three favorite classes are Book of Mormon, World Dance, and of course choir! My Book of Mormon teacher gave us the assignment to read the first half of the BOM in two weeks! I have never EVER read it even close to that fast, but I was excited to take on the challenge! I found that I now understand the sequence of events better than ever! It was such a cool experience and strengthened my testimony of the BOM! Plus, it doesn't hurt that I now have a 100 on my first assignment! In my World Dance class we learn dances from a bunch of different countries and it's SO FUN! I love it. Then of course I love choir. That's just a given. We're singing a Gospel Choir like song, and those who know me well know that I'm pretty much obsessed with Gospel choirs and it's on my bucket list to sing in one. All of our music is gorgeous and I just love choir!

Now for some highlights from my time here. I got to have the classic freshman experience of hiking the Y with my ward. The hike was SO hard, but the view was so worth it! I've LOVED meeting so many new people! I have already met some fantastic friends who are just so much fun! Last week, I was sustained as the Sacrament Meeting Chorister for my ward! I love music and conducting, so I'm excited! This past weekend, Bishop Turner came to visit Utah and took a bunch of us from Herndon to lunch at the Brick Oven! It was my  first Brick Oven experience, and let me tell you that place DEFINITELY lives up to the hype! I got to see my grandma and Julie while they were here which was so fun! I've also started going to the gym this week early in the mornings with a couple friends. I'm gonna beat that freshman 15! Within the past three days, I have gotten to hear two apostles, Dallin H. Oaks (along with his wife who was HILARIOUS) and Neil L. Andersen, speak! They all gave absolutely incredible talks and it was so cool! Today after choir, my friend Hailey and I were walking out of choir and heading back to our dorm. As we walked out the door, I thought I saw Elder Andersen standing by the elevator talking to a couple men. I told Hailey, and we went back inside and sure enough it was him! We waved and he waved back! It was SO COOL! We were so starstruck! And finally, this Saturday's the first home game against U of Utah! I AM SO EXCITED! Then there's just all of the fun times that I've had with my new friends!

I've also been able to draw closer to my Heavenly Father. Whenever I've been homesick, overwhelmed, or just feeling down, he's comforted me. He's answered my prayers and my faith has been greatly increased and my testimony strengthened! As Elder Andersen said in his talk at devotional today: "Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know us, hear our prayers, love us, and are the truest examples of honesty." Bottom line is: I LOVE BYU!

Now for some pictures:
                                         My dorm! My bed is the one with the purple flowered bedding!

                                    Spontaneous dance party in the hallway with Mary, Maggie, and Ashley!

                               Me and my friends Mary, Lexi, Dallin, and Alicia after hiking the Y!

Mary and I at the top of the Y!

Sundance with Grandma!

                                                 Post church adventure with some ward girls!

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