I am a Human Development and Family Studies Major

There.

I said it.

And I didn't qualify it.

Every single time someone asks me the inevitable college get to know you question I get a little nervous.  The second I say "Human Development" I get "the look".  I know that look, because I used to give that look.  It's the look that says "What in the world do you expect to do with that major?  Get your MRS degree and then start popping out babies and be a stay at home mom?  What if something happens and you have to provide for your family?  You can't provide for a family with that degree!" And like I said, I used to give "that look" too.  I remember going on a campus tour at BYU and passing the building that they said is where all the family and consumer sciences classes are.  I scoffed and thought to myself "Yeah, all the girls who are counting on getting married, dropping out of college, and being taken care of the rest of their lives. Ha."  Yeah, I was a little judgmental when I was seventeen.  Just a little bit. But I could be because I knew everything back then. I digress.  A few years, a little experience, and a lot of prayers later here I am trying to come to terms with my major.  I always feel like I have to defend what I am studying and why I am studying it.  My answer is almost always "My major is Human Development it's the program that will help me become a Child Life Specialist which is kind of like a play therapist at a hospital." It's a long and awkward explanation. But after that long explanation everyone is pretty much like "Ok, so you actually have a plan for your life." But at the same time I get tired of explaining myself and my life plans in the first five minutes of meeting someone.  And there is a part of me that thinks that I shouldn't have to explain myself and my choice of major to the world.

I was thinking about this today.  I was also thinking about the classes I'm taking and how they relate to families.   I was listening to the Mormon Channel program about families. I realized that this is my way to help families.  It is something that I have control over that will be helping families.  The family is under attack. This is how I can help the family. I realized that I don't have to explain or defend myself and my major and I don't have to feel like I'm pursuing a major that isn't really a good major.  It is an excellent major.  I am glad to be a Human Development and Family Studies Major.

Guess Who Officially Got Accepted to the U?

That's right  . . .

ME!!!!!

You're looking at one of the newest Utes!!  :)

I'm transfering in the fall.

Salt Lake City won't know what hit it!  :)



Having it all and Hanging out and Other lessons learned in school

So my classes have kinda got me thinking lately.  It's weird, I know, but I guess that's what college is supposed to do, make you think.  First I came across this loverly quote in my parenting text book (yes I am taking a parenting class, no I am not in college just for my MRS degree I actually have plans for a very meaningful job and this class just happens to be a requirement to get that job!)  :)

"We are a generation of young women raise to believe we can do it all. We also need the self-displine and wisdom to understand we can't do it all right now." - Jennifer Regen Bisbee

I think that is so true.  Yes we are able to do whatever to do whatever we want to do.  But we can't do everything right now and all at the same time.  The hard part is deciding what is the most important thing to do first and balancing everything you want and need to do.

In my institute class we were discussing the difference between "hanging out" and "dating" like it is talked about in this amazing article.  A lot of the guys (notice the usage of the word guys)  got very defensive as all of the girls in the room talked about how we want to go on dates not just hang out.  It was very interesting because this had been on my mind for a little while now.  I just don't know how to make it any more clear to the guys and men out there that we actually want to go out on dates and not just hang out.  Elder Oaks talks about "lock[ing] the pantry and bolt[ing] the front door [and] . . . hang[ing] up a sign, 'Will open for individual dates,'"

Well boys, guys, and men, my door is locked and there is a sign on my door.

Now dates don't need to be expensive or a big deal.  Anything that lets you have a chance to get to know the other person is a good date (ie not a movie).  And the great thing about dates is that they have a start and end time. 

But other than that, we girls aren't very picky, we just want real inexpensive dates that let us get to know you and have a start and end time.  That's all.

Then I was reading one of my textbooks about early childhood development and it was talking about how early childhood is from the ages of 0-8.  I found that rather interesting.  What happens to LDS boys and girls when they turn 8?  They are baptised.  We believe that they are then old enough and have learned enough to know basic right from wrong and to start making some of their own choices.  We believe that before the age of 8 children are learning right from wrong.  It was interesting reading about how important learning up to the age of 8 is in a secular world.  It made me think, "Hmm, I wonder if Joseph Smith was an Early Childhood Development major and realized how kids view the world before the age of 8?"  I don't think he did.  I believe that it was inspired revelation to a prophet of God from a God who is an Early Childhood Development major, who would realize the learning that takes place at such a young age.

