YOU Are Worth It

One of the most popular quotes I have found through many Pinterest searches, is that "Happiness is a choice." Through many different soul-searching moments, I have discovered just how true this statement is.

There is so much in our world today that causes many people to lose a whole lot of hope. It seems as though it is all around us. Struggling countries around the world, the government, and even the media. And believe me, having a desire to become a journalist in a world where people are beginning to trust the media less and less is a little disheartening. I might even say a little depressing.

But the truth of the matter is, in a world where there is much to be anxious about, there is just as much happiness waiting for YOU to uncover. We live in a time where technology is everywhere, and if used for good, can become a powerful motivator and tool. We live in a time where medical professionals are able to perform more successful surgeries and procedures than ever before. To be honest, we live in time where there is so much to be grateful for, yet we still find a reason to be unhappy with something. We have a bad hair day. Our friends got too busy to hang out with us, when we just saw them yesterday. A date doesn't go the way we had hoped, and we feel like we made a fool of ourselves.

I have been studying if you will, the topic of happiness for quite some time. As a teenager, I was always looking for happiness quotes that would bring some sort of peace of mind as I went on to conquer the next challenge or roadblock that was strewn along my path. I craved happiness more than I craved dark chocolate or ice cream, and that's saying something, because I love dark chocolate and ice cream. I thought that there was really nothing to live for if I wasn't able to fight through my challenges, and to be HAPPY.

I've kind of noticed that more recently in my personal life, it's been pretty darn hard to find happiness. I realized there was something holding me back from being the happy-go-lucky Kortni I thought I had always been. That something holding me back, was no one other than myself. I have gone day to day concerned about the next task at hand that I forgot to take a deep breath and quite simply,"Just be me."

I fight the daily battles of "I'm not good enough", "I'm too anxious to be happy" and "I'll focus on the gospel tomorrow" really all the time. I wonder if I'll ever get out of the dating game and find my happily ever after. I wonder if I'll still have the same friends when I graduate from college and move away. I self-criticize as if it's a form of habit I never got myself out of. I anxiously await moving back to Logan, so I can breathe and "just be happy again." 

I began to realize that I dug a hole for myself by repeating such harsh criticisms towards myself. Over and over and over again. I struggle to know if this deeply-rooted hardness of breath will ever leave my chest. It all just seems too much. How will I ever be happy again? I caught myself at a perfect moment of self-intervention, as I was driving home from the Twin Falls Temple, early Wednesday morning with two of my younger siblings. Before I closed my eyes upon returning to my bed, I wrote down a whole bunch of thoughts that had kept me awake the entirety of the way home.

Often, while pondering in the temple, I catch a glimpse of the temple workers as they help someone in need, or quietly observe. I think I can honestly say, I have never met a temple worker that didn't carry a heartfelt smile upon their face, or a twinkle in their eye. How is it they are always so incredibly happy? What is it that makes them decide to be so happy, even if it does happen to be 4:30 in the morning? The answer I came up with? They are in the service of their God.

I pondered this thought for a while. I am far from a morning person, but I still wake up early to be inside the holy temples. Every time I go, that ridiculously giddy smile spreads itself upon my face, without me even trying. But as I return home, the smile isn't always permanent. How can this be so? I discovered that in order to be happy, you have to have a sense of happiness that stems from somewhere. For me, it's the vibrant pinks and oranges of the sunrise as I return from the house of the Lord. It's the gentle nudge of my little sister stealing my blankets from off my bed, encouraging me that there is no better place I could be than in the service of my God. It's the bonding moment with my siblings as we joke about road construction, hungry birds and random songs on the radio. 

I caught myself at the perfect moment, in all honesty. When life gets hard, sometimes we just have to remember what it is we are fighting for. What is it that we want out of life? I simply discovered through a self-evaluation on that temple morning, what it is that I am really fighting for. What it is I truly desire more than anything. My personal joy and happiness, comes from service, service towards others through 4-H, through Girls State, through church, and in the temple. Although sometimes I forget what it is I'm fighting for, I am given a constant reminder as I simply "Go and Do." 

From this experience this week, of finding what I am all about, and what it is I truly desire, I came up with a few key points that I have been able to focus on this week that have changed my perspective on pretty much everything, even life itself. 

