Sailing For Adventure

  

So I have been slacking a little bit on the blogging. But I want to be better, so here goes. One month ago, I stepped off of a plane and into Boston. I had never been there before. My mom, grandma, and I spent the next few days getting acquainted with the charms that Boston has to offer, and saying goodbye to the last of my summer. Then we drove to Cape Cod, and the adventure began. I officially became a student of the SEA Semester program. I met the 14 people I would be living with for the next three months.Through all of October and for the next two weeks, the focus of my life has been learning everything I need to know to sail a tall ship in the Caribbean. 
Classes have been hard, but I've already had some pretty amazing experiences and met some really awesome people! In 4 days, I'll be stepping onto a plane and heading to St. Croix.
All I can say is that it's pretty amazing to think about the places and people that life brings us to. If  you had told me a month ago that I would have a great time with these people; that I would make some really good friends, I might've chuckled and shrugged you off. But it is definitely true. I am grateful for these experiences, and I can't wait for the next half of this program, when we will be sailing the open ocean.

Class C-250, underway and off to see the world!

A Birthday Letter to Mom

Mom, 

You have no idea how much you have positively affected my life. Not many kids have such an amazing bond with their parents, but I have never been afraid or embarrassed to talk to you about anything. I pretty much always took that for granted until my later years of high school, because I just though that was always the way things were. The idea that someone could have a mom who was not like you was a shocking discovery for me!

Thank you for always being so positive in my life and teaching me to do the same. Through your example, I have learned that everything will be okay. In life, I will fall down, but you always taught me to get back up and dust myself off. I have learned that it's best to take life at my own pace rather than running to catch up with everybody else. I have learned (though it was through stubbornness) that getting an A- in high school didn't mean I was stupid or that I didn't work hard enough. Those lessons help me everyday in college when I get back an exam with a C grade. I have also learned that it's okay to do what I love and let things fall into place without stressing (too much). Through you, I have learned that it is not friends, clothes, or appearance that defines who a person is or who they can become. When I am home, I am me, and I am safe. When I'm not, I know that I can still be me. 

I have been through some of the hardest times of my life in the past few years, but I always know that you are there at the other end of a phone call. Thanks for giving me a little nudge when I am terrified of certain parts of life. I know that no matter where I go, who I know, how many successes or failures I have in my life, you will always be there cheering me on. I know I always have a place to call home and a family to fall back on. For that, I will forever be grateful. So thanks Mom, for everything that you do. It definitely does not go unnoticed. :) Happy Birthday! 

Love, 

Roo

Florida Sin Familia

It has been a week since we've gotten back from our Spring Break trip in Florida, which is unbelievable! That seems to always be the trip that people are looking forward to, and now it's over. Even crazier, there are only six more weeks until school is over and I am halfway through my college career. I can't believe how fast time flies!

Last year in Florida, I had basically the whole state of Utah come out to watch our games. This year, because we decided to do Disneyland in January, they weren't able to come out and watch. I thought it would be a really sad time for me. Most people have some family come out and get to spend time with them for those eight or so days, and it can be hard for people who don't have their family there.

I was surprised, though, that it wasn't a really hard time for me. Of course I really missed my family; I talked to them every day I was gone, and wished they could have been there. But I have to say, I know exactly why I was still able to have such an amazing time even though I was missing my family.

The first reason is the team. The entire time I've been at Mac, these girls have been my second family. I never thought I'd have the chance to get this close to anyone while I was here, but I am so grateful that I have. It's pretty amazing to have twelve great friends on and off the field. 

The second reason is Erin. I spent nearly the entire time in Florida with her, her dad and uncle. I got to go with them to all the parts of Disneyworld and we had the greatest adventures together:) I am so grateful to have her in my life!

We searched everywhere for Lion King stuff, but this was pretty much the only thing we could find. These were all over the park, crafted into different characters. They were pretty amazing! 

One of the most amazing parts of Disney is the chance it gives you to still be a kid. Erin and I got to eat dinner at the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, where we met all the Disney Princesses. It was so amazing! I felt like such a kid the whole time we spent at Disneyworld. It helped me remember that it's okay to not hurry into adulthood, even though that's what the world tends to tell us as soon as we hit high school. For the rest of my life, I know I'll be a little girl at heart.:)

Learning

I think I always figured I'd go to college and graduate with a degree and automatically be super intelligent. I didn't think about the hard work and time that it takes to get an education. I have to admit, sometimes I can see the progress I've made in my education, and it's a wonderful feeling. But there is something else that stands out more for me. It is the progress I have made as a person. In high school, it is easy to shrink down and let other people have the limelight. It's easy to let yourself believe you aren't as pretty as this person, that you aren't as smart as that Valedictorian. Sometimes, it's easier to read a book than to talk to people (guilty). In high school, you let yourself believe that it is not your opinion of yourself that matters, but the perspective that others hold of you.

