Words of Wisdom.

This semester I was blessed to take all my classes from two of my favorite professors. Prof. Matt Barton & Prof. Ellen Treanor. They are incredible people and have heavily influenced my educational experience while in college. I don't think I will ever have enough words to thank them for all they have taught me. So instead, let me share with you their words of wisdom for a college grad.


Matt:
"Whatever you decide to do in life, do your best at it. Throw yourself into it. Be willing to commit to your work or whatever you are doing. Do it like you are the only one who can accomplish it. And remember, be persistent, not discouraged." 
He also shared a line from a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "Be not dumb driven cattle. Be a hero in the strife." Which I love.


Ellen:
"How did you feel about it? What works? What didn't? And what would you change if you had the opportunity to do it again?" She is always pushing her students to be better, to always improve. But when I asked her what her advice would be, she simply said, "Never give up." She is a woman who has never given up, and quite frankly, never will. She can accomplish more in one day than I could in an entire week. And if she won't give up with all that is on her plate, I can definitely keep pushing through.


And something they both taught me, from Honest Abe, "Whatever you are, be a good one."

P&B

did i ever imagine this moment? when i actually say goodbye? no.... just let me have this one sentence.
I just need to say that I am having a really really hard time saying goodbye to this part of my life and I am going to miss college, my friends, professors, this campus, the tiki shack, homework assignments, late nights in the ELC, SUUSA, SUU Athletics, my apartment, Gregory, Bailey, Whitney, my nomad groups of people, running up 'Le Hill,' bonfires, summer nights, hiking, the wind, the Bell Tower, the scheduling office, my coworkers, intramural sports, my coordinators and associate directors, my advisors, mentors, homecoming week, entertainers, the Living Room and Dining Hall, seeing Sharwan everyday, pick up soccer games, eating cereal and string cheese and granola bars, fruit dip, waking Whitto up every morning, being a college kid, living from pay check to pay check, picking up Bai from the school every night, watching White Collar all night every night in the summer, playing games till 2 AM, Thor the Thunderbird, FHE, doing the thunder train, getting a bread loaf from Chartwells, scheduling 20 hours a week, walking past President Benson, Provost Cook, or VP Donna Eddleman and having them say 'Hi Jenna,' watching a play every month, the Shakespeare Festival, hitting golf balls off of the C, midnight hikes, getting hugs from my favorite people all the time, SUU's Dancing with the Stars, ODK, the sassy attitude from Matt Barton, the COMM department, Krave, The Pastry Pub, the amazing Cedar City Community, parking in any parking lot that I want because of my TBird license plate, #ellentreanorquotes, the 'Lake' on the Hill, Discovery Park, late night drives to look at those houses, city league softball, True TBird Night, mud football, the dolphins by the library, our collection of movies that we've watched 2000 times, finals, the bowling alley, walking from the Hunter Conference Center to the Centrum back to the Hunter Conference Center every day, learning about Apologia, visits home because I was at school, visits from home, Spring Break, Christmas Break, the 500 Mexican restaurants, my Cedar City dentist, being a senior, the couch in my room, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Kanarraville, Red Cliffs, camping, skinny dipping, temporary tattoos from Hermies, Cherrie Fresh Limes from Brad's, listening to my talented friends play the piano, guitar, uke, and sing, late nights, all nighters, study groups, retreats, being the girl at school who loved everything about SUU.

college has been really really kind to me. i'll miss all of this so much. thanks for the best times of my life. p&b. 
(peace & blessings)

Thoughts at 3 AM.

How come you never seem to know you have cuts on your hands until after you put the hand sanitizer on?

I should never ever end a sentence with a preposition. And how many times can I say "you" in a sentence?

Tomorrow's to-do list keeps getting bigger and bigger while I lay in bed. There are 27 hours in a day on the 30th, right?

I miss my little brother like crazy. He's been the only one missing lately at family functions. Including graduation this weekend. Man he's the best. And I miss him.

My sunburn is starting to peel. Shoot. I'm going to look like a lizard with dandruff on graduation.

If I win money playing Bingo, do I need to pay tithing on it? Awkward.

Why is it 3 AM, and I am still awake?

I have major hiccups right now. Like the shake-your-whole-body-hiccups. So excuse me while I hold my breath, upside down, and swallow a glass of water.

For the first time in two years....

I am not going into work at 8 AM on a Monday morning.



Hallelujah.

What do you think of Thailand?

Tell me people, what do you think of Thailand?

Thailand is a serious consideration for Fall 2013. You all know I still have absolutely no plans, and graduation is in 6 days. So I'm thinking. Work summer job. Work another summer job. Maybe work a third summer job. And then travel, travel, travel come September. I think I would like to start in Thailand. And teach English. And get paid to teach English. cause ya know, it's a 'big deal' when you have a degree. Then go to the next country of choice. And repeat. 

Just until I know what I'm doing with my life. Ya know? 

Anyway, what do you think? Also, do you know of any good programs that would pay to teach? Because I really am serious about this one.

