Growing up...

A lot has happened this summer, and to make a long story short. I've been growing up!

In the beginning... (of my summer 2011)

I went to Youth for Freedom and participated in the Andau Character Prize Competition. It was such a life-changing experience and I wouldn't have traded anything in the world for it. I had a great time with my friends, and shared some amazing experiences with my family.
I had about a week's break, then...
GIRLS CAMP!!!
Unfortunately it was my last year as a young woman... which was a little depressing but it made the experience all the better! I did a lot of planning as I was a Youth Camp Leader, and I had a lot of fun taking charge of some of the activities.
After about a month, I went four-wheeling with my family. This year was a little more stressful than years past. For me at least. For the first time in my life I rolled a four-wheeler. It was very scary and I am so glad that I am alive and unscathed. To give you an idea of the seriousness of the situation, the four-wheeler that I was riding was the biggest four-wheeler that was at our camp. One of the biggest models that the maker of that brand provides. Pretty big and scary. This was the 3rd rolling that had occurred out of 4 rollings that took place on the camping trip. When I got back from riding that day, I wrote a speech that I gave on...
The fourth of July! That was a fun experience and it was the best speech I have ever given. I am so glad I had that experience. Not to mention my friend did a fantastic job as well, when he gave two impromptu speeches that were absolutely amazing. :)
After that fun experience, I stayed up in salt lake for another two and a half weeks for...
The BYU Ballet Summer Intensive!!
That was SO much fun! I had the best room-mate anyone could ever ask for, an amazing councilor, (I stayed on campus the whole time) and I met a girl who does TJED like I do! Funny thing was, I found this out after the camp and never talked to her in person about it. I danced 9 hours every day except for on the weekends, and even then we didn't really get a 'break'. We also went to Sundance where we hiked for about three hours through waterfalls, snow, mud, rocks, and right next to some pretty scary cliffs that could be compared to the dangers of Angels Landing in Zion. We also went to music and the spoken word in temple square, and attended a college ward that evening. Then it was back to dancing! I improved so much and I absolutely enjoyed that and feel confident enough to be in a company or take classes at college now!
So after about a weeks break from Ballet camp, I received a call that I had been offered a partial scholarship to George Wythe University! I have been registered and am attending full-time on campus this fall! I am so excited and it feels very interesting to know that this September I will be turning 18 and attending college. Bittersweet...
So to settle any questions on if I am going to be staying in Cedar, not yet. If the opportunity presents itself, I will look into staying up there and coming home on the weekends. Because I am not quite "graduated" yet, (or 18) I still have responsibilities within my calling as Young Womens class president. I also would like to participate in my Ballet Studio's Halloween show, so I will not be staying in Cedar permanently yet.

And on the last few days, I rest. My summer has been so full, but has been so worth it and so amazing. I am so glad I was able to meet such wonderful and amazing people who have really changed my life and filled it with amazing experiences such as these. Its amazing to me how much time flies. My advice to those who have yet to experience this change: Enjoy your youth and fill it with as much good fun as you can. Its goes by so fast. Absorb every happy moment with joy. It will all be worth while. Push through the hard times and learn from them. And when you look back, don't look back with regret.

The wave is coming

Lately with the riots, one question and probability has been plaguing my mind.
If the wave of revolution were to hit America, what would be my part in it?

Would I be ready?
Will I take a stand?

With all of the countries rioting and creating anarchy through their protests, I cannot help but wonder what they will do next. I also wonder if they were asking for the right thing.
It made me sad that in Egypt, the government was just handed over to the military. Why?
Do the Egyptians really know what they are seeking?
Will America be at the ready when we are asked what we really want?
The military, from what I understand, is almost exactly what the Egyptians possessed before they overthrew their previous government. In the military, you are supposed to obey those who are above you, who hold the higher command. Who holds the power in the military? A General of course. Who then holds power in the government? The General. A reinstated dictatorship. This is why they overthrew the government in the first place, to get rid of a dictator. It completely defeated the purpose in which they began to protest.

Why has this happened? What is missing?
With all that emotion stirred up in the protests, every single one of those people -including some of the tea partiers here in the U.S.- are living in the now. They are so passionate about everything that is happening right now, that they emotionally have no room to think about the future, the consequences of their actions, and what they really needed to accomplish their desires. They had a desire, but they didn't know what they needed to achieve it. They wanted freedom, they needed the principles that the founding fathers discovered from endless study, they needed the wisdom from education that they had received.

So when the time comes around for the wave, we must be prepared. We must learn now what we want, what freedom really is, and what comes next. We must become balanced in focusing on the now while thinking about the future. The passionate emotions that come from protesting must be channeled in a such a way that it effects change, and promotes principle.
Let the wave come, and let us be prepared.