20. Your Blogging Days Are Not Over

          This may be the end of our blog assignment, but not the end of our time as bloggers. I believe that even after this class, we should still continue to blog even if it's only once a week or every two weeks. We have been taught, at such a young age, to keep a journal. I even remember having a primary lesson about it! So many amazing experiences happen to us every day, if we don't take the time to record it, how will we remember and share it? All these blog posts tell a story about who we are, and how we got to a certain point in our lives. These posts show growth.
           Overall, I enjoyed writing about little events which happened over the semester. These events have either brought a smile to my face, spiritually uplifted me, or exemplified some sort of growth. I also blogged about things I was passionate about or didn't want to forget. My blog isn't really personal at all, but it does cover the surface of my life. I'm grateful for this assignment, and the opportunity I had to share my stories with peers. So till the next blog post...

19. Pants are Chic Too.

          I promise this isn't a fashion blog, but I love clothes. When you're passionate about something, it's only natural to write and rant about it in detail. Two weeks ago, my little cousin Jasmine called me asking how I felt about pants for a homecoming dance. Homecoming dances were a big deal in high school, and girls used it as an excuse to buy a new formal dress they'd only wear once. So when my cousin asked me this, I was shocked, but completely supportive.
          "Yes! Wear velvet pants and add heels. It's classy and makes you stand out, but in a good way." I also told her to be careful her outfit didn't come off as lesbian. She called me the next day and told me how many people complimented her outfit.

          Then, today, I came across an article on Vogue's website (that I adore so much) titled: Put on Your Party Pants: Meet the Season’s Chic Answer to the Cocktail Dress. Yes. My little cousin is a bad A and was one step ahead of the trends. There are so many different pant styles that are just as flirty and flattering as a cocktail dress. You can go with velvet, satin, flares, etc. and dress it up however you want! In the article, there are several cute (but very expensive) pants that scream, "center of the party!" I would enter the price of each pant, but I don't want to cause my readers heartache.

Adam Lippes- straight leg denim pants

J. Crew- wide cropped sequined trousers

Marni- viscose satin pants

18. I'll Never Grow Up. No Sir. Not I. Not Me. So There!

"I won't grow up, I don't wanna go to school. Just to learn to be a parrot, and recite a silly rule."

          Yes. Tonight was the premiere of Peter Pan live. I was so excited to watch this production, because Chris played Nibs (one of the lost boys.) I met Chris earlier this year, through a friend, after one of his broadway performances in Les Mis. Although, he's only an understudy and member of the ensemble, he still gets the opportunity to go in as Marius when the lead is not able to make it. For him to be a part of the live production of Peter Pan was so exciting, and I loved being able to see his face on my TV!

           The song lyrics listed above were sang by the lost boys, and it has never felt so relatable. Growing up is not easy...at all. I remember telling my dad how excited I was to not be a child anymore and do my own thing. WOW, what I would give to not be responsible for anything ever again. Finals are quickly creeping up, and the stress is just continuing to pile on. I can feel myself drowning and being dragged through fire to reach the end of this semester. Unfortunately, Neverland doesn't exist, and we can't stay a kid forever. Growing up is a part of life, and frankly, we're all going to die. SO stop desiring the past, stop focusing too much on the future, and enjoy your current stage in life.

17. Farmers Only Please

          You don't have to be lonely...at Farmers Only! The commercial played on the tv for this online dating site made and designed for country folks. My roommate Alexis and I look at each other. It was only five minutes ago that we were brainstorming prank ideas to pull on our roommate Carly. Pranks are a part of the roommate bonding process, right? You know you've been blessed with the best roommates when you can pull as many pranks possible and still continue to live together in harmony.

          Alexis pulled out her laptop, and we decided to make Carly a Farmers Only account. We edited her profile and made it appealing to men ranging from 21-99.
          Her little biography said: "I enjoy a plethora of outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, swimming (skinny dipping if you're lucky), and sports. Family is the most important thing in life, so I plan on starting one real soon. I enjoy the simple things in life--reading on my porch swing, cook'n up a juicy steak, and listening to Christmas music year 'round."

