Here
Here it is. Here's the long post you and I have been waiting for. So let's chat. Honestly, I've been absolutely terrible at posting on my blog. Part of the reason is because I'm an actual busy person, not a fake busy person, and another reason is probably because sometimes it's just hard for me to do anything and especially to write and feel and post on my blog. So I'm sorry about that. Mostly for me though because I'm the one who needs it. Anyway, enough with the whatevers and on with the recap of my life this summer.
School ended in April. Looking back on the year, it was the hardest yet because I didn't take care of myself very well. I said yes to too many things and I wanted and needed too much from other people. I made myself sick and burned myself out more than I probably ever have. I did two shows that were extremely challenging for me because of the workload and the type of shows they were. I took tons of classes and tons of credits, I picked up a criminal justice minor, and I loved a lot of people. (Still love) And honestly, when I think about it, I just neglected to some of the truly important things in my life. I did not prioritize very well. Since the school year I'd like to say that I figured it out. That I adjusted and changed that but life is still hard. It is my goal to prioritize my life better and remember what matters most which at this point in my life is God and my completeness.
{As a sidenote: I'm a super open person for 98% of the things that go on in my life so if you ever want to chat or know more about me or my life, which I don't know particularly why you would want to. but nonetheless, if that were to ever be the case, please don't be afraid to ask me about anything in my life. If it's in that 2% that I keep to myself, I will inform you of that. No harm done.}
Okey dokey, I realize sometimes I'm really vague without knowing it. More of the details: So, I finished spring semester and did fairly well and learned a lot. This included me closing a beautiful show, Tribes. I got to know a lot of people this year and to do a lot of things that really pushed me, sometimes a little too far. But I love that. I love that I've learned and changed and grew and am still doing so. I was lucky enough to meet one of my best friends last year and to get to know better a handful of other ones. People, and those people in particular, blessed my life so immensely. Especially because I got the flu, which doesn't happen to me, and it flipping sucked.
After school ended, I had a funky month of free time where I worked a little bit in the Non-Traditional Student Office; was hired onto SUUSA, SUU's student government, going on two retreats with them that month, and going home for two weeks for my sister's graduation. All were good but I was ready to go back to Cedar and start my new adventure: Upward Bound.
I honestly don't even know where to start or what to say about Upward Bound (UB). It was, to date, one of the biggest blessings in my life. For those of you who don't know what UB is, the federal government provides a grant for disadvantaged high school students to attend a five week college course, including activities and field trips. I was, what they call, a T/S. I tutored students in English and I also supervised the students. This summer we had just under 50 students living in the dorms and I lived with them. The program this year included trips to Bryce Canyon, Seven Peaks in Provo, and Disneyland. Being a part of the program this summer also included late-night conversations, tears, hugs, malfunctioning flash drives, difficult classes, no sleep, best friends, meeting new people, meal plans, flour fights, Ted Talks, snacks, games, activities, sports, etc. etc. etc. You name it, it happened. Though it was tiring, difficult, and somewhat monotonous, it was one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. Being able to work with, serve, help, and befriend students every single day made me so happy. Anyway, I could talk forever about Upward Bound but just know that it was fantastic, and because of that it was very hard to leave. I hope to do it again in the future.
After Upward Bound, I did a lot of traveling. ( and let me say now that because of that, I do not like traveling all that much) First of all, with UB we went to Disneyland. Then less than a week later I flew to New York to adventure for 38 hours and to see two Broadway shows. From New York I flew into Denver for my NATS competition (A vocal competition. Sidenote: I made it to the national level but not further) in Boulder, Colorado. A week after getting home from Boulder, my family picked me up on their way to Flagstaff, Arizona, where we spent a week relaxing and enjoying national parks and monuments. A week after that, I went home for a weekend for my cousins wedding, and the weekend after that, I traveled to Orderville, Utah for another SUUSA retreat. Now I'm finally settling into my new place and school starts on Monday.
I am so ready for school to start. At the moment, I'm a little lonely and sad and discouraged in my life because I've been missing some very dear friends this summer and because I haven't been feeling uber productive in my schedule or in changing things I want to change my life. That's why I'm ready for school to start. I love schedules, I love structure, I love setting goals and that's what school is for me. This year I'm taking three classes toward my Musical Theater major and two toward my Criminal Justice minor. I'll also be starting rehearsals for Sonheim's Assassins in September and I'm very excited for that. I'm currently working at the Utah Shakespeare Festival and picking up my job in the Non-Traditional Student Office.
So there you go. There's Eliza's life, top to bottom this summer. As you can tell, my life has been very full and very exciting and I've experienced and learned a lot this summer which I am grateful for.
