A letter to myself

August 24 I posted my feelings here on moving into the freshman dorms and starting life as a BYU college student. I was excited and scared. If I could write a letter to my pre-freshman self from my post-freshman self this is what I'd say:

Dear Sarah Jane (Pre-Freshman),
Prepare yourself for a great year. The roommates you will meet tomorrow will be your best friends. At first it might seem awkward and you may feel like a stranger in your own home, but before you know it you'll be singing Disney songs at the top of your lungs and dancing around in the kitchen with these girls. When it's April 22 and time to say good-bye you will have to hide your eyes because you won't want them to see you cry.

Tomorrow at the BBQ you will see a kid in a red shirt who is obsessed with BYU soccer. talk to him. he'll introduce you to his friends and at first you won't think much of 'em, but something will keep drawing you back to them. You won't be able to explain it, but one of them will become very special to you. You'll come back home from that BBQ emotionally drained. You will discover that there are many people out there that you don't now. Let me tell you now, don't stress over meeting all of them; however, cherish the ones you do meet.

When you go to the heritage dance don't leave early. stay the whole time even though at first it won't be very fun. You will see the kid in the red shirt and his friends again, you'll get really confused that two are being called "Gil", but it will make sense eventually. Oh yeah, when they tell you Jason is on the football team don't believe them....they are lying.

Study hard for the first American Heritage test. If you end up making the same mistake I did by not studying hard don't get upset when you see your score. Perhaps it's your first test, but it's also your worst grade you'll get all year so just know it can only get better from there. Music 101 isn't going to be a breeze like you thought it would be...in fact...you should probably switch teachers ASAP. Overall, plan on spending A LOT of time in the library. College is more demanding than you thought it'd be.

Back to the boys who are obsessed with BYU soccer. Go to Utah State with them, don't get upset over an event that happens the weekend before (it'll all blow over). You will keep telling yourself not to like Gilbert because nothing will ever happen, but against all odds something does happen. I think you'll do fine with how you handle it. When it comes time to say good-bye to him there will be nothing you can do but cry. Don't hold back the tears because it feels good to let them out. You probably shouldn't make yourself go anywhere on New Year's Eve cause it won't be fun anyways.

Dive into your studies second semester. don' take international nutrition...it's interesting, but you'll end up changing your major anyways. When you start the semester you will be thrilled about your nutrition classes and you'll dread your accounting class...well...it turns out your best grade will be accounting and your worst grade will be nutrition. Expect to spend much of your time writing letters. Don't stress over the fact that they are too long, apparently the missionaries like it that way and get mad when you apologize over and over for the length. Go the the BYU games at the beginning of the season; otherwise, you'll never make it into another one!

When you get flowers on valentine's day DON'T put them near your laptop!!! However, if you forget I told you this and end up putting them there anyways...just know it is possible to go to college with a broken laptop. The computer lab in the library will become your best friend. If all you want to do is stay home on a Friday night and study then do it, but make sure to have fun every once in a while. You'll bond a lot with your roommates. Make sure you let them know how much they mean to you.

Sarah Jane, you will have a great year. You will make tough decisions, but will have few regrets. I'm excited for you, you're gonna love it!

Love, Sarah Jane (Post Freshman)

p.s. Here are some snapshots of what you have to look forward to





And these aren't even the best of it...I'm just bad at documenting. Which reminds me, bring your camera everywhere!

A Poem I Wrote in Memory of the Season --SJ

There are many things I’ll remember about this great fall,

One of those things includes BYU Basketball.

It was October the 29^th, or better yet, a Friday.

Little did we know a thrilling season was headed our way.

To start off was the exhibition game, not many were there,

But we were at the game to show that we really did care.

For the home opener we got there early, wearing our white and blue

I didn’t have time for dinner so I snuck in a sandwich or two.

I sat fourth row because of my great friend Gil,

We watched with excitement as the other team we did kill.

Thanksgiving brought the tournament down in South Padre,

I listened on the radio as we battled on its bay.

We tried real hard to find the channel so we could watch it on TV,

It was nowhere to be found, it just wasn’t meant to be.

In December there was a game in our Capitol City

We traveled up to see it feeling fine and rather giddy.

