What I learned in college

My time at Utah State were some of the best years of my life. I think that it was there that I grew the most and had the experiences that I hold most dear. I learned so much more than what was taught in the classrooms. I grew as a person and learned things about myself and life.

1. I am a person of worth.

Self-esteem has always been something I've struggled with. The friends I made in college are some of the greatest I've ever had and have shown me that I do have something to offer the world. They are the people who helped me realize that I am a person of worth. Those friends are some of the closest I've ever had.

2. Family is extremely important and will be there for me no matter what.

I'm not going to lie, I was excited to move away to Logan. But I soon began to miss my family. It was hard to be away from them and I missed concerts and birthdays. It was weird for me. But they never stopped loving me. Whenever I came through the front door for a weekend visit, my brother would come running with a big smile on his face and give me a hug. It was the sweetest.

3. I can do things on my own.

I am not one to ask for help or to admit defeat. I am happy that I was able to support myself and make dinners and keep a (some what) clean apartment. I was able to manage my own time and didn't need my parents to remind me to do things. I can succeed at life on my own. Shout out to independence.

4. My future is bright.

While at college, my eyes were opened to all the exciting opportunities I have. I never quite realized what the real world had to offer and what I could contribute to the world. I am incredibly excited for the future and I know that I am prepared to tackle whatever life throws at me.

xoxo,

sam

I graduated!

I graduated college last week! I now have a bachelor's degree in public relations and I can't wait to put it to use :) I also can't wait for my actual diploma to arrive in the mail :) The last three years have been the most trying, difficult and yet rewarding years ever. I have learned so much about life and about myself. I pushed my limits and learned what I am capable of. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to get a college education and I know that my life will be better for it.

It was so windy that my hat kept flying off! 

I felt such a sense of accomplishment as I walked across that stage. I'm so proud of myself.

This girls are so amazing. I couldn't have survived the program without them. 

I'm so grateful for my family's love and encouragement. 

I'm especially grateful for my parents and their support.

College graduate.

I did it!

My best friend. I miss her tons already.

xoxo,

sam

The Last Time

So many things are coming to an end in my life. Like pretty much everything.

Thursday was my last day of undergrad classes.

Friday was the last day at my internship.

Sunday was the last day at my ward.

Monday was my last day working in the Logan office.

Today was my last working at the box office.

This is all kind of sad to me as I realize how much of my life is ending.

And I realize that my life is about to drastically change.

But I just keep telling myself that I will be experiencing a lot of firsts soon.

Bring it!

xoxo,

sam

A Party for One

I may or may not have worked forty hours this week at both jobs combined. All on top of my internship and school. Okay, let's be real. School doesn't really count this semester, but still. It's a good 6 hours out of the week. So needless to say, but I have been insanely busy this week. So when I came home tonight to an empty house, I knew it was time to party. So I had a party for one. Complete with chocolate, a crazy outfit and music. I know you wish you had been there.

A random outfit with a side pony tail.

I put on my favorite socks. They are so amazingly comfy.

Chocolate no-bake cookies were made.

 I painted my nails while the cookies cooled.

And jammed out to this song.

And this one.

How did you spend your Saturday night?

xoxo,

sam

Honey bees and dancing

Holy moly! Can you believe that tomorrow is the first day of March! Seriously, where is time going? The semester is halfway over and graduation is just two months away! .

Today I gave a presentation with these lovely ladies on a PR campaign Haagen-Dazs did to save the honey bees. So of course, we dressed up for the occasion in black and yellow.



Last night Ashley showed me this music video and I think it's the cutest thing ever. It's a fun song and I love the dancing. I'm sure you will love it too.

xoxo,

sam

Growing up and moving on

I am excited to graduate!

But sometimes I feel sad that I am graduating this semester.

My roommates are starting to look for housing for next year and it feels weird that I'm not.

I'm looking for jobs instead.

I am really going to miss college.

xoxo,

sam

Selfless

The other day I was sitting in my institute class when I heard something awesome from a girl a few rows back.

