Trying to Beat up the Devil

This has been a trying week for me. I am learning to not be so sensitive and how to forgive others. I have run into the same things that I witnessed Southern Virginia University but unlike last time, I was ready. Some students in two different classes have said very ignorant and flat-out stereotypical things regarding people of color. I do not think that they realized just how stereotypical they sounded but I am learning that not all people know any people of color and therefore based their opinions, about a particular race, on what they hear on the news, television shows, and what their parents may say. If I return to BYU-Idaho upon serving my mission, I hope to find a way to help this campus really learn what diversity and culture is. I mean the Culture Clubs do a good job at showing the campus that there is diversity but I have not really seen anyone show how diversity is good and how culture is important. People of color born in the United States is different from say Mexico, Africa, and Asia. I know that my culture is way different from Africa (we do have tribal dance or wear boubous) but we are also more than gangs, drugs, and prisoners. The people here tend to think that only people of color go to jail- I wonder if they know that only 15% of African Americans make up the jail population of drug dealers and addicts. I want them to know our struggles and our concerns. Why is it that only a few percentage of African Americans go to college? I think that it is because of people like the students in class that say that the only thing that African Americans are good for is crime! Well if you tell us that we will be nothing and do nothing with our life then nine times out of ten that is what will happen! I have spent most of my life having people telling me that I cannot and will not accomplish anything in my life. I have been told on numerous occasions that universities and colleges are for Caucasian people- there is no reason to go to college when you will not succeed. I have had people that I thought were my friends make fun of me because I was smart and they told me that being smart will get me no where in life- I will just end up on the street. I am just so tired of people beating up on African Americans and then expect us to do better. How can we if you keep pointing out the bad in us? I am very sure that African Americans are NOT the only ones who commit crimes and I KNOW for a fact that we are not the only ones that are members of gangs. I am also equally sure that there is more to us than what the media depicts of us.

Studying, Mission Call, and a Trip to the Doctor

This past week I have been knee deep in school work. I have found that I do not like the feeling of being overwhelmed (which I am sure that many people can agree does not feel good) so I have been trying to "get ahead" in school work so that I will not feel that way. This past weekend was a five-day weekend for me (I do not have classes on Friday and Monday was a holiday) so I spent most of the weekend doing homework (with the exception of Sunday and most of yesterday). I also had all of my first tests last week. I found that Human Resource Management was not as tough as I thought but Psychology will be my tough class. I; however, really like my teachers and I enjoy how all of my teachers tie in gospel to each of our class discussions.

Thursday I got my mission call! I have been called to the Washington DC South Mission (English Speaking) and I report to the MTC on May 2nd, 2012. I; therefore, will be able to spend a few weeks with my family before I go. I am excited to go to DC. I love the Temple and I will really like to get to know the people. I actually know a few people who will be in the Stake there so that will be exciting. Hopefully there will not be too much governmental debates (I get enough of that in my American Foundations class).

Saturday I woke up with a sharp pain in my right leg and let's just say I cried like a baby. I did not want to have to pay to go to the doctor and it really was not that bad so I just dealt with it. I guess I was afraid that if something was wrong I would not be able to go on a mission and I did not have class until today so I tried not to do too much walking. This morning; however, it was a little unbearable so I paid the $10 and went to the on-campus doctor. He asked me if I had been doing anything out of the ordinary and I told him that I have been pushing myself a little more on the treadmill and bike because I want to be in shape for my mission. At first he thought that maybe I just sprained my ankle but he decided to take an x-ray (at no cost to me!). Well after class I went back for a follow-up and he told me something cool. My left leg is 1/3rd of an inch shorter than my right leg! My right leg is trying to compensate for the difference by working harder than my left leg. He said that I need inserts to try to close the gaps but that I should be fine. I think that it is pretty unique but at the same time I always feel like whenever I am happy the Devil has to knock at my door. Go away! No one is home you jerk! Anyway that's all for now.

A New Year, A New House, and A New School

Well things have definitely changed over the past few weeks. On December 31st I left for Brigham Young University- Idaho. My first stop was Brigham City, Utah where I stayed with a wonderful family. Of course it being Christmas/ New Years time, (almost) the entire family was there. Sister Cooper has such a wonderful family. It was nice being there. I spent New Years eating yummy Chinese food and making "New Years predictions" with them. They made predictions about where I will be serving my mission (as close to home as Ohio and as far away as Africa). It was very nice. We celebrated New Years twice (both Sister Cooper and I have family in the East so we celebrated East Coast New Years and also Mountain New Years) it was very exciting. We ended the night with them surprising me with gifts for my new apartment.

Then Monday I headed off to BYU-ID on the Salt Lake Express. I met some very interesting people on the shuttle. Upon arriving, I realized that I would have to pull all of my stuff to the apartment 3 blocks south and two blocks west of campus! The blocks are like a mile long! But some wonderful girls gave me a ride and even helped me bring the suitcases up 3 flights of stairs! I live in an awesome apartment. Well, it is actually pretty small but I like it. I have 3 housemates (Jessie and McKenzie are from Wyoming and Allysa is from New York). Me and Allysa have been getting along very well. She is so funny. She reminds of a friend that I had at SVU so it is nice.

The campus itself is so confusing! It is so big that it has its on zip code! In one of my classes there are 75 students. Other than being really big and yet at the same time having me feel claustrophobic I like this place. I like being around LDS people. I enjoy seeing guys wearing ties (sorry Mike I have not seen any Bow Ties) and opening the door for me. I especially love hearing teachers add the gospel to our conversation. Of course there are some things that I am not quite fond of (I agree that clothing should be BYU-ID approved but seriously do I HAVE to wear a BYU-ID
t-shirt to the gym?). But other than the randomness of clothing attire at the gym I can say that this university is quite awesome.

Church is another thing! Today I just about had a panic attack. No the ward is not super big (in fact we only have 120 students in the ward). The church is basically in the Institute building. This normally would not freak me out (at SVU the Institute building is also our church building); however, we do not have a chapel to have sacrament. As you already know I do not like change. This like blew me away. We have sacrament in a class room that has individual desks. We do not have pews or a podium. When people bore their testimonies, they had to do so by walking up to the front of the room and use a microphone (kind of awkward). I just have so much change happening and it is finally hitting me that I am not in Michigan and soon I will be getting my mission call (another major change). Am I ready to leave AGAIN and this time go to some place where I really do not know anyone? Yes I am ready. I am ready for the next chapter in my life.

Thank you all for your support. I know that none of this would be possible with out you all helping and supporting me.