The Simple Act of Expression

For our last MCOM assignment we had to write about what writing means to us and then post it on our blog. Enjoy!

What does writing mean to me? If you asked me this question four months ago, my answer would be nothing. I saw writing as a nuisance. Writing was a stumbling block in the road, not the journey. At the beginning of the semester, I thought that becoming a good writer was not important to my business career. However, I approach the end of this semester on bended knee, retracting my statements as quickly as I previously issued them. As I look back on this semester I realized a surprising trait about myself; I love writing. When typing words on the screen I get lost in the moment. The world stops, and all I see are my thoughts being blurted across my MacBook.

At this point, let me make one thing clear. Writing does not come easy to me. I have been staring at this screen for 25 minutes now, with one paragraph to show for it. I compose a sentence, revise it, delete it, and then start again. My writing routine is extremely slow. The thought process in my head, with its unique string of thoughts and words, is what I enjoy the most about writing. Ideas flow in from every direction and only a select few are privileged enough to be expressed. Articulating my thoughts in a coherent matter is harder than I believed it would be. Writing consumes my thoughts, and I willingly give my brain to the topic at hand. Immersing myself in writing this semester has caused me to not only think different, but to approach the world different. Each situation in my life can become inspiration for a tweet, a blog post, or a journal entry.

Going forward, I hope to keep writing as much as I am now. Without practice, my writing will not progress. I now have the desire to be a great writer, not just a good one. After taking this class, I have decided to become an English minor with the hopes of improving my writing. As an accounting major, I need a small amount of creativity in my life. Debits and credits just don’t do it for me. My perception of writing is forever changed since taking this class, and I hope to continue to evolve my writing style. As I began to see how influential my writing could be I stopped talking the simple act of writing for granted. I can express my thoughts. And if I do it eloquently enough, people will listen. That simple statement holds all the power in the world. I can influence people – through a business report, a persuasive letter, or a blog post – if I desire too. All it takes are a few well-written words and a listening audience.

After Finals

After finals. This is the most common phrase spoken in my apartment lately. How sad is that! Life down in Provo revolves around one week, finals week. Life will be fun after finals. I will talk to my parents after finals. I will go to the gym after finals. Finals finals finals. I can't wait for the day when that one word doesn't take over all my thoughts and actions.

Unfortunately, that day is not going to come for a long time. Right now, I am looking at three more years of school. For those of you who can't add, that means I have anywhere from 6-12 more weeks of finals. I don't know if I will be able to survive all those tests. Focusing on finals becomes harder each semester. This year, I have some awesome distractions taking my attention away from finals. Hopefully my grades won't suffer! So, see ya later blogsphere. I will come back to you after finals.

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My mom is awesome. I don't know what I would do without her in my life. She is my best friend and my therapist. My mom is there on good days, on bad days, and on days when no one else is on my side. Even though I see her maybe once a week, I know she would be here in a second if I needed her. Her life is crazy busy right now. Even with her stressful holiday agenda, she has managed to take significant time out of her schedule this week to just talk. Her ability to understand where I am coming from and guide me is an amazing blessing in my life! She always tells me what I need to hear, even if it's not exactly what I want to hear.

With the busyness of life, I don't think I let my mom know often enough how much I appreciate her. Life rushes by and I find myself not expressing the gratitude that I should. This week, to show my mom I was thinking of her during a hectic time, I decided to send her flowers. I didn't tell anyone in my family about it and kept saying a silent prayer that the flowers would be delivered on time! Luckily, proflowers.com stayed on schedule and delivered them Friday morning (yes, that is a shout out to my favorite - proflowers.com - use them if you ever want to send someone beautiful flowers!).

Mom, with each day I become more grateful that you are my mom. I am glad people act like we are twins when they meet us, even if I don't always show it. I can't imagine anyone else I would want to be the second half of! You are an incredible example to me. I love you so much and can't wait for all the great experiences in our future!
Love,
Your favorite (and only) daughter.

Winter Wonderland.

Adjusting to the winter season is hard. Utah goes from perfect temperatures and beautiful colors to a white, frigid wasteland. I can't leave the apartment without wrapping myself in multiple layers, only to take them off once I get to school. While I don't appreciate winter weather, there is one thing I love about this time of year- the holidays.

