I had the Time of My Life with You

Wonderstruck.


If I had to sum up the night of Sept. 28, that would be the word: wonderstruck.


That night was a dream come true. I GOT TO SEE TAYLOR SWIFT IN CONCERT!! :D


I went with my sister down to Salt Lake and we took A TON of pictures and videos (I filled up my entire memory card).

This picture was tricky. It took us like 5 minutes to balance the camera on the back of my car on top of our purses

We got makeovers from Covergirl. Maddi's turned out so much better than mine. BUT, we got FREE makeup! Mascara, lip gloss, lipstick, EVERYTHING. They were just handing it out to everyone. I won't need to buy any for a long time :)

Just waiting for the concert to start. And being very impatient.

This band was so bad that I don't even remember their name.

Needtobreathe was actually pretty good.

Taylor coming out on stage. FINALLY!

Some (of the the better) pictures of Taylor

Taylor Swift's cover of Animal by Neon Trees. She said she chose this song because the band is from Provo.

Haunted

This was my absolute favorite part. She ended by singing Love Story and she got in this balcony looking thing and flew around the arena above the crowd. And there was sparkly confetti all over. Amazing.

I can't wait for the next concert! =)

**Sorry for the poor quality of the videos and pictures. We were pretty high up and the zoom on my camera just wasn't good enough.

The USU Design Studio

This semester, I am participating in something exciting at USU and have the opportunity to make a difference on campus. I am part of a team of 14 people who are taking on the challenge of designing a new, interactive web site for student services. Our goal is to create a 'one stop shop' experience for students and bring all information provided by student services to one place. We want to make it as engaging and interactive as possible. We are working collaboratively with the Business Innovation Factory in Rhode Island. They are guiding us through the design experience and we are currently in the Immersion phase of the project.


The first two weeks were spent learning about the details of the project and what the plan for the semester is. The class from last semester worked on the research and gathering the data needed. This semester, we plan to design what we, as students, would like to see implemented at USU.


The third week of class was spent interviewing significant stakeholders in this project. We talked to the VP of student services and most of the directors of each service (Admissions, Financial Aid, Advising, Student Success and Retention, Access and Diversity etc). The purpose of this was to briefly learn about each department. The class was divided into teams of two and each team will be a liaison for each department and will be the ones to contact if more information is needed.


This week, our team assignment is to conduct interviews with our specific departments. I have been assigned to the Access and Diversity Center. Our interview is scheduled for Thursday morning and we hope to obtain more specific and detailed information about the department. We also want to find out what this specific department's strength and weaknesses are and what their long-term goals are. In order to deliver the best model, we need to implement parts that will work for every department.


At the end of the semester, we will prepare a brief on our findings as well as a preliminary model of what we propose this new website should contain. We will present our ideas to the President of the University, The Provost Office and any other decision-making departments. If our ideas are liked and approved, USU will work towards implementing our findings.


I think this experience will be really beneficial for me. It provides necessary skills such as interviewing, research, and designing a new product model. And it will look really good on a resume, which is always a good thing. I will try to update my blog throughout the semester with our findings and also use this as a way to document this experience.

19 and Single

I am 19 and single. Why am I so love-sick??

It seems like every single time I get on Facebook someone else is engaged or someone else has started a wedding countdown or someone else has just got married. I have been feeling like the ugly duckling this entire time.

But, what I have realized is that there is no reason for me to feel that way!  These people who are getting married at 18 or 19 and right out of high school will probably just add to the statistic of marriages that fail.  Why am I envying this??

I am only 19 years old!  I am a baby in terms of a life span. Yet, I was feeling like I was destined for a life of TV reruns, bad Chinese food, and a collection of cats to keep me company.  I was scared of a life alone.  WHY??  I have my whole life ahead of me!  I am happy and loved by my friends and family and I'm SINGLE!  I can do whatever, whenever, and without having to answer to anyone!

But, instead of embracing my life as it is and loving the people I am surrounded by, I have become cynical and sullen and perpetually lonely.  That stops.  Now.  I am thrilled to say that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I will find love, but I am not going to find it sitting on a couch watching chick flicks and hating my single-ness.  I have to go out there and live my single life that way it should be lived- FREE!  And by free, I mean independence.  It's not relying on anyone for anything or being relied on.

There are so many things I want to do.  So many places I want to see.

Here's to the end of the lonely nights, the sad, boring personality, the down trodden face, the love-sick girl that could be found journaling her thoughts with Ben and Jerry.  And here's to the beginning of my new life. A life filled with friends and family and fun and happiness and freedom.

I honestly feel bad for those people that have and/or are about to become tied down with a husband or wife and kids before they can even legally drink. While you have tied your life with responsibilities and commitment at such a young and carefree age; I will be out living mine.  Like I should be.

I will find love one day. But it will be when I have experienced life and am ready to settle down. Until then, I am more than willing to wait with my head held high.

I am a new person. I am single and free.  And I will be happy.

I Can't Wait To Meet Her

Jumping head first into the unknown is scary.  And intimidating.  But it's good for us.  It teaches us things about ourselves we never knew before.  Trying new things provides insight into life and it's purpose.  Growing and learning is a natural part to life so it only makes sense that trying new things is essential.  But sometimes, when life gets really scary, we hold back and don't let ourselves push our boundaries.  And that, my friends, is the truly scary part.  Those moments when we are too afraid to allow ourselves to grow and slowly evolve into a new person.  We may be scared for many different reasons.  Maybe you are worried about what others will think.  Or maybe it is something you never believed you would have to face and now it is right there in front of you.  Or maybe it's the uncertainty surrounding the haze of the unknown.  Whatever the reason may be, it is in those moments that we really learn the most about ourselves.  In those moments that we are faced with the decision of pressing through it or finding a different path through life.  But I am certain that the alternate paths will be less rewarding and less satisfying.  Once we start down one of the 'easier' paths, we are forced to life with the regret and all of the "what if's" and unfortunately, there is no rewind button in life.  We are left with no choice but to keep pressing forward on this new path we have chosen.

A new school year is just about to start and I am anxious to see where life will take me in the next twelve months.  I know without a doubt that I will be, in no shape or form, the same person I am today.  Both the good and bad times will re-define me and I only hope that despite all the differences I will emerge a better person.  And I can't wait to meet her.

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!