Then I was reading in my parenting textbook about the three styles of parenting, Authoritarian, Authoritative, and Permissive (Authoritative is the good one.)  I believe that I have Heavenly Parents, so I applied that to what I was learning and thought to myself, "Is Heavenly Father Authoritarian, Authoritative, and Permissive?"  Now of course the answer to this is "the gospel according to Kelsi" but the conclusion I came to is that He has to be Authoritative.  Think about it.  He isn't authoritarian because he gave us our agency, our ability to choose.  He doesn't force us to do anything.  And He explains why He wants us to do things (or why He doesn't want us to do things.)  But He isn't permissive either.  While we have the ability to make choices, we do not have the ability to choose the consequences, and He let's us know what the consequences are.  He is an authoritative parent.  He sets down clear guidlines of what He would have us do, He explains the "why?" behind most of it, and He keeps an honest open relationship with us (if we choose to accept that relationship and put forth the effort required.)  He truely cares about us and if we slow down long enough to listen, He will let us know that.

Anyway, that's my long ramble of the night of what I've been paying to learn in college.  I hope I didn't bore you too much.  :)

It's been a long time

It's been a long time since I last blogged.  I don't know why I struggle with blogging so much, but I do.  Here is what is new since the last time I blogged.

1. My major - I changed from Pre-Med to Child Life Specialist.  Basically I'm going to be helping kids get over the emotional trauma of hospital visits and procedures.
2. I've moved back home for the summer.  Yay for no rent and free food!! And I get to chill with awesome people at home too.  :)
3. I turned 19.  That one sneaked up on me.
4. I've been working ALL the time, earning lots of money.  And I'll be spending all that money in late July and August.  Yay for college!!
5. I just got back from a vacation to Hawaii!!  It was gorgeous!!  I got to snorkel, kayack, visit Pearl Harbor, visit the Polynesian Cultural Center (and fall in love with a Maori warrior, but that's another story haha), meet up with old friends, and spend lots and lots of time on the beach, working on my tan of course.  :)

Yep that pretty much covers my life. I've decided to set a goal to find something to blog about at least once a week.  And I'm going to try to keep my camera near by so hopefully I can add some pictures to this blog.  But I'm not a very good photographer so we'll see how that goes. That's all.

Retrying Blogging

So I haven't been very good about blogging. But my one follower, Chandra, reminded me of that and I'm willing to give it another shot. Thanks for the support Chan!!
I'm now in my second semester at college and I am officially a "Freshmore" or "Sophman", I'm freshman age and I feel like a freshman, but credit's wise, I'm a sophomore. I still love it here, despite the snow and the wind!! I'm taking Human Anatomy right now (with some other really boring classes) and I love it, even though it's really difficult. In lab we get to work with real human cadavers. It's fun but it's also sobering. There is an immediate reverence and respect that comes over me whenever I step in the room with them. But I do enjoy the class.
Hopefully next week I will begin volunteering at the Valley View Medical Center, in the Cancer Center. I am very excited! I will be working in the library and I will be helping patients and their families research their diagnosis and I will be there to offer them emotional support. I will also be learning how to help fit them for wigs!! It will be a new experience, but I'm excited because I think it will be a chance for me to learn and grow as a person. I am excited to be able to help someone else who is going through a difficult time.
I don't really know what else to say. My life is pretty boring, just classes and homework and that's about it. Oh, but I'm applying to be an RA (Resident Assistant) next year. I still have to do interviews and I won't find out until March if I got it or not. But if I do, I'll let you know and give you more details.

Hi Everyone!

I'm Kelsi! I'm 18 and I'm going to college and I'm just starting this blog so that my friends and family can keep track of what I'm doing!! I'm a Pre-Med student because I love everything to do with medicine!! It's a super exciting field to be studying. I hope to become a doctor of some sort, but don't ask me specifically what kind of doctor, because I haven't decided yet and probably won't decide for a long time. Anyway, my pre-med pursuits take up a lot of my time right now and keep my life very interesting.

A fun random tid bit of information, I'm currently listening to "It's a Small World After All" by Voice Male right now. Random, I know, but it's fun!!

I've been living here at college for almost two months, and wow has time flew!! It's pretty fun most of the time. My roommate Bree and I have fun, when both of us are awake, which is rare since I like to be awake during the day and she likes to be awake during the night haha. My classes are pretty fun most of the time, and my favorite is Biology!! Yay for enzymes, glycolysis, the krebs cycle, ATP, and genetics!! haha, Yeah I'm a nerd like that, but life's more fun that way!!

I went up to Salt Lake to visit my family and go to General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints about two weeks ago. It was fun to see the fam. Going to General Conference was a neat experience. This is the second time I've been able to go in my life. I took my mom for her birthday, my Grandma Heiner because she hadn't been to the new Conference Center before, and my little brother Mason because he had never been to conference before. It was great to hear the prophet and the apostles speak and the spirit was so strong the entire time. I can't wait for the November Ensign, so I can read all of the talks again!!