That changes.

College isn't easy. It isn't. What sane person signs up to leave their families for four (+) years to go to school thousands of miles away and do work twice as hard as you've ever done before? You can spend years finding your place in life before you leave home and have to start all over. The day my parents drove away and I turned to face Minnesota, I had only one question on my mind: "What on Earth was I thinking?"

The beauty of college is that you can't just float through. You just have to jump in and scramble through as best you can. Some days, it's all you can take to just keep your head above water. But then, things change. You meet people. People who are completely different than any people you have ever known. It's bizarre, and beautiful, but you learn more from the people around you than you ever will in a classroom.The only person around you to dictate your actions is yourself. In college, away from the safety of home and family, you learn what it means to be you. You learn what it takes to stand true to your values and stay firm in your beliefs. You learn to take what people say without letting it change who you are. You begin to understand that you are the only person who knows what it means to be you.

It's the strangest thing. It's the hardest thing I have ever done. But here in Minnesota, I am learning more about myself than I ever thought possible. Sometimes it's difficult, sometimes it's scary, but it's absolutely incredible.

Here's to Spring

The past five weeks have been some of the best I've had. There is no way to describe the feeling that comes when you can just take a break from school, life, and stresses, and spend time at home relaxing with your family. I thought the long break would never end, but the combination of Christmas, Justin Bieber, and Disneyland seemed to fast-forward time and until it was completely out. Before I knew it, I was all packed up, and on a plane headed for Minneapolis. No matter how much or how little time I spend with my family, it is so hard to leave them and head back to my school thousands of miles away. They are my best friends. When I am home, I can be myself and they always love me. I can't begin to express how much I love them back. I have come to realize that it is incredible that I have such an amazing family, and that I have so many wonderful people to miss when I come back to Minnesota.

So, here is to Spring semester, and the new memories and experiences it is sure to bring. As for my family and friends back home, I'll see you soon- no worries:)

The Happiest Place on Earth

The day after the JBiebs concert, my family was all packed and squeezed into our little Prism as we set out for the Happiest place on Earth. We stayed in a hotel right across from the park with our Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, and cousins. 

The whole place was still decorated for Christmas when we came, adding to the Disney magic. There were giant Christmas trees and fake snow and garlands and Christmas lights everywhere. It was really amazing!  This was  the view of Small World while we were waiting in line. My little cousin Karli took a liking to me on this trip. Whenever she saw me she'd run over and grab my hand, and she wanted to go on all the rides with me. 

Every time we ran into a Disney character, it was by
complete accident. Ariel and Cinderella just happened to be
standing next to the wishing well and there was nobody else
around! 

I wore my concert shirt and it seemed like Justin was creeping in all of our pictures. (Which you can see in our picture with Minnie and a little bit on the roller coaster.)

Kaysen seemed to have endless amounts of energy, but when we stopped to look at the Disney merchandise, he fell asleep in the middle of the floor. 

Ready for Woody's ride!

                                         In the middle of "It's a Small World After All.."

Disneyland was incredible. There's a sort of magic that you can only find there. I discovered that the reason it was the Happiest Place on Earth was not from the rides, or the music, or the characters. It was because I was with my family. I felt closer to a lot of them than I ever had before. And that was the real magic! 

BELIEVE.

In the past, I was pretty quiet when it came to the truth about myself. But now, the word is out, and I can proudly proclaim: I am a Belieber. I was reminded of every reason why when I went to his concert with Jess at the beginning of this month. In the midst of screaming 6-13 year old girls,we kept our heads and were too cool for school. So naturally, as soon as he came on stage, we freaked out.

 I already had a shirt, but Jess didn't, and we both wanted one from this concert, so.. we went and waited in the line (blob). That was the craziest part of the night.

Our proud results of pushing and shoving through helpless tween girls to obtain our Believe concert shirts. So worth it. It is probably my new favorite shirt. He actually came to the concert late because he was visiting a little girl in at Primary Children's Hospital with cancer, his #1 fan. We both became bigger fans that night as we realized that this guy actually is real, and he does some pretty amazing things. His whole concert was about believing in yourself and your dreams and know you can be anything. 

This was one of the best days EVER! I am so glad that I got to go with Jess and catch up and just be a little girl again. When we are together, it's like we never have thousands of miles that keep us apart. I am so grateful for her and her friendship. I will always remember this amazing day, and I will always be a Belieber.