          We made sure not to actually interact with the guys who "liked/flirted" with her, because we didn't want to take it too far. The minute Carly walked into the door, it was impossible to keep a straight face. She immediately knew something was up. 

          "Guys...what did you do?" she said as she slowly walked over.

          "Nothing, nothing. It's a surprise!" Alexis exclaims.

          "Tell me right now."

          "NO. Do you want to ruin your Christmas gift?"

           This banter went on for another thirty minutes until Carly finally gave up. She went to her room, and Alexis and I decided we would tell her before we all left for Christmas. There will be an    envelope on her bed that says, "You don't have to be lonely." Inside the envelope will be a list of all the guys that "liked" her along with her username and password, incase she does plan on pursuing a farmer.

16. If Ye Love Me...

          Just recently, the following question was asked: Why do we pay tithing? Someone then answered saying, "because it is a commandment." Yes, I totally agree, but I felt like there should be more to this answer. We shouldn't pay our tithing or keep other commandments unwillingly, just because it's what we're expected to do. We should follow and keep the commandments because we want to, because we love the Lord. 
          As members of the church, we are often asked to do many things we may not completely understand. How often do we question and doubt the actions or standards we are required to follow? We shouldn’t have to think twice about what is asked of us. If we love the Lord and our Savior, we will do whatever they say and keep their commandments without a second thought. They truly have our best interest in heart, and though, we may not understand at this present time, we must trust in them. They have a unique, eternal perspective that we are incapable of having. The Savior is our ultimate guide through this life. We need to follow the commandments, because it's what is asked of us, and most importantly, because we love him and our Father in heaven. This is one way we show the Lord and Savior our love and gratitude for all the wonderful and infinite blessings they have given us. 

15. Potterheads and Butterbeer

          Hi, my name is Emily Colon, and I'm a Potterhead. I love everything about Harry Potter. At one point in my life, I even thought I was a wizard. Anyway, my senior year of high school, I had the opportunity to go to Orlando, Florida with all my classmates and GO TO HARRY POTTER WORLD. I will never forget that beautiful day. The minute I stepped off the bus and walked into Universal Studios, I could already feel the magic in the air. I breathed it in and ran straight towards the main attraction. I could see Hogwarts from the distance, and it was coming closer with every step I took.

          The minute I walked into Hogsmeade, I literally thought I was in Heaven. This is the fictional place, I read about in books, brought to life. Does it get any better than this? My friends and I ran straight for the butter beers, and I have never had something so delicious trickle down my throat before. After, we ran towards the Hogwarts castle for a stimulation ride. It was like we were flying on brooms the whole time. At the very end of the ride, 3-D images of the Harry Potter cast greeted and congratulated us on our journey. I couldn't help but cry. Yes. I cried on the Harry Potter stimulation ride. We even got to visit Zonkos and Honeydukes. My dreams were brought to life, and I'm just so grateful for J.K. Rowling, because without her, Harry Potter and his story would not exist, and life wouldn't be the same.

14. Pointless Facts About Me...Don't Bother

20 Random Fun Facts:

1. I'm more excited to see my dog than anyone else back home. She is my love and my life.

2. I'm a closeted Taylor Swift fan.
3. I love surfing.
4. I suck at surfing.
5. I would rather spend a day in a large city when it's blistering hot, crowded with tons of people, than spend a day peacefully camping out in the mountains.
6. I can eat a jar of olives in five minutes.
7. My best friend is my 16 year old cousin named Jasmine. She doesn't know it yet, but she's going to be my maid of honor.

8. Except, I'm not even engaged or in a serious relationship or talking to anyone I'm interested in.
9. I've seen Les Mis on broadway twice, and I plan on seeing it again soon.