The teacher was talking about the ups and downs of marriage and how it is not always bliss.

A girl raised her hand and this is what she had to say:

"You know, marriage is the one time when you can be truely selfless. You don't need to think about what you need because there is someone who has your back completely. Another person is looking out for what you need and you can focus all of your attention on others. Someone is always there for you and you are always there for them."

Isn't that good? Can you imagine being in such a place where you can be perfectly selfless?

I can't wait to have someone in my life I can depend on so completely.

xoxo,

sam

End of semester thoughts

The timing is a little late because of finals and projects. But now that my worst semester is over, I feel totally valid about writing in my blog. I don't feel guilty because I am not working on some project or studying for some test.

I have good news to share: I got an internship! Starting in January, I will be a communications intern at Logan Regional Hospital.

This is all happening so perfectly. I am only taking two classes so I will have time to work and do my internship. The arrangements couldn't be better. Next semester shouldn't be nearly as busy as last semester was.

This semester was the most crazy, most stressful, most trying but most rewarding semester yet. Every hour of my day was scheduled and at times I felt like I was so hopelessly behind with no hope of catching up. But I feel a sense of accomplishment now being done. I am that much closer to graduation and with the most of my classroom learning behind me, I am ready for the experiences my internship will bring.

Breaking Point

This is what my breaking point looks like.

• Senior year and taking 18 credits
• Several group projects and papers due in the next three weeks
• Working two jobs
• Applying for internships/grown-up jobs
• Attempting to overcome a severe, anxiety-causing personal issue
• Exhausted all the time

Yes, this is my life. Jealous?

Officially Worried

This semester I have been a TA/tutor for the beginning newswriting class. This mostly means that I help students with their articles. I have been appalled at the quality of writing I have seen. I even had to tell a student once that "Yes, you do need a period at the end of every sentence." I mean really, how can an individual be in college and not know the most basic rules of writing? I don't understand.

Needless to say, this makes me the tiniest bit worried for the future...

And then this just says it all. (I apologize for the language but it's just too funny not to share).

Stressed.

Stressed.

Back in Logan!

Busy, busy, busy!

I'm back in Logan now and it's great to be back! I've started to settle back in to school life and I'm loving it in a totally nerdy way. My social life is starting to recover and it's great seeing familiar faces again around campus. This is my last year at USU and I'm determined to make it great! I am taking 15 credits in addition to being a teaching assistant for a news writing class. It's definitely more than enough to keep my busy. But I kind of like it. I have come to the realization that this is what I am supposed to be doing right now. I get asked a lot if I am dating anyone and right now, the answer is no. And I'm okay with that. I think that will come with time. So for now, I am just busy with school and work. Oh speaking of work, I got a new job!! I was able to keep the job I had over the summer at Intermountain Homecare and just transferred to Logan when I moved back here. It's not super exciting but I am starting to look for a job for when I graduate. Which is an intimidating thought. I don't feel like I'm ready to tackle the world but I'm excited for the next chapter of my life to start.

Start The Countdown!

Only ten days left! We are almost to the single digits people.

I only have classes ten more days this semester. And that sounds absolutely wonderful to me. You see, I am nearly burned out. This year has been both challenging and rewarding. Challenging because of learning to write on a deadline, boys and having to think about statistics again. But the biggest reward came in the form of confirmation that I am in the right major and on the right path in life.

I am so ready for summer. And all this warm weather has me wanting even more. Bring it.

Married Man

His nickname is Married Man.

At least that's what Ashley and I call him.

And this is my story:

First, let me set the scene. I was a young, nervous and carless college freshman. I didn't have a bus that year and I had to take the bus to work. One day, I was just sitting on the bus when a guy sits down beside me. (I cringe every time I remember that I was kind of excited about this. Little did I know what would happen later with him.) He starts talking to me and soon asks for my phone number. And me being the naive little freshman that I was, gave it to him. The bus arrived at the station and we went our separate ways. And I half expected never to hear from him again.

1 day later...