1. Happiness is a choice. Sometimes, it's the hardest choice you have to make, other than waking up in the morning. And sometimes, the hardest thing to do is remind yourself that you deserve happiness, even in the midst of the most challenging trials and the worst despair you have ever experienced. 

2. The even more beautiful thing is, that happiness is always waiting, even if you don't feel worthy of it. It will wait in the shadows, until you decide for yourself that its presence can and should be known in your life. Hard times will always come, but there is always something we can be happy about. 

3. Trials can turn our hard times into something beautiful. We may not always feel happy or able to smile, and sometimes, that's okay. We can feel sad. It's totally okay to cry it out every now and again. The important thing is that we need to pick ourselves up again and move on, and become the strongest person in our entire world. 

4. Life is worth it. Find some kind of indescribable joy in the journey. Find something that lights a fire of passion within you. And most importantly, find YOURSELF again.

5. Start living the life you have always imagined you could. If your current path doesn't make you happy, be willing to take a step in a different direction in order to find something better. Don't let fear take over. Let that fear work within you, to help you become the incandescently happy person you've always imagined you could be. 

YOU ARE WORTH IT. <3

Our Silver Linings

The saying, "Every cloud has a silver lining" has been bouncing around in my head for oh... the past several months or so, for several reasons. But now that I think about it, this entire semester has been full of silver linings, just a little less noticeable and prevalent, but still just as important.

Now, you might be asking, what in the world is a silver lining?

I know I have asked myself that question more than once, especially recently.

After much thought and life experience, I feel that I might have come up with an answer to this question. These life experiences have helped me discover that no one is exempt from a little rainstorm once in a while. Or if your life is like mine, every day seems like a rainstorm in one way or another.

Throughout my life, it has been mentioned how important it is to pay attention to the good, to the positive things that I have experienced and am experiencing in my life. "The good is what gets you through the trials of life" is often repeated in many different settings as college students try to make their way towards missions, marriage and even towards their future careers and a whole lot more schooling than they think they will need. It is also important to pay attention to those little tender mercies, and the things that our trials can teach us, with help from a loving Heavenly Father. That's where the silver lining phrase really comes in to play.

When things fell apart with my job at Bath and Body Works this past December, I was really concerned, and frankly disappointed. That is, until I was given the position of Staff Writer for the Utah Statesman two short months later, in February.

This was silver lining #1. I have loved every minute of it, even with its challenges, and my shortcomings. I have become a much better writer and person because of my coworkers, my articles, my interviews and my responsibilities. Frankly, it has been a saving grace in college work, and for my life.

I was given the opportunity to apply for a National 4-H Youth Advisory Committee, and although I wasn't accepted as a finalist to interview, the application process itself was a learning experience I will always cherish. Silver Lining #2

Having been a member of the USU Collegiate 4-H club has been a rewarding experience, and a good stress reliever for my busy college life. I have applied for officer positions every year since I became a student at Utah State, and while I have lost every office I have ever ran for, I have gained even more momentum and drive to continue in the club that I love, because of the amazing opportunities it has given me. Finally the day came, and I was given the title of Vice-President of Recruitment for this upcoming school year. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. I am super excited to serve with a group of really cool people, I can hardly wait. It is incredible what 13 years of 4-H experience and love for such a program can do for a person, and what it has done for me.

This was silver lining #3.

At the same time as these two 4-H opportunities arose, I started looking for summer employment, not exactly sure where life was leading me. I spent many nights a little more than frustrated, confused, and nervous. I also had days where I was ridiculously excited for the future, in more ways than I could express. Time went on and my adrenaline rush from school kicked in, I found the PERFECT summer job, as a summer 4-H intern for Cache County 4-H. Interviewing with the supervisor, and while discussing the ins and outs of the job description, something felt a little off, regardless I was happy to be interviewing for a position I was really passionate about, that I also had a background in.

Impatiently waiting for the storm to pass, I received some advice from a few trusted 4-H adults, who have been with me from the beginning of this journey. The silver lining definitely didn't come in the way I expected, and I can be honest that I wasn't quite ready when it came, but I had learned that I had to take what was coming, if I wanted to grow.  In fact, there really wasn't an exact answer. All I knew was that I hadn't received any correspondence or phone calls, letting me know that I either had or hadn't gotten the position at the Extension Office in Cache County. While I was a little bit heartbroken and a whole lot of lost, I continued to press forward. There was something waiting for me, and it was time to figure out just what it was.