10. I've watched all ten seasons of Friends three times.
11. I think Elvis is the most gorgeous man to walk this earth, followed by Ryan Gosling and Ben Affleck.
12. Washington D.C. temple is my favorite.
13. I still believe that one day I'll get the chance to go to Hogwarts.
14. I could spend hours in a museum; Klimt is my favorite artist.
15. I'm a pizza and cannoli snob; My favorite place is in Hoboken, NJ.
16. I met One Direction at Walmart before they were super famous.
17. Retail therapy plays a huge role in my life.
18. I love when guys wear nice watches and smell good.
19. I love all music, but I hate country.
20. I Skype my parents way too much.

13. From a Prince to a Frog

          Oh yea, he is WAY attractive. What's his name again? Naturally I wanted to know more about this kid. What's his background? What does he like? Is he a "good" guy? Where do you find these answers when you don't have super close mutual friends? SOCIAL MEDIA. How easy is it to access personal pictures and information through websites such as Facebook, instagram, and twitter? I will be the first to admit that I am very, very guilty of using social media to dig deeper. But I insist on getting to know someone in person first, before you go off of what you discovered through the internet.

          Look at this picture of him holding kids! Can you picture what he'd look like holding our child? "WHOA slow it down there psycho," I quietly tell myself. One thing I tend to do is build someone up, going off of the little information I gained through social media. Well, he seems like he's got his life together. The things he posts lead me to believe that he is just the sweetest guy ever. Many of us use social media to make our lives appear flawless. Look how skinny I am in my new dress, or how much fun I'm having with all my friends! Are we ever going to post about the time we fought with our parents or cried ourselves to sleep due to a lack of vigor and hope? No. Many of us are not going to publicly advertise our flaws. 

          For a bit, I ended up getting to know this kid who I imagined to be the perfect package, and he was kind of the opposite. Maybe he was having a bad night? Either way, I created this false person in my head and built him up to be someone he wasn't. My so called prince ended up being a frog.

12. Enjoy Cafe Rio and Don't Dwell on Chipotle (narrative)

          Tears started streaming down my cheeks as I buried my face into their shoulders for the last time. I knew this day was coming, but as cliché as it sounds, I can’t believe it came so fast. As soon as I gave them my last goodbyes, I ran up the stairs to my dorm room and new home. I couldn’t stand to look at them any longer; parting was a lot harder that I thought it would be. August  28^th 2013 was the day I said goodbye to my parents and started my new chapter here at BYU.

            I’ve lived in New Jersey my whole life. All my friends resided there, and the majority of my family lived close by. Sea Isle beach was an hour away, New York (The Big Apple) was two hours away, Philly (The City of Brotherly Love) was ten minutes away, and my favorite fast food restaurant, Chipotle, was only a five minute drive. I couldn’t ask for anything more, yet I knew that I had to go and start this new adventure. I have always wanted to move to Provo and attend my dream school. I imagined having tons of friends, acing all my classes, being surrounded by lots of LDS kids who share my standards, and going on plenty of dates. Though, after I said goodbye to my Chihuahua named Lucky, extended family, friends, and a guy who made my heart skip a beat, I realized how this change would not occur as blissfully as I thought.

I ran up the stairs covering my puffy face and collapsed onto my bed, where I cried for a solid hour. My parents were on their way to the airport at this very second. Then it hit me, these two people who have raised me and have been there for me the last eighteen years will soon be two thousand miles away.

“Hey! You’re here! So happy I finally get to meet you!” my roommate Michelle said as she walked into the door.

“Yea. Same here.” I choked out. I was still an emotional wreck, and the thought of interacting with people just didn’t seem appealing. Especially this stranger who already left a bad impression by how obnoxiously friendly she was.

