The Final Stretch (12)

It's that time again folks! I'm a little over half way done with my second semester of college, thus completing my freshman year at BYU. Where has the time gone?!? Some days it feels like I've been here forever and that summer break is way beyond my reach...other days I feel like I just flew out to Provo and began this fun yet challenging adventure. The past six or so months have been a whirlwind of making new friends, stressing over school, eating just about every meal in the Cannon, and being surrounded by people who share the same beliefs as me - which is really cool! I've never experienced anything like BYU and the spirit that is felt here every day, I'm so blessed to attend this university.

College has taught me a lot. Aside from the brain rush of history, nutrition, biology, etc that I've gotten since being here, I've also learned a lot more about myself. My testimony has been strengthened so much as I've been taught in my Book of Mormon classes, in devotionals and firesides, and through hearing the testimonies of my peers in both classes and church meetings. It's truly amazing how much you can be taught by people your own age! I've always been so used to having adult leaders teach Sunday School and Relief Society lessons. Being in a YSA ward, where my friends teach the lessons, I've felt and been touched by the spirit just as much as if an experienced adult was giving it. My testimony of missionary work has been strengthened through this because I have witnessed that we are able to teach effectively, regardless of our age. It's not that I had any doubts before, but it's comforting to experience it. Although there are a lot of reasons why I know the church is true, I know it has to be true because in any other situation, 18 and 19 year old kids wouldn't be able to teach something so effectively if it weren't true. If you really think about it that way, you can see why missionary work is truly amazing! I feel so blessed to have made such great friends here, they are wonderful examples

and I can't wait to see them all again after we've all served our missions! Not only have my friends been examples to me, but everyone I'm surrounded by as well. You can't even imagine how many mission calls I've seen being opened since living here! Along with that, at work I'm also able to hear a lot of my co-workers tell funny and powerful missionary stories. BYU is truly a blessing!
Even though school is hard and it stresses me out a lot, I'm always grateful to be here. This final stretch of my freshman year is going to require a lot of focus! Especially when all I can seem to think about is serving a mission. Although it's really hard to remain patient for my call to serve, I'm also kind of glad I don't have it yet. If I did, I'm pretty sure staying focused during these next 6 weeks would be way more difficult than it already is! I have a lot to look forward to in the next couple of years, I'm in an exciting part of my life. Pray that I successfully finish my freshman year and that I don't go crazy in the process! :)