Silver lining #4. 

After what felt like an eternity of "No's", I was determined that something just had to be a "Yes."

I was accepted to be a Collegiate Volunteer for the Idaho State 4-H Teen Association Convention this summer, and while I was super nervous, I knew that as long as my heart remained in the right place, it would all work out. While a million other curve balls have been thrown my direction that have deterred me from being able to attend, I am content. Not only am I content, but I am still going to be able to attend after completing my paperwork in just two days, in the very same weekend that I will be leaving for the Convention.

Silver lining #5.

Not only have I been blessed with so many incredible opportunities through the 4-H Program this year, but I have also been fortunate enough to attend the Girls State Program for the 5th year, (4th on staff). While this will be mentioned in more detail throughout other posts, I do have to say that I am incredibly grateful for such a great program. I am continuously blown away year after year by the delegates that attend, the caliber of the staff to help lead both us and them to greater heights, and for all that they are. I wouldn't be who I am without them. A huge hole would be left in my summer if it were not filled with Idaho Syringa Girls State.

Silver lining #6. 

Upon completion of my spring semester, I was given a specific job opportunity that I wasn't quite prepared for. Yet, despite my nervous excitement, I jumped in with both feet, packed in one night, and moved home, starting the job the day after I moved home. I may not have been in a very good place to pick up and move home this summer, but I do feel that I was given this obstacle to overcome for a reason. I now know a little bit more about the subject of law and criminal justice than I think I want to, but am determined that somehow, someway, it will assist me in my future. Although this job has been short-lived, I am incredibly grateful for the experience, and all that I have been able to learn. I can fully attest that it was one of the hardest jobs I have ever had, but the knowledge and expertise I have gained will be things that are not easily forgotten.

Silver lining #7.

I have been blessed with so many trials and challenges that I can honestly say have tried, tested and stressed me out beyond compare, even though they have all occurred within the past couple months. And the best part is, there is still so much to learn, that I'm not even aware of yet. My favorite actress has said that, "When God closes a door, somewhere he opens a window." (Julie Andrews) I can't even tell all of those reading how absolutely true and simple this is. Sometimes those closed doors are just God's way of telling us that there are more windows of opportunity just waiting for us, if only we choose to walk towards the light, and stay positive, regardless of what is being thrown our way.

I know that there is so much beauty to be found through these clouds and the dark and dreary rainstorms of life. We simply just have to be willing to search for the rainbows through the rain.

Somewhere... over the rainbow. 💛

Dear Future Husband

Dear Future Husband,

It feels as if I've been praying for you forever, but it also feels as if this journey has only just begun. I say journey because that's exactly what the past few years of my life have been.

I told myself that I would be patient for as long it took for God to bring our paths together. Some days were definitely better than others, that's for sure!

I pray for you and your welfare. That whatever struggles and trials you may be going through, that you will come out on top. I pray that you will more fully recognize God's hands in your life, and that you will let him direct your path for good.

I hope that you are doing well. I hope that you are making good decisions and are enjoying whatever comes your way. I hope that work or school or mission life is treating you decently and that these experiences are shaping your life well.

I sincerely wish only the best for you. Wherever you are, whatever you may be doing, even at this exact moment.

I sincerely believe that God has prepared me for someone special. I only hope I can also live up to those expectations God has set for my future companion, for you.

God has made me a better person through his preparations for me to meet you. I have felt his love and proddings many times. I have felt the loving guiding hands as he moved me into situations that he knew would inspire and encourage me to do better.

He chastened me when I went astray, and carried me home when my strength alone was not enough. He helped remind me of happier times to come when I remained at my weakest.

In this journey, I've learned to be patient.

Accepting the Lord's timing has never been easy, but I'm trying, for you. Because I know the wait will be worth it.

I am striving to become more Christlike, because that is what we've been asked to do.

I've also come to love myself more deeply than ever before. I'm learning to appreciate the little things and be more grateful of my shortcomings.