Introducing Dallan Wright: "Please don't ever grow up."

Have you ever wondered...Who is DW? Well today is your lucky day.

I've invited DW, also known as Dallan Wright, to be a guest on my blog. Listen up. Because here is what he has to say.

Today, it is my greatest pleasure to have the amazing opportunity to write for the wonderful Jenna as a part of her fantastic blog. I am Dallan Michael Wright. I am a son, brother, writer and friend to a few and it has been my delight to have grown close to Jenna over the past couple years. It brings sorrow to my soul to think that my charismatic friend, Jenna DeGering, will be graduating in a few short weeks. I know this time in an individual’s life can be very stressful and often over whelming as the reality begins to settle that they are “all grown up.”  

Now, I am not so ignorant to think that after graduating from University that growth ceases and we become stagnant. But, in the mind of a soon to be graduate, I can imagine that they feel like this is last big step in their development into adulthood. I want to express to Jenna and all the graduates this year or for years to come, that we should never feel “all grown up.” I am not referring to the Peter Pan version of the sentiment of never growing old, but instead I want to compel all those who read this to always keep your sense of innocence intact.  

Never forget the nights you stayed up till the sun began to light the sky again, just because you couldn’t tear your eyes away from a special friends’ loving gaze. Don’t be so quick to forget the magic in lying around in sweats all weekend just because you felt like you “deserved it.” Remember what it’s like to live off ramen or eat ice cream by the carton. Mentally freeze frame the excitement that came with finding out who was in your new classes and whether or not the one good looking guy or gal would sit next to you. And always stop late at night to go outside, lay on the grass and stare up at the stars, pondering the universe’s secrets.  

So to Jenna and all those moving on from your university experience… Graduate, but please don’t ever grow up.

 

Saturday. I love a Saturday.

I love me some weekend time.

• I'm playing soccer in 15 minutes
• My parents are coming in 4 hours
• Old roomie is here
• I get to try on pretty dresses
• My room will finally get cleaned
• Packing up all my crap...moving.
• TBird Awards!!!!!!
• The Thunderbird Ball (masquerade style!)

Yay.

Also...I slept until 9:00 AM! The best.

The to-do list of a graduate.

TO DO:

• Spend as much possible time with my people. 
• Make the snow melt. 
• Fly kites. And sidewalk chalk.
• Eat at all my favs in Cedar. 
• Make one more fort in my living room. 
• Tag the sheep tunnels.
• Make two batches of cookies and deliver happiness. 
• Stay up late every night.
• Get a killer dress for graduation.
• Finish 20 million homework assignments. 
• Passport. Passport. Passport! 
• Grad announcements & thanks yous. 
• Maybe like..get a job.  
• Eat Lunch.
• Walk under the Bell Tower.

And.........

• Graduate. 

14 days. 22 hours. 40 minutes people. 

Maybe I'll Join the Circus.

23 days. 12 hours. 50 minutes.
I am a college graduate in 23 days, 12 hours, and 50 minutes.
COLLEGE freaking GRAD! Awesome right? Yeah, way awesome.

Except for the fact that I have 1,000,000 zero plans come 23 days, 12 hours, and 50 minutes. If you ask anyone I've talked to in the past week, they will tell you that I am freaking out. I mean, I've always been the girl with a plan. And a stellar plan, if I might add.

And now nothing. Nada. Zipadeedooda zilch. Panic mode. Can you tell? But...this blog post isn't just about me freaking out. It's about a break through.

Let me rewind a little bit. I've always known that I'm going to be okay. I know that I'm not going to whither or instantaneously combust because I don't have a plan right now. There are worse things that I could be dealing with, and I am grateful to live such a wonderful life. I'm okay. I do know that.

I think the reason I'm in this baby ridiculous panic mode is because it feels like everyone else and their pet hedgehog, Dexter, has a plan.

I have the same conversation every day.
Insanely nice person, "Oh, Jenna! You're graduating! That's exciting. What are you going to do next?"
Me (wearing my sassy pants), "I DON'T KNOW!!!!!! Join a convent, or the circus. Travel to Antarctica."

Okay, maybe I don't entirely yell at them in caps lock. And I'm never serious about any of those options. But it seriously is the same everyday. I. Do. Not. Know. efff. 

Here is the breakthrough portion. Today I stumbled upon a blog called The Unlost, and I found a post entitled, "Why It's OK to be Lost and Confused." Man did it come at the right time! This girl, Therese is brilliant. She wrote about how it's okay to not have it all figured out. In fact, more than okay. Which I think I know, but coming from a complete stranger, who doesn't know me, was real.

And when I say real, I mean like John Mayer talent real. Not like Taylor Swift..."real."

The jist of her story: 1. same sitch   2. realized it was OK   3. went and did remarkable things anyways.
So...breakthrough. Ask me what I'm doing after graduation. Really ask me. I still don't know.

But my reply this time (without the sassy pants), "I have no idea. But whatever it is, it's going to be remarkable!"


And if you have any suggestions on what remarkable might be for me, I am taking them openly. Bring on the love.