Big Steps

As I'm waiting for my last load of laundry to finish drying, listening to Italian men sing, and putting off packing a little bit, I figured I would write a post while some things are on my mind. However, one thing that really stuck out to me when I first opened my blog info site, was that I have 1,234 page views! I would never have imagined getting that people would be reading this blog as much as is happening right now! That's a pretty big step!

Another big step that's happening in my life is that I'm moving off to college again tomorrow. I'm very excited, but at the same time, I'm also really nervous for some reason. A good nervous though. I'm not scared or afraid, but an excited nervous. What will this semester hold for me? Will I be able to handle 18 credits? Who will I be hanging out with? What are my roommates like? They're all exciting things to think about, but whenever I do, I get the butterflies in my stomach. Sometimes if I'm lucky, they turn into flying squirrels and I get really nervous--excited, but nervous.

As I'm leaving behind the town and the community I know so well tomorrow, and go back to what feels like my second home, I've been doing a lot of thinking, mostly about the friends we pick to choose to hang out with, to choose to be our examples, and to look to as reference and guiding points in our lives. A year ago, if you asked me to list my closest friends, the list would look incredibly different now--even just a year later. I've started going through my friends, picking and choosing the best ones to associate myself with, losing a few along the way, but mostly gaining great new friends that I can look to as examples, or go to when I need words of support and love on a hard day. I'm so glad that I've gone through my friends and only talk to and hang out with those who I feel are on the same path and level as I am. I hope that doesn't sound mean, or judgmental, I really don't, I just don't want to be the one dragged down trying to bring others up from such a low point anymore. If they'll put the effort out, I'll make an effort to reach down and help them up. I want everyone to be happy. But if I kept those friends that constantly were a drain to me--physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually--I wouldn't be going where I need to be going. I need to be seeking higher ground for when the storms come and try to take me off my feet. After going through this picking and choosing process of friends, I have really come to see how Heavenly Father places people in your life for a reason. Maybe there aren't a lot of people or close friends at certain points, but looking back, I now know that it is for a very specific reason: to help you figure out who you are and what you really want in life.

Now that I'm looking back and reading that, that sounds kind of gloomy, but that's an important lesson that I wish I could tell people as words of advice--your friends influence who you become. Surround yourself with the ones you hope to be like one day. It will make all the difference in the world! My friends weren't bad either, it's just the matter of choosing the "good, better, and best" options.

Alright, another big cool thing happened. So school starts on Monday for me, and I move up to Rexburg tomorrow morning. I have been getting lots of emails from teachers, introducing themselves, letting us know we have homework due on Monday, and what not. I already have taken 3 quizzes, 2 questionnaires, I have several readings to do with papers, and I have a paper due on Monday before I attend my classes. I'm kind of guessing this is just a taste of what this 18 credit semester will be bringing... But here's the exciting part! One of my classes is an Elementary Education Early Field Experience class, which means I get to go to an elementary school and practice teaching this semester. On Thursday this next week, I will be getting a certain grade level and a teacher to work with this semester. My teacher also emailed me, asking what I would like on my name tag when I am there working at the school. So far, I know my name tag will say "Miss Rowe", and I am working at Burton Elementary School in Rexburg, Idaho. I am so excited!! I can't even describe how excited I am for this semester!

I'm excited to figure out more who I am, to find new people to surround myself with, and to just learn and grow tremendously this semester. Hopefully it's full of big steps.

Live. Love. Laugh. Grow.