At the game I looked up to see Gil and I on the big screen,

Getting on the jumbotron was what I’d wanted ever since I could dream.

As the season progressed we continued to win,

Just ask Michelle, speaking bad about Jimmer became a huge sin.

Jimmer led us to victory against SDSU,

We watched it for FHE and when we won we all said, “Few!”

The big man on campus became Jimmer Fredette

Can he make a thirty footer? You better believe it!

Because of this boy BYU came to be a winner,

I just have one request: teach me how to Jimmer?

We were on top of the world, final four headed our way,

Until that sad, solemn, and quite necessary day.

We said good-bye to Davies, but respect him we still did,

Brandon was no longer on the team; everyone sure did miss that kid.

To get into a game was hard, people camped out all week long,

Everyone tried to get in, not watching them play felt so wrong.

My friends and I got turned away game after game after game,

No matter how hard we tried the results still stayed the same.

There was a time we tried to go rather quite early,

Thinking, “This time we will get in quite surely!”

However, we got side tracked by people giving out free food,

We barely missed the cutoff and were not in a happy mood.

We were ranked pretty well, to be exact number three

Just the place we had always wanted to be.

Then we lost to New Mexico, a team not so fine,

And we got bumped up to somewhere close to number nine.

For the last home game I arrived four hours prior

This was it we were coming to the end of the wire.

We did a flash mob it was really pretty great.

Alas, I left at halftime my work just could not wait.

I watched on my birthday as we started off the madness,

Sharing the day with them filled my heart up with gladness.

We won the game easily, next stop thirty-two,

I watched that game with my mom and other friends wearing blue.

Sweet sixteen here we come! First time in many years!

Everyone was crying those happy happy tears.

Off I and and the roommates headed to the BYU Marriot,

No tickets were purchased or needed to be bought.

There we were watching it on the big screen,

They let me take in food so this time I wasn’t feeling lean.

I watchced as BYU took shot after shot after shot,

They weren’t quite going in as I’d hope they ought.

After my teeth clenching and much nail biting,

BYU was still in the game as they continued fighting.

The clock soon read zero, zero, zero,

Jimmer Fredette tied it up with a three, he is our hero.

We went into overtime that’s where it all ended,

To say the season was great need not be pretended.

We were proud of our boys, they fought well and hard

They came a long way from playing in their backyard.

The BYU Basketball season of twenty-ten to eleven

Will always be one that is remembered up in heaven.

--Sarah Jane Curtis

Creepsters in Tingey Hall

I woke up early Saturday morning, ready to get a start on my day. I quietly got out of my bed (so I wouldn't wake my sleeping roommate), walked down the hallway and opened the door to my kitchen. I stood in the doorway and stared at the oddest thing I have ever seen in my life: a tent. Straight up just a tent chillin in my kitchen.

It was super early and the only thing going through my mind was "what the heck...there is a tent in my kitchen. How am I supposed to eat my oatmeal without waking them up?"

I didn't even know who lived in room 224. I crept behind the tent to open my oatmeal...immedietly after I tore it open ever so quietly I heard their snoring stop and I knew I wasn't quiet enough.
I crouched behind the tent...after about twenty seconds I peered over the side to see two girls shout, "Good morning! we're going to make you pancakes!"
Two girls from the dorm on the first floor somehow managed to set up a tent in our kitchen during the middle of the night. One of the weirdest experiences I've ever had. You gotta love the dorms.

I got to work a couple minutes early the other day so I picked up a new book by Elder Holland to read as I waited for it to be 2:00. I was only able to read the first couple of pages, but oh baby it was insightful. It's a cute little book with thoughts given by Elder Holland in previous talks. I'm planning on reading the rest of it and can already say--just from what I read--that I recommend it to anyone!

"If we constantly focus on the stones in our mortal path, we will almost surely miss the beautiful flower or cool stream provided by a loving Father who outlined our journey." -Page 5

I know it's been a while since I've posted; I'd apologize, but in all honesty this blog is mostly for my benefit so I should probably just apologize to myself, "I'm sorry Sarah Jane. I will try to be better".
Random things going on in my life (so that when I'm eighty I can reminisce over those good college years):

• I still don't have a computer. It requires a little extra work on my part to get homework done, but I do have a lot more time on my hands and I don't waste time doing useless things when I should be doing hw. (wouldn't want people in the libe to think I'm a slacker, now would I?)
• I'm going to do an internship in WASHINGTON DC this summer for three months :) you'll probably hear more about this later.
• I decided I use too much toilet paper and need to cut down on my usage.
  