For me, the holidays are a breath of fresh air. Each year, we get to pause our lives for just a second. Life comes to a halt as we do what is most important, spending time with the people we care about. Don't get me wrong; November and December are definitely busy. Life is packed with parties, Christmas shopping, and finals. However, none of that seems to matter in comparison to spending time with family and friends. I look forward to watching snowstorms, drinking hot chocolate, and celebrating the holidays with those important to me. This year, I am blessed to have an awesome group of people around me to celebrate the holidays with. I couldn't ask for anything more!

Empire State of Mind.

I love New York. For the unfortunate few who haven't been there, New York City is like no other city on this earth. I walk on to the island and I feel inspired. The skyscrapers, the parks, the architecture and the people are incredible. In New York I feel like if I work hard enough, any dream I have ever had can and will come true.

This past weekend, I was able to travel to New York on a trip with the Investment Banking Club. We spent two days in meetings hearing the different opportunities of a variety of different firms. This trip was eye opening to say the least. I learned more about myself than I could have elsewhere. It's funny how being put in an uncomfortable, unique situation brings more clarity into life than normal activities.

Thanks Mom and Dad for allowing me to fly all the way across the country, by myself, to experience this on my own! You are the best examples in my life. Life would be dull and horrible without you. I love you both!

Touchdown Jesus and the Windy City.

This weekend I found myself off to Chicago with my family. It was a quick trip with no time to relax. Chicago was a lot different than expected. The Windy City has wide streets, few skyscrapers, and way too much open sky. It doesn't have a "city" feel! We spent Friday morning on a frigid river tour of the city’s architecture. We then rushed to the Art Institute of Chicago for a quick run through. I saw some Monet (my favorite), Renoir, Picasso, and the beautiful Seurat (ever seen Ferris Bueller's Day Off?). We finished our day by riding around on the L, and going to the top of Willis, formerly Sears, tower. The view of the city was beautiful!

Saturday we woke up bright and early to start our journey down to South Bend, Indiana. Our day started off in style; we rode down to Notre Dame in a stretch Navigator limo, complete with pink and green neon lights and “ostrich” leather seats. After a long, rainy, windy day at Notre Dame, we walked away with wounded pride. The Utes, previously ranked fifth in the nation, had just gotten destroyed by a team of rookies, the Notre Dame Irish. Oh well, at least I can cheer for BYU with no shame now! After another long two and a half hour drive back to Chicago, it was off to CPK then back to the hotel for some much needed rest.

Now I am home and have three days to recoup before a weekend in my beloved NYC. Happy Sunday!

Word of the Day.

nacreous.

What does this word bring to mind? To me, nacreous could mean overwhelming. As in, "this is a nacreous situation." Or nacreous could be defined as "the act of being irritated." Then it would be used in the following sentence, Amy was nacreous when she came home from a bad date.

When I look at a word I haven't seen before, my imagination goes wild. Each word is a cause for an interesting vocabulary. After I learn a new word, every sentence becomes an occasion to experiment. Does the word fit here? Can I change it to an adverb, make it a noun, or use it as an adjective? The English language is full of endless possibilities. With countless words, speaking English can be a unique experience each time. Try it some time. Don't use your normal vocabulary. Stretch beyond what you know and express yourself in a new way. Sure, people will look at you weird. Sure, you will break the "status quo." But, your mind will expand and your creativity will grow!

Oh ... and by the way, nacreous by definition means lustrous and pearly. Nacreous originates from the word nacre- the shellfish that yields mother-of-pearl. I provided the word, now expand your mind! Take this word and experiment!

All Hallow's Eve.

The time of year has arrived for ghouls, goblins, and jack-o-lanterns. Today, campus was taken over by cows, fairies, and a dead Santa Claus. Halloween is here! Right now college girls everywhere are getting all dolled up. Meanwhile, college-age boys try to get their scare on. That sounds pretty great, right? Only one problem, I don't like Halloween. So where does that leave me? No only do I hate picking out costumes, but the candy always makes me sick.

My roommates think I am lame, but I can't help it. I was born this way. My parents don't like Halloween either. I honestly cannot remember the last time I dressed up. But let me tell you a secret ... I like it that way. Halloween is only an excuse to be someone you are not. I don't want that. I think being myself is pretty darn great. So Happy Fall! Enjoy the last weekend of October for all its ghouly goodness, because November is just around the corner!