To my surprise, he texts me and tries to get to know me. He seems genuinely interested and like a nice, honest guy so I start asking some questions about him. We text back and forth for about a week and that's when he mentions that he has a 1 year-old daughter. Then I got curious so I ask about her. And he let his slip that he is married!!! I remember being one hundred and ten percent shocked. It's not like he was some middle-aged man. No, he was probably around 24. I had no idea what to do. I had never really had a ton of experience with single guys let alone married men! I tried to ignore him but he kept texting and calling me. When he asked me on an official date was when I called him on the whole marriage thing. His excuse/rationale was that he wanted a divorce. Oh, well why didn't you say so before? That makes everything okay. Umm... Are you kidding me? That was the lamest excuse.

Over the next few months...

He continued to text and call me just to talk or to ask me out. Finally, I told him straight out that I wasn't interested. He told me something along the lines of this: "Are you sure? I'll give you some time to think that over. You don't know what you are giving up. But don't take too long because I won't wait around forever." He made it sound like he was doing me a favor. I told him I was sure.

3 months later...

Married Man had been silent for a few months now and I thought that I was in the clear and that he had forgotten all about me. One day, I was eating lunch with Ashley and her boyfriend when someone mentioned Married Man. They both got a kick out of this whole awkward situation and were curious as to what he looked like. But I didn't know his last name so we couldn't facebook stalk him. So they convinced me to start talking to him again. He took that the wrong way. He thought I was completely interested. I was asked to go to the movies with him. And to go to his house to "relax" after a long day at school. I was even invited to his kid's birthday party! I kept ignoring him but this guy was persistent. That summer he even wanted me to go to California with him and kids!

Earlier this year

At the beginning of his year, things eventually calmed down with him and I heard from him less and less. One might assume that is where the story ends. But no. My life wouldn't be complete without regular awkward encounters with him. Almost every time I go to Wal-Mart, I see him. I'm literally afraid to go by myself because I'm worried about running into him. One day, Ashley wasn't home and I really needed some groceries. So I put on my big-girl shoes and went alone. Bad idea. It was the most awkward of awkwardest encounters. It was a full-on shopping cart collision. I tried to get out of there as fast as possible but he wanted to talk. And of course, ask me out again.

From this point on, I will always go to the Logan Wal-Mart with a shopping buddy.

This is it.

Remember what it was like to be 7 years old? When you dreamed of the future and when you thought those teenage girls were so cool with their cars and boyfriends.They got to wear make-up, have pretty clothes and stay out late.

I remember those girls. I remember Chloe, Susan and Heidi (names have been changed to protect the innocent). They were so cool and I remember how I wanted to be like them. I couldn't wait to grow up. Because then I would get my drivers license, have my first kiss and go to high school. And then I would go to college and have a successful career. I couldn't wait for the future and actually believed that all my dreams would come true.

But I'm just now realizing that the future is here.

Driving is no longer exciting, I have graduated high school, my first kiss has come and gone, boys are still just as dumb and I am actually going to college.


The future is no longer this abstract idea. The future that I dreamed about as a little kid is here. It is very much the present and today's reality.

And the big question is: Was it everything I thought it would be?

No.

With less than six months remaining of my teenage years, I can't help but reflect on what I thought it would be and what it really was.

High school wasn't as glamorous as it is made out to be in the movies. In fact, some of my worst memories are from high school. Driving isn't exciting now as it was when I was 16 due to car payments, gas and insurance.

Now that I am an adult, I realize that I don't know and can't handle everything. The perception we get from our parents and other adults in our younger years are not exactly true. When I was younger, I almost half expected to receive this large amount of knowledge when I turned 18. Or maybe even 19. Or maybe it's yet to come when I turn 20. But adults really don't know everything.

Part of me wants to be a little kid again. Everything seemed so much simpler then.

xoxo

Sammy

Procrastination... In Progress

Procrastination.

One of my worst habits and biggest flaws.

Even as as I write this I am procrastinating. But not as bad as usual. I finished studying for my exam in my next class and didn't bring anything else to the computer lab. So I have a half hour to kill and what better way than to write this.