            Months have passed, and it was already November. By this time, my roommate and I have grown close, but I still didn’t feel happy and at ease. A lot of nights, I curled up into fetal position with my knees tucked in as I silently cried myself to sleep, in hopes that Michelle wouldn’t hear. I remembered how easy it was to fall asleep when I could hear the soft snores of little Lucky who was cuddled up against my chest every night. I called my friends and parents everyday, because just the sounds of their voices helped cure my homesickness. I was going through the motions, living life day by day. I woke up, got ready, went to class, studied, ate, came home, reminisced about a happier time, and slept. It took too much effort to befriend new people, all the guys that took interest in me were peculiar, and the curriculum challenged me on a whole other level. I was stressed, and all the sudden changes destroyed the comfortable, happy life I once had. Then one day, the thought of Café Rio brought a smile to my face. 

            It was a dreaded Monday. I hate Mondays. Who doesn’t? On the bright side, I only had two classes. I got up at seven, so I could get ready for my eight a.m. class. I walked all the way to the CB from Helaman Halls and sat in my seat. I looked around, only to see two other people in the classroom when class started in exactly two minutes. I checked my email to find out that class was cancelled today! What the heck? I totally could’ve slept in! Well, my next class wasn’t till one, so obviously, I was going to go back home and sleep for a bit. As I was walking back home, I felt a weird tug as my backpack went over my head and knocked me down completely. How did this happen? I was walking at a normal pace, and there was no physical contact with another person, but it felt like some powerful force completely threw me off balance. I didn’t just trip or stumble, my hands and knees were on the ground, and my face was inches away from the concrete. Thank goodness my earphones were in to block out all the laughs and giggles that occurred at Brigham Square.

“Shoot,” I muttered to myself. Except, I used a word that wasn’t BYU appropriate.

“Are you okay?” a girl asked as she came over to help me up.

“Yea. I’m fine,” I said as I quickly picked myself up, trying not to cause a scene.

“Your foot is bleeding!”

“Oh, it’s no problem. I’m heading home anyway,” I said as I looked down at my foot to see my big toe completely ripped open and gushing blood.

            I hobbled home leaving a trail of red gore behind me. When I got to my dorm, my flip flop and foot was completely coated in blood. “Great, this has got to be the best Monday ever!” I sarcastically exclaimed to myself. I went to the bathroom and cleaned my foot up and bandaged my big toe that looked like it went through a paper shredder. I curled up in bed and thought about this splendid Monday. I got up early and walked across campus for a cancelled class, then somehow managed to fall and bust my big toe on the way home. As I laid there, I decided that I did not want to go to my one o’clock Book of Mormon class. It was actually my favorite class, and I always felt spiritually fed and uplifted every time I went. I knew I had to go, but after such a rough morning, all I wanted was to just lay in bed and feel sorry for myself.

            I continued laying in bed, then got up to get ready, but found myself under the covers again. I tossed and turned, but there was a nagging sensation that filled my body and literally pulled me out of bed. I looked into the mirror to see a face I didn’t recognize. She was a mess, and she did not look like the cheerful girl who use to embrace life and everyone around her. I tossed my hair up into the sloppiest bun and thought to myself, “Well this is as good as it’s going to get.” I walked out of my dorm and hobbled to class with my wrapped up toe still aching in pain. I arrived to the Benson building, and class was already starting, so I sat all the way in the back, instead of my usual front row seat.

“When going through our mortal life on earth, Satan will do anything and everything in his power to keep us from progressing. The trials we face are made for us, although they seem overbearing, the Lord knows we can handle them. A positive attitude helps us to be happier and more grateful when facing challenges. We need to go through these inconvenient experiences in order to grow. Success and growth occur when we step out of our comfort zone.” As soon as Brother Griffin was done preaching to us, I just sat in my chair with uncontrollable tears flowing down my face, letting his message sink into my heart and reside with me. This was exactly what I needed to hear to get me through the rest of the semester and life in general!

            On my way home from class, I couldn’t stop smiling. Life was beautiful and great! Later that night, as I was in bed getting ready to fall asleep, I thought about the positive points instead of dwelling on the negative events: I was fortunate to wake up and be alive, I was able to take a nice two hour nap, and I listened to the prompting to go to class. That was the first night that I didn’t shed a single tear. I stopped calling friends from home and took advantage of the opportunities I had here to meet new people. I admired the gorgeous mountains every morning on my way to class and enjoyed the setting sun on my way home. I finally stopped complaining about the lack of Chipotle and basked in the tastiness known as Café Rio.