I am seriously the happiest I have ever been because of you. I decided a long time ago that happiness was going to become my new mantra. And that's exactly what happened. The past year has shown me that happiness is everywhere. I have discovered the TRUE me.

I have had many experiences that have taught me much, about myself, and eternity.

I have lost trust, I have been hurt, and thought I would never trust or find love again. I determined that whoever I married would have to be patient with me, and would have to be willing to move slow and help me through these trials.

But I have discovered HOPE. Hope that is possible because of YOU. God helped me see that someone would be able to see past my anxieties and fears about being close to someone again. He helped me to see past "the dating game." to who would hold my hand and walk beside me for eternity.

He gave me hope that you would be waiting, just around the corner (or a few corners).

He gave me this tingling feeling, that as long as I kept my goals in line with His, I would be led to you. He kept me focused on things of an eternal nature. Of the Holy Temple, of spiritual knowledge, and of my worth. He reminded me time and time again that I am a child of God with infinite worth.

He gave me peace of mind as all of my childhood and college friends began getting married, and I remained focused on school. He kept me wondering, questioning and excited for whatever was in store for my future.

He led me to you, in his own time and his own way.

He helped me love myself, so that one day I could be loved even more deeply by you. But also, so that I could learn to love you just as deeply.

And while waiting for you has been a huge lesson in patience... I couldn't wish for any greater lesson to be learned. Waiting for you has taught me more than I could have ever imagined. You have blessed my life immensely in so many ways. So thanks for being you. I can't wait to begin our crazy adventurous life together. I love you more than you could ever know.

Love,

Kortni

I Want to Be A....

Ever felt a little lost... confused...like your life is headed in all the wrong directions and you just can't catch a break? Guess what? You're definitely not alone. I've probably said this a lot, but this journey of my college life has definitely not been an easy one. But hey, this blog is for the sharing of my life and college struggles, so this seems like the most appropriate place to do such a thing, right?!

As previously mentioned, I'm changing my major for the third time. The decision to change was kinda sorta brought about by this "lost" feeling I have been struggling with for the time being. When I came to Utah State, I was dead set on Political Science, regardless of what anyone else had to say. I had grown up with a love of government, legislature related issues, participated in a weekend 4-H Conference for four years, attended a week long government camp(as a delegate and a staff member) and even worked in the Idaho Legislature. I thrived on government related issues, and thought it was the coolest thing in the world. As I started into my Political Science classes, along with generals, I found that I really didn't love what I was learning, I became disinterested and less excited. The longer I thought about it, and the longer I tried to convince myself that it would be okay and that I would make it through, the more I found myself in a constant state of fear and worry that something else was out there for me, and I simply had yet to discover it.

During my second year of school, I started talking to a girl in the student media booth on what they call "Day on the Quad". She told me about their opening meeting, and of course that pizza would be there, I took them up on their offer, and sure enough showed up for free pizza, but also to find out what this so called student media group was all about.

Little did I know what I would be getting myself into just a few short weeks later, when I received an email inviting me to write for the Utah Statesman. I was somewhat confused, and didn't realize that the process of giving my email to them would result in an unpaid internship, and a fun chance to write and gain experience in something that I loved. As my time at the Statesman continued, I met so many amazing people through writing and because of the internship, that I wouldn't have otherwise gotten to know anywhere else on campus. I felt like I had finally found my niche.

That is... until Journalism just felt strange to me. It felt like something was missing. I had just met with an advisor the previous semester to figure out what I could do to switch my major, make sure I was on track to receive my Associates' Degree, and make Political Science more of a minor, with Journalism as my major. I had a goal of becoming either a Legislator or a Legislative Reporter, and it was a dream that consumed my thoughts almost daily. (It got to a point where I wanted to pack up and move to Boise, if that tells you how dead set I was upon it.) I had worked tirelessly to make sure that I would be able to get into the Journalism program after this current semester. Nothing could stop me.

Until... I was given the position of Staff Writer for Student Media in the Student Life Section in February. I was so excited to improve my writing, get paid for it, and to continue learning all that I could to be prepared for this coming semester in Journalism intensive courses. One day, my coworker Shelby and I were sitting in the office talking about how confused and stressed we were about life.

