So...I've had this blog since last semester when Steph showed me and Bree how to do it...and I have proceeded to write in it zero times thus far. So I thought I'd actually give it a try!
There's really a million things going on in my mind right now. First off, it's finals week. I'm already about halfway done with the finals I have to take, so that feels good and I'm not too incredibly worried about the ones I have left...but its gonna take a lot of studying time nonetheless. Also, I'm super worried about all the grading I need to get done at work! I teach the World Music Cultures online class for the BYUH Online Dept. I love my job, my boss and my co-workers, but this next week or so is going to be insane. I have 105 students, who each turn in 2 assignment videos a week (about 3 mins each on average). So every week I need to watch and grade all their videos, and make a response video. I was also developing the class as we went this semester, so I was watching the lesson videos and writing all the assignment questions as well. That alone is enough to keep me beyond busy when it's piled on top of schoolwork, concert choir, and everything else I have to do. This week, however, I have to go back and grade a ton of late work that people are just now turning in, plus finish a week's worth of assignments, plus each student is turning in a 15-minute presentation as their final project that I need to watch and grade. Luckily, Brother Kammerer (who is the teacher sponsor for my class) is going to help me with some of the final projects. Bless his heart! So that's my week...and it's gonna be crazy. The only thing keeping me going is the knowledge that after the middle of next week (when grades are due) it will be spring, and I will be having the time of my life!
That's another thing that's on my mind. SPRING! I can't wait. Concert Choir is going on tour in May to Taiwan and Hong Kong, and I am beyond stoked! We will be gone from May 8 - 24. It is going to be so amazing. Before that, I'll be here in Hawaii just going to choir rehearsals (3 hrs a day) and working, so that will be nice! I'll get to actually enjoy Hawaii and all that goes along with it instead of worrying about schoolwork all the time. Which I do, even though I know it's ridiculous. But this semester I'm on track to get straight A's, and I'm taking some pretty difficult classes, so it's well worth it! But anyways, spring will be amazing. It has to be, because it will be my last time to spend here as a BYU-Hawaii student.
That is probably the biggest thing weighing on my mind right now. On May 26, I fly home to California for the summer, and in the fall I'm heading out to BYU Provo. On one hand I'm out-of-my-mind excited. Mostly because my older brother Nick gets home from his mission on May 28 (YESSS!) and I cannot wait to see him, plus my little brother Miles is graduating from Leland High at the beginning of June, and we are all going to Provo together in the fall. I can't wait to be able to spend a ton of time with my brothers, because we are all super close, and with me in Hawaii, Nick in Korea and Miles at home, we have been too far apart for way too long. And we are going to have an epic summer with the whole family together. Plus, it will be easier for our parents when we are all in the same place and they can come visit, or we can go home to visit. It will be way nice to be able to see them more than once at Christmas and in the summer. More things I like about Provo: I have some cousins there, they have an incredible musical theater major there, a lot of my good friends from home are there, and from what I hear there is always something to do. That is a huge contrast from Laie.
But excitement only goes so far. I am so so sad to leave Hawaii and all that I have come to love so much here. Mostly I'm going to miss my friends like crazy. It makes me really really sad to think about. I don't know how I'm going to live without Bree, Steph and Victoria as my roommates, and without sharing every ridiculous thing that happens to me with Bree (and there is ALOT to share in that area...),and without going to Concert Choir everyday and seeing all those people I love so much, and without seeing Damon and Erin and Brendan and Alan and Lo and Jerel and Phil and James Choi and so many other people that make me laugh so hard I almost die. And without acai bowls, or the beach being literally right across the street, or surf competitions, or Matsumotos or Haleiwa Eats. I never even realized how many things I would miss until leaving became a reality. I'm scared. Maybe even terrified. What if I hate it there? What if I don't make friends like the ones I have here? What if I epically fail in my audition for my major (which is one of the most competitive majors there is in Provo)? What if I get married crazy quick like everyone tells me I will? (I still have my mind set on that NOT happening, btw).
I don't know. I guess I'm just gonna have to find out! I figure I won't hate it, in fact I figure I'll love it and it will be a new era in my life that I will be grateful for. But I HATE seeing things come to an end, especially good things. And my time here at BYU-H has been an incredibly good thing. I'm so grateful for all the life experiences and growing opportunities I've had, the incredible friends I've made, and the memories that I'll always have of this place.
Anyways...that was probably wayyy too long a post. But I guess we can say that was a whole semester's worth of posts, right? :) Maybe I'll actually start making this a regular thing. Who knows?
<3