Nothing

How much can you say about nothing? Nothing can describe any situation. Nothing has no prejudices and no boundaries. It fills any open space with, well, nothing. Some days fly by with nothing. I can't remember where I went or what I did, the hours just passed. If I didn't have to write 150 words for this assignment, this blog post would be full of nothing. However, I value my grade too much to do that.

How do you deal with nothing? Sometimes nothing is good and sometimes nothing is bad. Occasionally, I wish I had a little more nothing. I wish for nothing to do, nothing to see, nothing to say, just a minute alone with my thoughts ... hopefully thoughts full of nothing. Unfortunately, I am a college student, and so nothing will just have to be postponed until -- well, let's face it -- there is never time for nothing.

Rain.

There is water everywhere. Tonight on my way home the sky was crying. Not just a sprinkle, but a dizzying downpour. Something about the rain gets me in a somber mood. Its constant drone on my window. The blur of the world through the droplets. Rain clouds overcast the sky, covering the world in dark gray hues. Rain is the perfect weather for this time of year.

We are now in the second half of the semester. School is no longer new and exciting; it has become hard, overwhelming, and competitive. Students start walking around in a daze, weighed down by the immensity of two more months of school. Provo gets quieter, as all UVU students are on break and BYU students are left to more work and more tests. The weeks go by like a rainy day --blurred and undistinguished -- as we press forward to the first snow fall.

Like rain, we will move on to snow-filled days and relaxing breaks. But for now, the rain serves as a comforting backdrop to the midterm blues.

It's my birthday.

I am no longer a teen. One fourth of my life is complete. My twenty-first year will be the best yet!

This week, Brother Clarke challenged my class with a daunting task. We had to buy a stranger a "coke" at the store. My heart dropped. I don't talk to strangers; I barely talk. I am shy and awkward around everyone but my family. Yet here I was, left on my own in Provo to buy a random person an item. I slowly began to gain courage. "I can do this" and "you might make a new friend" filled my personal pep talk.

As I set out on this assignment, I could not find anyone to buy a "coke" for. Every time I walked in the gas station, I was alone. I went to the grocery store, twice, and no one was behind me in line. I went to the mall and couldn't find anyone to purchase a reasonably priced item for. I am in college after all, I can't buy someone's full Banana Republic purchase. By this time it was Friday and I started losing faith.

Then, late Friday night, I went to ColdStone with my friends. As the cashier rang me up, I nonchalantly-- honestly, with a little shake in my voice-- said I would like to buy the ice cream for the person behind me. The cashier looked at me curiously, but rang up for her ice cream as well. I turned around to see whom I had paid for and surprise! The person behind me was an old acquaintance. Not only did I make her day, but I also got to catch up with an old friend. Talk about killing two birds with one stone. What a great birthday wish! Thanks Brother Clarke.

Accounting.

Oh accounting, how I loathe you. Actually I love you. But I also detest you. I go to your class and understand everything then bam! A test comes along. My last accounting test was like nothing I have ever experienced. It was four hours of pure horror. Okay, so that is a definite exaggeration. But the test was really hard. Have you ever thought you were smart, then took a test and realized how much you didn't know? That was me this past week. This test required that I do everything inside out and backwards. I will never think I thoroughly understand something again. My friends always talk about how hard Accounting 310 tests are, but I didn't believe them. I just laughed it off, thinking that I would be able to handle it. Dear friends, how right you were! My first accounting test was a humbling experience. I just hope I will be ready for the next one.

I Make my Dreams Come True.

What is a dream? Is it an aspiration? A hope? Dictionary.com can't even provide me with a concrete definition of to dream. One definition says it is a goal, an aspiration, or an aim. The definition continues that a dream is a wild or vain fancy. The website also states to dream is to form in the imagination or to devise. Dream in the adjective form means most desirable. There are so many options for such a small word! To dream can mean anything! One word holds a person's deepest wishes and loftiest goals. The word dream can be anything it wants to be. But can you?

