I'm growing

It's sometimes easier for us to list all of our weaknesses than our strengths, but it's also more personal. Maybe I need to focus more on what I'm doing right for a change. So, I'm going to write down some things that have helped me grow throughout this last year. It has been a great year, and a year for a lot of growth for me. So many things have changed for me. I've gone through my last semester of high school, and first semester of college this year. I've started a new job, met new friends, said good-bye to old ones, and learned new things. I'll start at the beginning of 2011:

-finishing high school was rough. Not academically exactly, but emotionally. Saying good-bye is never easy. I said good-bye to class mates that I may never see again. I said good-bye to close friends I love a lot, but may go a long time without seeing. I said good-bye to great teachers. I said good-bye to seminary and my school. I said good-bye to eating in the hallways or outside with my friends everyday, singing in the auditorium, standing in long lines at lunch, my goofy English class, and chanting our graduation year during assemblies. Especially difficult for me, was saying good-bye to choir. I was dreading the moment since I grew to love it my freshman year. I was forced to say good-bye to it my graduation day, and it tore my heart to do it. But, I feel I've grown from saying good-bye and moving on. High school can't last forever (and really, thank goodness it doesn't :)),  but there were many good things about it that I still miss. I especially miss my friends, teachers, seminary, and choir. If Provo high choir could last forever, in the good moments that I remember it by, then I would be okay with that. :) But it doesn't, and it was my time to go, and I felt it. I've moved on, but a part of my heart will always belong to it.

-starting the singles ward. I was terrified, but it turned into a great experience. There are great people there, and I feel welcome. I've made great new friends. I've grown from having a calling and doing visiting teaching. It's great to realize that high school childishness (yes, I can call it that now) has pretty much disappeared. Everyone is welcoming, there aren't really any cliques, and everyone, no matter how different, can be friends. No popularity issues anymore. It's so nice!

-starting institute during the summer. I went with a friend I met in seminary and we were visibily both terrified. :) It was our first college experience and we truly felt like freshmen again. But, it turned out good, and it helped ease my transition into college life.

-starting college. One word, terrifying. At first, anyways. :) I progressively started getting used to it, and became more comfortable and confident.  It helped that it wasn't as scary or hard as I thought it was going to be. I understood things, got good grades overall, learned a ton of new things, and stepped out of my comfort zone. I've felt like my eyes have been opened greatly to new understanding and I feel I've embraced learning new things. It's been an amazing experience.

-starting my job. I feel like it's something I'm supposed to do, and it's teaching me a lot of new things. It's giving me great experience, money that I need :), and helping me grow in confidence and skills. It was scary at first, but I'm getting experienced now.

Here goes my last semester of freshman year. Weird, but good. I need another semester as a freshman, but it's nice not to be so new anymore. Now for the big decisions.

Here goes...