I've wanted to live in Utah ever since I can remember. I wanted to go to BYU and live in Provo. The first time I remember coming to Utah was when I was in fifth grade. My mom and I came up for some reunion or choir something of hers. I don't remember much about that trip. I do remember sitting in the tabernacle in SLC with her, being in the Marriott Center at BYU with her, going to see Parent Trap at the SCERA movie theater with her, staying at the Super 8 on Canyon Road by BYU with her, and walking from our motel to get pizza next door with her at, I think it was, Pizza Hut.
I really don't know why I have always wanted to go to BYU or live in Utah. My mom went to BYU, but I really don't know much about her experience. Part of me really thinks I was just born wanting to go to BYU and live in Utah. When I received my rejection letter from BYU, my desire to go there lessened a bit, but I still had planned to transfer after a year at BYU-I. But it wasn't long after moving to Rexburg and attending BYU-I that my desire to go to BYU completely disappeared. A few years later, while I was in the MTC preparing to go to Oklahoma as a missionary, the desire to attend BYU was reborn. But when I came home from my mission, I felt like I should return to Rexburg. Again, my desire to attend BYU disappeared. The one thing that remained the same over all of these years was my desire to live in Utah.
And after living here for almost four months, I can honestly say I love it, but Utah is just another place. Sure, I love driving up and down the 15 and seeing LDS temples and churches from the freeway. Yes, I love waking up to see the beautiful mountains every day. I even love living in the Mormon bubble. But aside from all of that, Utah is just another place.
The irony of the situation is that I finally live in this place I have wanted to live my entire life, but it has probably been the hardest three to four months I have had in a while.
The roller coaster hasn't ended. In fact, I think it's become an even more crazy ride as time has gone on. But I am trying to endure and have patience because I know there is more in store for me. I am looking forward to 2015 for a fresh start and a better year. If I am completely honest 2014 hasn't been super terrible, but a lot of hard things have happened this year, especially in the later half. I am trying to learn from my trials and become better because of them, but it has been more challenging than I thought it would be.
I am grateful to finally be in Utah. I am just trying to make sense of the things that have happened in the last 5 months and figure out what's next. And Utah is just as great of a place to be as any while I do that.
I really don't know why I have always wanted to go to BYU or live in Utah. My mom went to BYU, but I really don't know much about her experience. Part of me really thinks I was just born wanting to go to BYU and live in Utah. When I received my rejection letter from BYU, my desire to go there lessened a bit, but I still had planned to transfer after a year at BYU-I. But it wasn't long after moving to Rexburg and attending BYU-I that my desire to go to BYU completely disappeared. A few years later, while I was in the MTC preparing to go to Oklahoma as a missionary, the desire to attend BYU was reborn. But when I came home from my mission, I felt like I should return to Rexburg. Again, my desire to attend BYU disappeared. The one thing that remained the same over all of these years was my desire to live in Utah.
And after living here for almost four months, I can honestly say I love it, but Utah is just another place. Sure, I love driving up and down the 15 and seeing LDS temples and churches from the freeway. Yes, I love waking up to see the beautiful mountains every day. I even love living in the Mormon bubble. But aside from all of that, Utah is just another place.
The irony of the situation is that I finally live in this place I have wanted to live my entire life, but it has probably been the hardest three to four months I have had in a while.
The roller coaster hasn't ended. In fact, I think it's become an even more crazy ride as time has gone on. But I am trying to endure and have patience because I know there is more in store for me. I am looking forward to 2015 for a fresh start and a better year. If I am completely honest 2014 hasn't been super terrible, but a lot of hard things have happened this year, especially in the later half. I am trying to learn from my trials and become better because of them, but it has been more challenging than I thought it would be.
I am grateful to finally be in Utah. I am just trying to make sense of the things that have happened in the last 5 months and figure out what's next. And Utah is just as great of a place to be as any while I do that.