At a lull in the conversation, she mentioned that she had been looking into Agricultural Communication and Journalism. As soon as she mentioned that, it was like a light bulb was beaming inside my head. In my free time, I began researching the major, trying to decide how much it would be worth it to dive into the classes this fall semester, considering I was four semesters away from graduation in Journalism. After serious consideration, and a noticeably positive mood change, I took the plunge to email the advisor and see what my options could be. Walking to her office in the coming days made me incredibly nervous, but with early registration on the brink and no real knowledge as to what classes to take, I forced up the courage. I found that talking about the major gave me an excitement I hadn't felt before, either with Political Science, or Journalism.

Both the Journalism advisor and the Agricultural Communications advisor were super helpful and so nice. I felt a calming yet excited and energized feeling, amidst the anxiousness I had felt so much before. I loved being able to be open and honest with my new Journalism advisor, who shared with me that it's okay to take my time in college, and to take time to figure everything out.

It's okay to enjoy this time of being young, because one day it will come to me, and I'll know what it is that I should do. It was seriously probably some of the greatest advice I have received in my three years of college. My advisor also told me, who cares if it takes me three more years to complete my degree. She has completed 30 semesters, and still isn't sure what she wants to do, yet has two degrees, and a fascination for almost everything.

It was at that point that I discovered that I have a true passion for Agriculture, and writing. I want to do something to give back to the farm communities of Southern Idaho that have given so much to me. I want to make an impact for good on the community and those around me. I have a love of people and animals and a desire to share those stories with others.

My Farm Literature professor mentioned today, that we can all make a difference in the community. Of course I've been told this time and time again. But part of what she said really resonated with me and made me realize what role I really do have to play in this great big world. She mentioned that we all have an influence on agriculture, and just as much of an influence as agriculture has on us. She explained that we can all have an influence on policy making in the agricultural world, for those who may be illiterate so to speak of the agricultural world and communities in which we all live.

It was then that I knew that I wanted to make a difference, and be that voice for people who aren't able or willing to be that voice for themselves and their communities around them.

I am both a little nervous and extremely excited for this new endeavor, and hope that it will be a positive and joyful experience for me. I do not know what is to come, but I do know that I can hardly wait to see what lies in store! And just as my advisor mentioned, eventually I'll figure out what it is I'm meant to do. I can hardly wait to find out just what that is.

Onward and upward!

The Life of a College Kid

It's two days away from the first day of April. College students, especially Aggies, are dreaming of the days they can shut their text books for the summer months, and soak up all the sunshine. The loss of motivation is real, especially for me. I think of the projects I have three weeks to finish, the essays and articles that still need to be written, and the exams that I still have to study for. It's easy to feel a whole ton of anxiety in this time period. In fact, it's quite normal here in Universityland.

(I'm talking it pretty much consumes my every day life here)

As I walked down the hall of the student center today, I caught my financial aid advisor's attention, and she asked me how things are going, and to keep chugging along, that I would make it to the end of the semester.

I'm in the process of changing my major for the third time. And yes I've counted. There always seems to be a tinge of doubt when I change my major, and the same questions seem to follow me every time. Am I doing what I need to do for me? What am I going to do with the skills I learn? Will this benefit my future?

But something stops me in my thoughts.

I'm at the university I only dreamed of attending in high school. I've made it through three long and painful years. I've learned, I've joked. I've laughed, I've cried, (and a mixture of the two). I've dealt with loneliness, fatigue, and have lost a friend or two. Who am I to tell myself I can't make it through three more years if I have to?

The point to all this... is that I've LIVED. One more month doesn't define my college career. It means I'm one step closer to finding out who I'm meant to be. Who I want to be. For me. College is a stressful, emotional, tear-filled package. But it's also a time of self-discovery. Of joy, of love, of laughter and memories. It's the 2 am phone calls with your best friend that lives 4 hours away. The glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, when you feel like there isn't any possible way you could travel much further. That one institute message of hope from one day, that ends up becoming your saving grace to get you through the whole week.

This month is going to be a hard one. That I can almost for certain guarantee. But I know that when I close my textbooks, and walk away from the dog-eared notebooks, the hard nights and tears will all be worth it.

And that will make all the difference.