But when it comes down to it, I'm ready for school, I'm ready for change, and I'm ready for my besties to be back in town. But I'm alive and I'm here.
(Also God is real and there will be miracles.)
School ended in April. Looking back on the year, it was the hardest yet because I didn't take care of myself very well. I said yes to too many things and I wanted and needed too much from other people. I made myself sick and burned myself out more than I probably ever have. I did two shows that were extremely challenging for me because of the workload and the type of shows they were. I took tons of classes and tons of credits, I picked up a criminal justice minor, and I loved a lot of people. (Still love) And honestly, when I think about it, I just neglected to some of the truly important things in my life. I did not prioritize very well. Since the school year I'd like to say that I figured it out. That I adjusted and changed that but life is still hard. It is my goal to prioritize my life better and remember what matters most which at this point in my life is God and my completeness.
{As a sidenote: I'm a super open person for 98% of the things that go on in my life so if you ever want to chat or know more about me or my life, which I don't know particularly why you would want to. but nonetheless, if that were to ever be the case, please don't be afraid to ask me about anything in my life. If it's in that 2% that I keep to myself, I will inform you of that. No harm done.}
Okey dokey, I realize sometimes I'm really vague without knowing it. More of the details: So, I finished spring semester and did fairly well and learned a lot. This included me closing a beautiful show, Tribes. I got to know a lot of people this year and to do a lot of things that really pushed me, sometimes a little too far. But I love that. I love that I've learned and changed and grew and am still doing so. I was lucky enough to meet one of my best friends last year and to get to know better a handful of other ones. People, and those people in particular, blessed my life so immensely. Especially because I got the flu, which doesn't happen to me, and it flipping sucked.
After school ended, I had a funky month of free time where I worked a little bit in the Non-Traditional Student Office; was hired onto SUUSA, SUU's student government, going on two retreats with them that month, and going home for two weeks for my sister's graduation. All were good but I was ready to go back to Cedar and start my new adventure: Upward Bound.
I honestly don't even know where to start or what to say about Upward Bound (UB). It was, to date, one of the biggest blessings in my life. For those of you who don't know what UB is, the federal government provides a grant for disadvantaged high school students to attend a five week college course, including activities and field trips. I was, what they call, a T/S. I tutored students in English and I also supervised the students. This summer we had just under 50 students living in the dorms and I lived with them. The program this year included trips to Bryce Canyon, Seven Peaks in Provo, and Disneyland. Being a part of the program this summer also included late-night conversations, tears, hugs, malfunctioning flash drives, difficult classes, no sleep, best friends, meeting new people, meal plans, flour fights, Ted Talks, snacks, games, activities, sports, etc. etc. etc. You name it, it happened. Though it was tiring, difficult, and somewhat monotonous, it was one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. Being able to work with, serve, help, and befriend students every single day made me so happy. Anyway, I could talk forever about Upward Bound but just know that it was fantastic, and because of that it was very hard to leave. I hope to do it again in the future.
After Upward Bound, I did a lot of traveling. ( and let me say now that because of that, I do not like traveling all that much) First of all, with UB we went to Disneyland. Then less than a week later I flew to New York to adventure for 38 hours and to see two Broadway shows. From New York I flew into Denver for my NATS competition (A vocal competition. Sidenote: I made it to the national level but not further) in Boulder, Colorado. A week after getting home from Boulder, my family picked me up on their way to Flagstaff, Arizona, where we spent a week relaxing and enjoying national parks and monuments. A week after that, I went home for a weekend for my cousins wedding, and the weekend after that, I traveled to Orderville, Utah for another SUUSA retreat. Now I'm finally settling into my new place and school starts on Monday.
I am so ready for school to start. At the moment, I'm a little lonely and sad and discouraged in my life because I've been missing some very dear friends this summer and because I haven't been feeling uber productive in my schedule or in changing things I want to change my life. That's why I'm ready for school to start. I love schedules, I love structure, I love setting goals and that's what school is for me. This year I'm taking three classes toward my Musical Theater major and two toward my Criminal Justice minor. I'll also be starting rehearsals for Sonheim's Assassins in September and I'm very excited for that. I'm currently working at the Utah Shakespeare Festival and picking up my job in the Non-Traditional Student Office.
So there you go. There's Eliza's life, top to bottom this summer. As you can tell, my life has been very full and very exciting and I've experienced and learned a lot this summer which I am grateful for.
But when it comes down to it, I'm ready for school, I'm ready for change, and I'm ready for my besties to be back in town. But I'm alive and I'm here.
(Also God is real and there will be miracles.)
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