• I turn nineteen on Thursday. hooray and happy st. Patrick's day! though I have to say it will probably be like any other day and that is all right by me (though my roommates and friends keep pestering me about what I want them to do for me).
• I'm currently listening to the song "Love Like This". Not only does it make me remember how much I love some Natasha, but it takes me back to my sophomore year in high school.
  
• I bashfully admit that I check the mailbox daily. I haven't yet heard word (other than the forwarded fam email) since Aldste Gilbert Marchant departed to Sweden, but was finally able to get an address from the email. I'm not sure how long it will take for letters to travel between the countries.
  
• My day today is/was spent at a four hour accounting review, four hours of work then two hours of stake conference. applaud for sitting in a chair all day (applause).
  
• I'm realizing how quickly this semester is coming to an end and I can't wait for it to be over, but at the same time don't want to think about saying good-bye to my roommates and new friends.
• I want to hug a panda bear before I die
• My brother gets home from his mission (Des Moines, Iowa) in two months. I miss him a lot and can't wait to see him again....(hopefully that will happen before August when I get back from my internship)
• March is "National Nutrition Month". In honor of my major I've decided to be healthy for the month of March.
  
• I am about to enter into the two busiest weeks of the semester
• I miss turf burns (sorry mom, I know you say I'm going to get some knee disease, but I just miss 'em)
• I discovered a piano composer by the name of "Thad Fiscella" on Pandora and I am really liking his stuff. My favorite is his song "For Ross".
  
• Go Cougs!
  

Sad tale of a college freshman

Once upon a time there was a girl who had a macbook and it looked like this.




One day, that very same girl spilled water all over it and now it looks like this:
Now she is stuck trying to figure out how to work a PC. PCs are hard to blog on.
The end.

Valentines Day

I've always been indifferent towards this day. It has never brought anything negative into my life and I loved elementry school when we got to have little parties and such. Lately, however, I've been bugged with a day "forcing" us to show our love to one another. Why can't we just do this on a daily basis?! I wondered. Then one day I was at work--this is where I do my best thinking--and it all of a sudden hit me. This holiday is not forcing Love, it's celebrating love! It is just a day to say "yeah! We are human beings and we all love each other, let's hug!". Ever since that moment I have only had positive thoughts towards this holiday.

The beautiful Liz Merril from Bountiful

Making cards for FHE :)

don't worry, the boys are helping with the cookies not pictured

Jenna, my roommate going on a date with the Brun-dawg

Coming home to these made the day complete! I don't know how he pulled this off; they made me happy...couldn't help but miss him of course

7:15 wake up/ eat breakfast

7:30 study scriptures

8:00 Get ready

9-11 class

11-12 devotional

12-2 class

2-5 work

1 hour library

6-10 four hour review session

11:00 collapse on bed and sleep, feeling like you have accomplished nothing

WELCOME TO COLLEGE.

thoughts

I just finished my first college semester at BYU. Thoughts on the college life:

• 85% of the people at BYU are overachievers
• 12:00 is the new 10:00 (I swear we live in a different time zone on campus)
• You actually have to study for tests in order to get an A in the class (not just do the homework)
• If you want to meet new people you have to put yourself out there
• There are no more "labels" in college (ex. basketball player, soccer player, drama, etc...)
• facebook stalking happens all the time wether we like it or not
• There are actually a lot of LDS people that live outside of Utah (for some reason I always thought there were only a few out of staters)
• We are growing up

I know I was sad to leave high school because it was so fun but I've really enjoyed college and all the new friends I am making here. Christmas break is kind of an awkward time because you are stuck in the middle of high school/ college life but I'm excited to spend time with the high school buds, i've been missing them a lot!

