Starting with the Girl in the Mirror

I want to start off by saying Heavenly Father does hear and answer our prayers. It snowed all week, and it was icy. On Thursday night, I said a prayer and asked that I would be able to make it safely to the canyon for our BYUSA retreat. I do not know why, but it always just happens to be snowing like crazy the week I have to drive up Hobble Creek canyon on my own. So, Friday morning, I woke up and there was sunshine. What is this beautiful brightness? I missed the sun, and not only did it make me feel better physically, but it made me feel better about driving since the snow and ice was melting.

Friday morning I woke up at 7:46. I have class at 8. I ran to class and made it, but I did not look all that great. Oh well. I went to classes until 12:30 when my last class got out early. I went to pick up my rental car, went shopping with Eric at Costco for the retreat, and got back around 2. By that point  my feet hurt, and I was worn out. I followed Eric to his apartment and then drove him back up to campus so his car was not sitting out all night. Then everything got even more hectic. We set up for all of the games for the opening activity, once they started I left to go pick up the food and start my trek up the mountain. I made it safely, and unloaded my car. I have bruises on both hips from balancing the heavy boxes on them. Thank goodness I have mom hips. I do not think I could have gotten those boxes inside otherwise.
We ate, had trainings that really were outstanding (insert OUTSTANDING cheer here), played a couple team-building but meaningful games, and then had free time. Our first game was about the legacy we are going to leave behind and how it isn't how you start that people remember but how you finish. We had three trainings. One was about finishing strong and thinking about what we want to do next semester, one about living up to your potential, and one about being the kind of leader that motivates. I needed all three of them and took something away from all of them. After one of them I even connected with a girl I have not been able to talk to before. I was so happy.
We watched "The Ultimate Gift", with homemade popcorn that Eric made, and then we sat in one of the big family rooms and talked forever. We bought a box of 100 bags of cookies. When we woke up the next morning, after only an hour of sleep, it was hard to remember what happened that night, but there were 100 empty bags of cookies on the floor. Sugar hangover. Breakfast was delicious, but the trainings after were my favorite. They asked us five questions and told us to answer.
Why do you serve? Because I love it and the feeling it gives me and others, it is giving me important life skills, and it is making me a better person which will benefit my future family.
How has your view of leadership changed over the year? I used to think the best leaders were the outgoing and outspoken ones. When Eric texted me to ask if I was going to serve this year and he told me I should come into the office and talk to me because they needed people just like me, I laughed. Now, I realize it takes all kinds or people working together to bring the best outcomes.
Who has inspired you to be a leader? My mom and dad as well as my grandparents have definitely inspired me as well as Brother Smith, Sister Bergquist, Julie Salhus, Suzanne Dilday, Summer Elmazi, my old roommates, other extremely influential people in my life, and my BYUSA friends that I have worked and grown with the past couple semesters. I love them all.

What have you accomplished? I have grown to meet some of my potential. I know how to do so many more things, I have hopefully influenced the life of others, and I hope to keep growing and achieving my dreams.
What do you hope to do next year? I hope to be the Vice President of Administration, a student body officer. This is something I have chosen to try to achieve even though it terrifies me beyond belief. It scares me, but I know I can do it.
What could keep you from accomplishing that goal, and how can you overcome it? Fear could keep me from doing this, but all I have to do is realize that this fear does not come from my Heavenly Father. It comes from the adversary who is trying to keep me from becoming who my Heavenly Father wants me to be.
When we got back, I had a million things to do. When I finally finished it was a little after noon. I got home and went straight to sleep. Even after I got up from my nap it was hard to get going. Around six I had an energy boost and went to the basketball game with all five of my old roommates. The whole time Meghan and I were singing "Scream and Shout." If you change the lyrics to "rise and shout. The cougars are out." it is perfect for BYU basketball games. Just so you know. When I got back the energy was gone and I went back to bed. I now feel better, but I am still tired, I still have bruises, and my arms are so sore. If I didn't love retreats so much I do not know what I would do.