Graduation and Life After

Why must we make the most important decisions without knowing how they'll turn out?

Four years ago I made perhaps one of the biggest decisions of my life; I decided to continue my education by attending a small college in Cedar City, Utah. I was completely terrified by my choice. I would be attending a school a considerable distance from my house where everyone was a complete stranger. This was a huge leap for me as I rarely did anything alone. As the time grew near to leave for my first year I tried to look for every excuse to get out. If only I could attend the local community college for just a year I'd be more ready to head out. No one gave me permission however and not wanting regrets I packed up my favorite things and I left for the unknown.

I knew I'd made the right choice the minute I moved into Juniper Hall. Everyone was so nice. My roommate was amazing, my hallmates were very friendly and everyone else I met seemed to have a permanent smile attached to their face. As I walked around campus the following week I began falling into a rythmn. I already had a large group of friends (friends that I swear I had known for a lifetime not just a week), my teachers and classes were wonderful, and the student ward I attended felt like a second home. I belonged. I belonged in this place that a week earlier I had been dreading coming to.

I look back now at my freshman self and am so grateful that I followed through. I can't imagine what my life would be like now if I hadn't gone to Southern Utah University. So much of who I am today has been shaped by that institution and the people that attend there.

On Saturday, May 2, I had the bittersweet opportunity to don a cap and gown and attend graduation. This event that could never come fast enough I soon found came too soon. Four years is far too short a time. As I stood in line waiting to walk through campus towards the centrum where the commencement was to take place, I started thinking about all of the wonderful memories I've had at this place. I suddenly felt sick at the idea of leaving. How could I leave when I hadn't done all I wanted to?

Walking through campus in the graduation line was so surreal. It honestly felt like a dream... The day went by in such a blur that only a few highlights really stick out to me:

1. All of the professors line the sidewalks and have the graduates walk between them. While the graduates walk past all of the professors are clapping and cheering for them. This was definitly one of the things that really choked me up. What an honor!

2. The speakers at graduation were amazing (Yes - including President Monson!). They all had great messages and words of wisdom for the graduates.

3. Family. All day I had the constant companionship of my family. I am so grateful for their support and their love!

4. Walking into the School of Business Graduation Ceremony and seeing so many of my favorite professors (and getting hugs from a few).

5. Feeling incredibly anxious as I waited for my row to be led up to to the stage. They had seperated all of the HRHM graduates by last name and mixed us with Business Management students. Right before we got to the stage one of the HRHM graduates called out to the others and we all jumped in line in front of others (with their permission!) so that we could all walk one after another. It was amazing!

6. Hearing my name and walking across that stage. This was it. What I had worked four years for. It was finally here... I shook hands with the Dean and posed for pictures from photographers. After them I was greeted by my brother and my Dad - got hugs and then went back to my seat. I couldn't stop smiling :-)

7. I gave my parents a quick tour of campus and ran into two of my favorite professors Dr. Lisa Assante and Dr. Sophi Sukalakamala. My parents talked with them for a while and my professors kept praising me - I blushed a lot...

8. Taking pictures with my friends. Dani, Lindsey and I met up on campus and took pictures together. I love these girls! It was so great to be with these wonderful people who had made such a dramatic impact in my life. I would not be who I am today with their love and friendship.

Its been a few weeks since that eventful day. Although I've had some time to let it sink in... it hasn't. I can't believe I've really graduated! Eventually it will sink in but definitely not for a while :-)

Since I've been home I've had a few eventful things happen:

1. I got accepted in the the MBA (Masters of Business Administration) program at SUU. I'm SO excited to be going back in the fall! I know that it would probably be a smarter move to get my Masters degree somewhere else but the transition into the program was easy, the program is highly accredited and has great professors, and I get to be in Cedar City for another year with my friends! That and it wasn't really a question of where else to go - When I first started considering the masters program (in the beginning of April) I knew it was a long shot I'd get accepted since I had made this decision late in the game. When I started pursuing the program however, everything fell into place. Everything. I'm still so amazed by it all...

2. I've worked a few events for the Girl Scouts and have been able to help plan camp and spend time with camp buddies

3. We got our adorable puppies! Cookie and Sheila - they have definitely made life interesting in the Nielsen household! It's literally a 24/7 babysitting job

4. I have been able to spend a TON of time with my best friends. I love our wacky selves and our crazy adventures. It makes my life a whole lot better :-)

And now for some pictures to sum things up!

Graduation:

<-- My whole family and me! <-- Professors Lisa and Sophi
<-- CJ and me!

<-- My Dani and me :-)

<-- This picture just makes me smile

<-- Lindsey and me!

Rockclimbing with the Girl Scouts!

<--Bryan and Tim Tam Slam!

<-- Snickerdoodle and Kat

<-- I love this photo of us!

Our New Puppies!