As for the friend of mine who is extra special....the only way to sum it up is to say it is hard but okay. There are sad times for the most part I'm dealing with it very positively. It helps to know he is serving a mission and there is no other place he should be at this time in his life. Thank you thank you thank you to the following people who have been there for me these last few days (most of them don't read this blog or may not know how they've helped)

• Ariana Linda Viera
• Brian Lingam
• Liz Merrill
• Kami Rosen
• Steinia Dort
• Demarie Dawn
• Kirsten sister
• Parents
• Joshua Mason
• Melany Stanksy
• Marva Ellis
• Parents
• Zane
• Emily
• Nicole
• Bruno
• Bishop Bills

You have all helped me feel happy one way or another and I just want to say thank you :)

Another thing that helps is that he left for Ohio on Friday but I still get to talk to him until he gets set apart next Sunday. Yesterday he called me up and we had a lovely conversation. I began giving him an analogy about how we're all hard boiled eggs at BYU that I was making up on the spot, he seemed kind of confused so I took a step back to ask him how he felt about it.

SJ: How do you feel about being a hard boiled egg Gil?

GIl: um...are you a hard boiled egg too?

SJ: Yes

Gil: Then I like it.

He is the greatest, Imma miss him a lot but I wouldn't have it any other way. Wherever we end up we will both be happy.

Now I'm ready to relax and not worry about work or school over the break. It is my goal to pull out the old machine and finish at least one sewing project this break.

Just not enough courage

Once upon a time there was a girl named Sarah Jane who took her American Heritage final but was too afraid to look at her score. Yes, I walked right out of that place without looking.

Things I love about Heritage

• When the Shower all of a sudden goes ten degrees hotter
• How every time we open the freezer something falls out
• waking up to construction every morning
• (I'll never forget the time I heard one of the workers yell out in pain)
• The bed is as hard as the ground (I can't sleep for at least an hour in a half every night)
• When the floor shakes from the construction
• The random guitar chord we hear in the middle of the night (possibly from the heater)
• when the door rattles all night long (for some reason this only happens sometimes)
• You hear music. You go dance. Police come. end of dance.
• my home teachers who gave us a business card with people making out on it
• feeding the ducks
• the out of tune piano in Tingey
• Never being able to finish homework because something is always going on
• being able to hide in the recycling bins and jump out at people when they walk by
• I live in a neighborhood full of people my age
• being able to walk by dorms and wave at people in their kitchens
• my dorm that smells like pumpkin
• all the boys here are involved with music

the list goes on and on...

BYU

OKAY! So I took some pictures of my first week of school but my camera was being GHETTO and wouldn't upload them. I had to upload them on my dormmates, send them to myself...long process. but here they are :)

We made German Pancakes for breakfast on Sunday morning. Church starts at 1:30 so we have tooonsss of time to sit and stare at each other while we wait to go to church.

I had to work until 12:30 am. I came home to find this lovely note on my bed.

First day of College

Don't ask me to explain her weird ways

football

My view from the football game yesterday

Fourth Row

(I'm signed up for a rotating all-sports pass and was lucky enough to get these seats yesterday!)

GO BYU!!

Welcome to College

I am sure many of my faithful blog readers (I think we are up to three now!) have been in a frantic wondering where I have been. Good news: BYU realized how wrong they were to block such an innocent blog such as mine. Bad news: my computer is being ghetto and won't let me download my pictures from my camera (speaking of ghetto, everyone please go search the youtube video "ghetto witness" shown to me by my cousin Jace)

College has been good so far. I've realized that there are a lot of LDS people in this world that I do not know. Everywhere I go I see unfamiliar faces. My roomates are the best roommates I could ask for. They are funny and they accept my weirdness.

It's great. Eating is a little bit harder than I thought it would be. Frozen meals are now my new favorite thing ever. If anyone feels the desire to feed a college student feel free to hit me up!

College homework is different than anything I am used to. Instead of having an assignment a night you kind of just have to study however much you feel you need to. I hate that. I would much rather have a teacher give me an assignment and say "here, bring this in tomorrow for points it will help you know what you need to know" than to say "here, we have a midterm in four weeks. study."

Overall college is good I think. I miss high school but if I didn't miss high school then that would mean I didn't like high school. Now my goal is to like college enough to miss it one day.

p.s. I go by Sarah Jane here

paninis

wearing ponchos to the soccer game

First meal of my college experience

Jenna, Gel, Sarah Jane