It Takes All Kinds of Melodies to Make a Glorious Symphony

For those who may not know what Girls State is, it is a program sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, for girls who have just finished their Junior Year of High School. Both Girls and Boys State are held in June one week after each other. Girls and Boys State is a once in a lifetime experience that attendants will not regret.

Delegates who attend Girls’ State are split up into cities upon arrival. Cities are where girls spend a majority of their time while at Girls State. Each city usually has a Senior Counselor and Junior Counselor to oversee the city, and to offer help where needed. Counselors are seasoned women who have either attended Girls State themselves, or have some connection to the American Legion Auxiliary. Junior Counselors are past delegates that have a strong desire to give back to the program, who are passionate in helping our future leaders become better. 

 

When asked to describe Girls State, its' pretty likely that one will get a variety of different responses from different people. It's kind of something you just have to experience in order to understand. Put simply, Girls State is a lot like life. You're thrown into an organized conference for a week with strangers, and have to learn to make the best of it. But just like the ride of life that we all experience, it makes us better. More capable. Stronger. Better leaders. And so much more. Girls State is all about developing a love of patriotism, self-worth, and a desire to make the world around you a better place. It’s making lifelong friends and memories that you will have for the rest of your life. It's about establishing connections that will be there to support and inspire you for the rest of your future.

Each year I have been able to learn something new that I can apply to my life at that exact moment in time, in whatever I am going through. Each director, or overall leader of Girls State is unique in her own way, giving life and vibrancy to the Girls State Program each passing year, with a desire to help shape the program into something even a little bit greater than it was the year before.

This year’s theme: “It Takes All Kinds of Melodies to Make a Glorious Symphony” was really cool because it was something I really hadn’t given much thought to before. I love how Kaylene Burtenshaw approached the subject of how we all come from different backgrounds, which gives us all individual harmonies and melodies to sing. In the end, we all come together as one symphony, shaped by the individual experiences we have each had.  I tried to remember that concept throughout the week in more detail than before. Each city was the name of a musical instrument, and from what I saw, each Counselor had a different way of explaining and incorporating their individual instruments into the week, which was actually really cool.

I had the opportunity to work with Emily Stearman(used to be Hathaway) who was actually the Girls State Governor my delegate year. I have looked up to her from the first time she addressed us. I loved the poise and grace that she possessed, and how she made each and every one of us feel loved and appreciated, even though she barely knew a little junior girl from Burley, Idaho. I loved every minute of preparation and was extremely excited to be able to work with Emily that I just let everyone know whenever I had a chance. I know Emily spent months praying for the girls that we would be blessed to lead over, and I know that I tried my hardest to think about how I could help the girls as well, even though we really knew nothing about them, except for their names and where they were from. Emily even came up with the idea of making dream catchers for our girls, and we spent the weekend before Girls State in Rexburg with a lot of feathers, glue, thread, and lots and lots of laughter.

I’ll just preface this by saying that this year of Girls’ State was unlike any others. I was super nervous for what this year would bring, considering it was technically my first year as a Junior Counselor. Luckily I had Emily to help keep me calm, and to be excited for me, and to remind me that this was going to be the best year ever. I believe she was right.

Once we got all settled in and had some staff bonding experiences at Red Robin and Texas Roadhouse, and the annual Rice Krispie Treat cereal breakfast, we were ready for our crazy and exciting week to start. Emily and I were witnesses to so many amazing moments, from watching the girls dance around to Stand by You by Rachel Platten, which eventually became our city’s adopted song for the week, to bonding moments rallying around each other after a big win or loss in elections, to our last night of vespers where we bawled for two hours, and everything in between. It was an amazing feeling to know that God had entrusted Emily and I with his beautiful daughters, and that they were placed in our care for a reason.

This year’s theme fit perfectly with Kaylene’s vision. With a smaller group of girls than we have had in the past, I feel like everyone was so close and had such a good time, which made saying goodbye at the end of the week really hard. Each of those girls came to Girls State for a different reason. Each came from a different background, with different experiences.  Each girl hopefully left with a resolve to do good in her community, to educate those around her on what she has learned, and a hope for a brighter future. The girls that are chosen from all over Idaho to represent their hometowns at Girls State are EXTRAORDINARY.