I remember being in second grade and writing a letter to myself to open at a later date. We were instructed to write two things: (a) what we wanted to be when we grew up, and (b) where we saw ourselves upon high school graduation. I opened that letter the day I graduated high school and read this sentence: "I want to go to Brigham Young University and be a financial planner". Not I want to be a fireman, or I want to be a princess, or I want to be famous. No. At the age of eight years old, I found myself being frighteningly realistic for a child. Now here I am -- 12 years later -- trying to decide what to do with that dream. Through high school the dream evolved to include New York and working on Wall Street. Then it changed to a cupcake shop, then a wedding planning business, then a life in San Francisco. I have faced more uncertainty about my future since opening that letter then all the time before it. Life gets more unsure every day, yet more exciting. Some days I crawl in my bed longingly for my easy 8-year-old life. But now, as I write this a week before my 20th birthday, I am excited with all my options. I know that I could be anyone I wanted to be and if I don't like it, I have the options to stop and start again. I could be an accountant, a wedding planner, a cupcake baker, and any other thing I want to be, because I have the drive and determination to find my passion. Those two qualities are how you make a dream your reality. Dreams are conquered through a person's own willingness to sacrifice and get where she wants, not through luck. So just keep dreaming and make your dreams your reality.

-Kate

It's Time for Fall

Why is it so hot? This past week has been filled with sweaty, unbearable heat. I hate heat. It is uncomfortable and should be reserved for the months of July and August. It's September! I want 70 degrees, rustic colors, chunky sweaters, thigh high boots, and butternut squash soup. I love this time of year. However, living in Utah, I feel like we never get enough of this season. We skip right from 90 degrees to a snowstorm on Halloween. This is not acceptable. I need time to experience a life full of trips to see leaves, pumpkin harvests, corn mazes, and apple cider. My birthday is during this time; instead of beautiful colors and perfect temperatures, I get grey skies and chilling rain. To get a full season of what I fully enjoy, New England needs to be my new home. I'm not quite ready for that though. I love fall but home is home. It's hot, dry, and dead. Nevertheless, its full of family, friends, and a town I love. Now which to choose- people I love or a season I love. Home wins, as always, but that will not stop my plea to the weather gods. Please, oh please can we have a longer Fall? It would be much appreciated. Thanks.

My birthday last year at Sundance.

Are you ready for some football?

A sign at my house reads, "we interrupt this family to bring you football season". No statement could be more accurate about my family. My family eats, breaths, and sleeps football. Fall is my favorite season because it's football season! With only one brother, more time is spent talking sports than anything else. I can tell you the greatest quarterbacks, running backs, and teams to watch for. I grew up watching and learning about football at my brother's games! Football is one of my passions. The Philadelphia Eagles are my team. I can not be considered a fair-weather fan. My team has definitely been struggling the past few years. Two years ago I sat in a frigid blizzard in Philadelphia to watch my favorite players get pummeled. They were playing the Seattle Seahawks, and the gamed ended with a score of 0-42. Even after that, my faith did not falter. Now, this season, Donovan McNabb has left to play for the Redskins. With a shaky roster and an unknown future, I stand strong for my team. If I don't stay committed to my team, then they might have no fans left. Press on Eagles, Press on. A good team and Superbowl hope might be just around the corner! Now grab a blanket and some popcorn, and sit with your family to watch Sunday Night Football. Because if family time isn't football time, then what is it?

Midway 10k!

I am not spontaneous. My life is a series of well thought out decisions and choices. Enormous consideration goes into every item in my life from what I eat to which color of highlighter I use. Thursday night I was itching for something different, a spontaneous act. Suddenly I was looking at two different websites, the Midway Swiss Days 10k registration page and the webpage for Skydive Utah. The 10k was a measly twenty dollars, while skydiving ranged from $170-185 for a single flight. Due to cost reasons, the 10k became my impromptu event. At midnight, my roommate and I found ourselves signed up and mentally preparing. I was feeling a mixture of anxiety and excitement. Throwing off my "normal" Saturday plans with a random race was messing with my head. At this point in the story I feel like I need to set one thing straight. I knew I could finish the race. I ran my first half marathon two weeks ago, so completing was not an issue. It was the early wake up, hour drive, long run, and wasted time that were making me nervous. I knew if I ran I would have to start my homework later, clean the apartment later, and be tired from an exhausting 6.1 mile run. My OCD self was in override by this startling change in plans. Needless to say I ran the race. My roommate and I stuck together and I ended up getting a new personal record, an 8:44 average mile. My worries rushed away as I was finished the race with the sun rising over the mountains. Running through an astonishing mountain valley as the day began was the best start to my weekend. Being spontaneous and random can take an exhilarating turn in life. Running is a release in my life and I need to take time to race more often. Even though I was nervous, getting out of my comfort zone and leaving my normal plan behind was refreshing. I am more than relieved that I learned this lesson without having to jump out of a plane!