Last night I had this assignment. A beast of an assignment. For a class that I loathe. Communication research. The teacher is extremely vague and only explains things one way. With boxes and arrows. How much sense can you make from boxes and arrows? It is a confusing class that really has no purpose. I will be doing the writing in my job and if need research done, I will go to the research person because that is their job. Almost everyone I have talked to are just as confused as I am.

So for this assignment I had to look at two different articles and identify specific parts of research. And then diagram it using the teachers box and arrow method that makes absolutely no sense. So I finished that part and then I had to write an op-ed piece. I have little experience writing one of the those. So mine is crap. Last semester in my newswriting class, we were constantly told to avoid number because it confuses readers. So I have always avoided numbers in my writing but for this assignment we had to "use numbers in a convincing way". How do you do that? We haven't been taught anything about how to write with numbers. Classes consist of boxes and arrows. Boxes and arrows.

Well, that got totally off topic. From procrastination to a rant about a class. Let's get back to my original point.

Last semester I had a planner that I wrote all my assignments down in. But this semester I have very few assignments and A TON of reading. So it's kind of useless to just writing "reading" down for everyday. I know I have reading to do. So the planner is ineffective this semester, for the most part. And the reading is boring and textbooks are never fun to read. So it's very easy to put off.

But it's piling up.

Okay, maybe not that much. More like this.

But that's still a lot...

This weekend is going to be one of those 'catch-up-on-life-or-die' weekends.

Wish me luck.

xoxo

Samantha

Halfway!

It hit me yesterday. I am halfway through college! I have successfully completed three semesters and that means I only have three more to go! It's like I can almost see a light at the end of the tunnel. A future that doesn't consist of fighting over the shower with roommates. Or regular dinners of pasta just because it is quick. Or freezing my butt off in Logan. The end is coming. And then I will be a college graduate!

But looking back, I can't believe how fast time has gone. I mean, living in the dorms seems like it was forever ago. But it really was only a year. Looking back on the classes I have taken I am impressed with what I was able to do and accomplish.

I can do hard things.

Like that geography class I took my very first semester. That was the worst grade I have ever gotten. In fact, that was my very first B. And honestly, I was devastated. But I survived the class and I can proudly say that my grades have improved every semester.

This semester is going to be intense. All of my classes have heavy reading assignments. Like tons of and tons of pages. But I'm still have that happy and excited attitude that I seem to start every semester with.

Intro to Public Relations - T/TR 10:30
Ethics in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology - T/TR 1:30
Communication Research - T/TR 3:00
Sociology of Work - T/TR 4:30
Art Symposium - Online
Total Credits = 14

I am pretty excited about most of my classes this semester. I am taking a lighter load than I usually do but that's okay. And I'm sure I will still be very, very busy. I am still working 20 hours a week. So rarely do I have spare time. That is becoming a foreign concept to me. My education is a big and complete mess. I can't take this class because I don't have this prerequisite. And I can't take this class because I don't have enough credits. And blah blah blah. So I was kind of stuck for classes so I filled it with some electives because I need a few more upper division credits. So why not take them now and get them out of the way? Exactly.

College.

xoxo

samantha

Neglect and an Excuse

I will admit, I have neglected my blog over the last month or so.  And the only excuse I really have is that I've been busy.  So I guess it's up to my readers to decide if that is a valid excuse or not.

So what exactly have I been so busy with?  I went to Canada for two weeks, which has definitely has been the highlight of my summer.  We had our own little 'Gregson Family Tour of Alberta', stopping in Magrath, Calgary and Edmonton.  And even taking a day trip to go to Banff and see the Canadian Rockies and Lake Louise.  Plus it was great to see all of my family again and to just have a vacation and leave life and all responsibilities behind in the states.  Now I am back to working everyday and trying to plan a bridal shower for my one of my bestest friends.  I still can't believe she is getting married!!  I have been super stressed with this and I know I shouldn't be but I want it to turn out perfect.  And this isn't your typical bridal shower either.  It will be an open house for friends, family and ward members.  So basically all the different types of showers combined into one big one.  And then on top of all that, the fall semester starts in two weeks!  I am so freaking excited!  I won't have to be a boring and super responsible adult anymore; I can be a fun and somewhat responsible student.  So I'll be saying goodbye to working full time and hello to friends in just a few short weeks!