 

Of course you can't picture or even begin to describe Girls State without the random dance party aspect, and the talent that staff members have of bursting into song at any moment in time. (It's a gift I swear). Kaylene added another aspect to this, by announcing during our staff meetings that we would be doing a staff flash mob at some point during the week. We were skeptical but excited and after watching Kaylene's wicked choreographer dance moves, we knew it would be one to remember. Oh were we right. The delegates had no idea it was coming, and it still remains one of my favorite memories of this year's Girls State. We danced to "Fight Song" which struck a chord with me. It was great to bust a move and be okay making a complete fool of myself with my favorite people.  

It is also incredible how much the staff is able to learn from this experience as well. Each year that I have the opportunity to participate as a Staff Member at Girls State has given me lessons I will remember for the rest of my life. The mentoring that Junior Staff members are able to give to the delegates, as well as the coaching that Senior Staff members are able to give to Junior Staff and delegates is fascinating.

I love that the Idaho Girls State Program has a sense of tradition attached to it. I love the Opening Ceremony with the flag-folding presentation, and the singing of “God Bless the USA.” I love the Girls State Song, the memorable day at the Capitol and the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery. I love the individual traditions that the staff members have with each other that continue year after year. The rice krispie treat cereal breakfast, stuffing our faces with cupcakes and frosting, and the cute sentimentality of an individual trinket or vesper handout that has individual meaning and value. The Idaho Dinner with fancy dresses and lots of pictures, and Inaugaration where we get a chance to wish these beautiful girls good luck and farewell as they continue on their life journeyings.

This year was incredibly special for me to be able to feel what every other Senior and Junior Counselor has felt… the power that comes from influencing another woman for good. In the world we live in, sometimes it is hard to feel that we are able to make a difference in a society that is so focused on male domination, with little respect for females and the role that they can and will play in government. By being able to watch my city girls participate, for those that will potentially lead our government in the future. I love the sense of unity and power that unites us as women. It has been incredibly amazing to watch the girls that come through the Girls State Program, and the example that they set for others.

It was amazing for me to see that girls can rally together and help one another in their struggles. My city girls astonished me. Their accomplishments before coming to Girls State, the way in which they led our city, the friendships they formed with each other, and the unity that kept them in high spirits all week. The way that they all supported and encouraged one another, and so much more. At our talent night, they surprised Emily and I by performing a group dance to the song Stand By You, by Rachel Platten, complete with a slideshow and two of the girls running off the stage to come get us and enveloping us into a group hug with our entire city. If that doesn’t make you cry, I don’t know what will.

 

Girls State has touched my heart in many ways. But it has done more than that. It has changed my life. I am a better person because of my participation. I have learned so much about myself, my personality, my leadership traits and skills, and how to work with others. I have developed lifelong friendships that I hope will never disappear. I have listened to heart-warming stories of friendship and sacrifice, heartache and suffering, which only leaves me with one desire. To make others around me feel loved and cared for. Throughout the week that Emily and I had to spend with our 22 amazing girls, I couldn't help but feel grateful. There were so many little moments that touched my heart, and reminded me of the many reasons I continue to return every summer to help out with this program. I know that my part to play is but a small one. As I have made these little discoveries, I've watched so many others who have been to Girls State lots and lots of time, put hours and hours of work into one week, all because they have a desire to be a volunteer and to give back to a program that somehow touched each and every one of them individually as well. The fact of the matter is, we all have an important role to play. We are helping to cultivate future leaders.

 

Girls State is about more than the rumored “Political Bootcamp” title that is put off by others. It’s more than ice cream for every meal, and late nights that leave you delusional from a lack of sleep. It’s about the memories created, the friendships formed, and the knowledge that is gained by participating in something you may not know much about. In the end, it makes you a better person. It makes you more willing to love those who may be different from you. It gives you something to remember, long after that week is over.

 

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Girls State is something that will forever remain a part of me. I couldn’t imagine my life without the Girls State program. I thank my lucky stars every day to be surrounded by these wonderful amazing people, and for the light that they have given my life. I am a completely different person because of my involvement in the Girls State Program, and I couldn’t be more appreciative of the lessons I have learned and the things that I have been taught.  I will live the rest of my life in support of the Girls State program, and all that it stands for. These future leaders are teaching us, just as much if not more than we are teaching them.