<-- Attacking Dad

<-- This is little Sheila
<-- This is Cookie!

Parties with friends:

<-- Dani and me (precious huh?)

<-- Our fun BBQ! From left: Kate, Sarah, Lindsey, Steve, Kelly, Dani and Bryan

<-- At Dani's Bridal Shower :-)

< -- Kidnapping Bryan for his Birthday :-) Kate and I took him to Ikea in a blindfold and when we finally let him take it off we were waiting with a Twinkie and candles (FYI Bryan hates Ikea :-)

March In a Blog

Hey! Sorry I haven't been here in a while! I kept meaning to post all of March and kept putting it off and putting it off... oops! March was a VERY eventful month so (like the last blog) instead of telling you about it I'm going to show you. Ready? Begin!

So on the second of March I fractured my toe - Awesome! I was sitting on a chair at the library and was scooting it and got my toe underneath it. It hurt! So for the first few weeks I got to wear this awesome thing and limp around places!

It's always a party at our house! (literally!)

The first weekend in March I headed up to Washington with my awesome Honors peeps to go present at a conference! Here are a few highlights...

This is the plane we flew in. We called it a small plane and got chewed out by the captain who accidentily overheard us. Apparantely - with over an 80 foot wing span this is classified as a large aircraft (despite the fact that it IS small!)

So small that we danced on it!

The Hotel we stayed at was INCREDIBLE! 5 star!!

We had fun going to presentations...

... and presenting. Only 4 non SUU people showed up to our presentation - 1 left halfway through, 1 was Amy Loveless' brother, another was his friend, and the last was some random lady who was really nice to us :-)

Here at Honors Conference people are GREAT spellers! (Check out our college name)

We ran into Amy's brother Jason! It was very random but very awesome!

We had a ton of fun with our bathrobes! (the sign of a true 5 star hotel ;-)

We splurged and bought room service (just as yummy as it looks!)

We're spelling out PAM in case you couldn't tell (PAM are a part of our honors class from last semester (the one with all of the presentation, seminars, and awesomeness :-) )

Over all we were just silly and had a blast!

I love us :-) This is everyone that went from our school.

This is by far the coolest picture that was taken on this trip! A picture of a picture :-)

After Washington I was in Cedar for a week and then it was spring break! Some friends and I decided it would be awesome to go to California and so we did! What follows are (again) some highlights from the trip - so amazing! It was great to have a "real" spring break for once (I usually just go home and do nothing). Man I love my friends!

Here is a video of us waiting for Bryan so we can finally leave... The plan was to leave at 7:30 but it came around and there was no Bryan... we were thrilled...

About 30 seconds after I turned my camera guess who showed up?

Bryan!

We all took turns putting air in the tires :-)

While exploring LA, we happened upon some random Egyptian pathway and decided it was a great opportunity to take pictures! What follows is me teaching Justin archery (using my awesome knowledge acquired for camp) and Kate teaching Bryan how to stab himself... go Egyptian artists!

Upon further exploration of LA we found some more interesting things...

Like the way to OZ and the way to Hollywood (both shown with Bryan leading the way)

The boys outside the Chinese Theater

All of us posing with the Hollywood sign (the tiny, distant thing in the back)

After using the hot tub - ow ow!

DISNEYLAND!!!!

Waiting in the forever long lines

Kate tried to keep me away from the treasure... but of course she failed!

Breaking Free

Danger on the Indiana Jones Ride! Good thing Kate's around to save the day!

Bryan and I doing our best to make sense of the secret codes

Posing at the front gate!

Battle of the Teacups! (Bryan and I totally kicked trash!)

The following is a video taken 13 1/2 hours after our arrival to Disneyland. We are tired, sore and have chosen to go on It's a Small World for our last ride of the night... bad idea...

The beautiful beach we went to the next day!

Where we buried Bryan in the sand...

Unfortunately all good things must come to an end... We got back from Cali about midweek at which time we all went our seperate ways to our homes for the remainder of the week...

While at home, my Dad and I went up to visit a lady from his work whose dog had had puppies. We weren't sure were were going to get one but when Dad picked up the runt and she immediately bit his nose we were sold - Nala was the runt and that is exactly what she used to do. A few weeks later we went up again and spotted a puppy sitting all by herself. My Mom asked if she'd been claimed. After finding out that she wasn't Mom picked her up and the puppy came alive - she was so cute! Thus! We came to the decision to get TWO puppies!! The first one is named Sheila and is the only one we have pictures of (we didn't decide to get the second til after we'd left :-( ). The second one is named Cookie cuz she's a sweet heart. After graduation they'll be ready to be picked up - we're so excited!

All the puppies...

Isn't she just so cute!

Anyways! That about wraps up the month of March! Now I know that we're near the end of April and trust me - I'll be updating about that month shortly.