But, It's My Dream!

Dreams, goals and aspirations; they all are a governing force in our lives.  They are points we wish to reach in our life time.  They are destinations we want to end up at.  Without dreams, life can be quite dull.  How we act and the decisions we make are ultimately determined by our dreams.  We desperately want to reach our goals and actualize our dreams, so we are willing to make the necessary.  For example, an aspiring college student is going to put forth the time and effort to be involved and get good grades in high school in order to be accepted into their dream college.


Lately, I have been thinking about what my dreams and what exactly I want to achieve in life and making my own bucket list.  Here are just a few of my dreams.


★ graduate college ***in progress***
★ temple marriage
★ write a song
★ adopt
★ live in NYC
★ meet Taylor Swift
★ learn to play the guitar ***in progress***
★ see the northern lights
★ find a 4-leaf clover
★ catch fireflies
★ help baby sea turtles make it to the ocean
★ go on a humanitarian trip to a foreign country


Dreams are what keep us going in life.  Without them, what would we have to look forward to?  What would be purpose of living?  My dreams keep me going during the rough patches and help me stay focused on what I really want.




And I just have to include this video clip.  One, because it has to do with dreams. And two, it stars the one and only, Taylor Swift!

The ABC Guide to Surving USU

A-Always wear a coat!  Coats are a must for the Logan sub-arctic temperatures.  This is global warming at its best!
B-Basketball at the spectrum.  You will just have to experience yourself.
C-Classes.  Just go.  It will (usually) be worth it in the end.
D-Dating.  Before you know it, everyone will be engaged.
E-Exercise.  Don't forget to stay fit.  And you can always check out the eye candy while you're at the gym!
F-Fluffy white stuff.  Don't be surprised when it is April and the grass is white instead of green.
G-Graduation.  Time flies by faster than you think.  I can't believe how fast it has gone.
H-Homesickness.  It's a very common disease, and everyone gets it at one time or another.
I-Ice Cream.  Okay, three words: Aggie Ice Cream.  Get some!
J-Journal.  Write everything down somewhere.
K-Keys.  You will realize the importance of checking to make sure you have keys BEFORE  you leave after you get locked out once or twice.
L-Library.  The library is actually a cool place to be, believe it or not.  It's a great place to sleep, catch up with friends, eat, or maybe even get some studying done!
M-Marketplace Food Poisoning.  It really does exist.  Just letting you know.
N-Needle.  I helps to be able to use a needle and thread.  It takes too long to wait for your mom to sew things for you.
O-Old Main Hill.  You have to go down that hill on something.  At least once.  There are multiple options: sleds, mattresses, shopping carts, longboards, pretty much anything!
P-PDA.  Expect to see some things you wished you hadn't.
Q-Quarters.  Every penny, nickel, and quarter is important.  And so are dimes!  Spend money wisely.
R-Roommates are pretty much the best!  Take the time to get to know them.
S-Sleep.  Just say your good-byes now.
T-True Aggie.  Got some chapstick?  It's always best to be prepared.
U-Undergraduate Research...  If I had a quarter for every time I heard that phrase I would be one rich girl!
V-Variety.  There is definitely no lack in variety among individuals.  If you want to meet a lot of different people then you will.
W-Walmart Runs.  Always better after dark.  Go between 11 pm and 1 am for the most enjoyment.
X-X-Boyfriends/Girlfriends.  Just know that the most awkward of awkward run-ins with your ex will occur when you least expect it.
Y-Young.  Have fun while you're young!  Before you get old and boring...
Z-Zombies.  Once a semester the Zombies come out to play.  People chasing each other with nerf guns is the norm.