It truly does take "All Kinds of Melodies to Make a Glorious Symphony."

 

The Most Tender of Mercies

School... College...Life... has all been very stressful, especially as of late. As midterms and the winter blues capture us, it seems like spring break is three weeks away, instead of two days. In these moments, it's sometimes hard to stay happy, smile at the strangers or friends we pass on campus, and keep a positive attitude. We are all facing hard days, but simply dwelling on our hard days only makes things seem more unbearable.

Recently I've had to take a step back, and reflect on the little things of my life, that have really become some of the biggest blessings. Today was one of those days that I felt deserved reflection.
Midterms have me more stressed than I'll get out. The test anxiety, the struggle to breathe, and the overwhelming fear of passing or failing looms over my head in a feeling that I just can't seem to get rid of.

But, I'm not here to make anyone more depressed, so I'll stick to the Sunny Side of things, or the positive for now. Like the crazy laughter of two college friends stuck in the library for way too long, way too late at night, when we just couldn't hold it in any longer, or the opportunity to listen to a Literature professor sing while playing the guitar.Or joking with classmates that the song we just listened to for an entire class period is now in fact stuck in our heads.

I have been working on an article for the school paper for about a week and a half before finally feeling that it was satisfactory enough to submit to my content manager and editor. I read the comments that my editor had made, in which she told me I had done a good job, and that my hard work showed through my writing. Those simple compliments gave me the needed push for me to submit my other article due today as well as stay motivated to keep studying for one of my midterms today, when I was ready to give in, and stop for the time being.

During our weekly Statesman meeting, our manager suggested the idea for a little activity to get our creative juices flowing, where we all picked our one favorite song for the moment. Our manager played a little bit of each one, and we were all asked to write about the stories behind the song we chose, and our personal connection if we so desired. The song I chose has been a personal favorite of mine since I found it not too long ago, entitled "Sunny Side Up" from Martina McBride. I couldn't help but smile as I wrote about the personality of the song, and how happy that it has made me since I found it. It was fun to take a little breather from the stresses of school and homework, and sit in a room full of people I respect, and laugh with. I love being able to catch up with my coworker and friend, Shelby when I'm having a hard time or need to relieve stress. Our conversations have cheered me up more than I can count, and I'm incredibly grateful that Girls State brought me to such an amazing girl.

As I waited for the bus on campus, I ran into a friend of mine I haven't seen in a while, and was able to catch up with her. She recently got engaged, and is always so good to sit and listen to whatever is happening in my life. And she offers some of the best advice. She even sat on a bus stop bench with me, just to listen to me, when she could have said she had things to get done and left me to my own thoughts.

Making the trip home on the bus is usually a time for me to reflect on the day, and I'll admit, for an awful lot of people watching. But tonight as I got on the bus to come home, I couldn't help but watch as a middle aged man and his two young daughters sat down just before I did. I have seen this man many times with his girls, but have never really had a chance to engage in conversation with them. As they sat down together in the seats just in front of me, I smiled. The couple sitting across the aisle from them talked to the little girls, while I watched the middle-aged dad in one of the best teaching moments I have ever heard. It caught my curiosity, and testing my people-loving nature, I finally got up the courage to mention to him how cute his girls were. He smiled at me, and proceeded with his teaching moment with his girls. They introduced themselves to me just before I got off the bus. It was probably the most I've smiled in a long while. I told them my name, and said have a good night. I grinned the entire way to my apartment. I couldn't help myself.

A little while after I had gotten home, there was a knock on my door. It just so happened to be a couple friends from my ward, who are ward mission leaders. We sat and talked for a little while, and in our conversation, a thought simply came to me that Heavenly Father was mindful of me, and knew what I needed at that exact moment, even when I didn't.

Even now as I am writing this, I can see the reasons I felt so impressed to share with someone other than myself. Life is hard. But even in the roughest of hours or days, there is always something more to learn. Look for the tender mercies within your personal life. There are so many wonderful things in life that we can be grateful for. Sometimes the littlest things take up the most room in our hearts and make the biggest difference. We simply just have to be willing to look.