11. And in that Moment...

          "Maybe it's good to put things in perspective, but sometimes, I think that the only perspective is to really be there. Because it's okay to feel things. I was really there. And that was enough to make me feel infinite." Guess what book this line is from?

          I'm not going to spoil the book for you, but I will state that at the end of this book, Charlie overcomes his troubling past, lives in the present, and looks forward to the future.
          Truly living in the present is rare. It can be difficult to soak in emotions and feelings of current situations. Imagine a day trip to New York City. Naturally, you are going to want to take tons of pictures of every building, art piece, and sewer rat you see. Which picture should you post on instagram that will get the most likes? These may be the thoughts that are running through your mind when experiencing the wonders of a big city. SHUT THESE THOUGHTS OFF. Embrace and soak in the beauty of your surroundings. I know we want to capture these memories and make them last forever,  but this can distract you from living in the moment. Even if the feelings you have are of despair and discomfort, embrace it. Remember, it's okay to feel.

10. T-Giving in Apt. 222

          Remember that chick from South Africa named Janine? Well as you know, we are here together as roomies at BYU! I have the great opportunity of seeing her gorgeous face every. single. day. Not only that, but since we are both from the east coast, we got to spend our thanksgiving together here in Provo. We both decided that we would much rather cook up our own feast in the comfort of our apartment than go somewhere else. Later that day, my cousin skyped me, and I got to see my whole family gathered in my house eating my favorite dishes...without me. I smiled and laughed, but as soon as I hung up, I started tearing up. I wanted nothing more than to be home. I snapped out of this funk and remembered to hang in there, because only THREE more weeks till I'm home.

          I am so grateful to be able to go home for Christmas, but most importantly, I am grateful for a best friend who made this thanksgiving so enjoyable when I couldn't be home. I consider Janine a sister, so in a way, I did get to spend my turkey break with family. As soon as classes ended on Tuesday, we brought our mattresses into the living room where it was a sleepover every night. We watched endless movies and shows on netflix, pigged out, went hot tubbing, and out shopping. I could not have asked for anything more. It was a perfect, relaxing vacation that we both needed before the ruckus of finals. 

9. Long Distance Ain't Easy

          In my previous post, I mentioned one of my best friends Janine who I met at EFY four years ago. She lived in North Carolina, I lived in New Jersey, and we only got to see each other for one week every summer, yet we still managed to maintain a long distance relationship throughout the years. Our success story should be used to advertise EFY.

Summer 2010:
          It was my first year at EFY, and my parents literally had to drag me to the car and buckle me in for the six hour drive to Buena Vista, Virginia. I had no idea what to expect, and I didn't know anyone else who was going, so naturally, I wanted to throw myself out of the moving car. When I got there, I met my roommate who was an interesting individual and my company, which had ZERO cute boys. This is going to be the best week ever...I sarcastically thought to myself. We went around the room and introduced ourselves. This tiny blonde introduced herself as Janine, except the J sounds like a Y, so it's pronounced Yanine. Janine was originally from South Africa, but moved to America with her family when she was three. It was the second day when we sat next to each other for the morning devotional, and we just clicked. Throughout the week, we were inseparable. We came to the conclusion that we were sisters separated at birth. Saying goodbye was not easy, but we kept in touch until our second summer at EFY.

Summer 2011:
          I was way excited for EFY this time around, because I FINALLY got to reunite with my long distance best friend and have the opportunity to be her roommate! The minute she walked into the dorm, we embraced for a solid five minutes and picked up right where we left off. The week flew by, and we were saying goodbye again until next summer.

Summer 2012:
          Instead of going to EFY, Janine came up to New Jersey to stay with me. We picked her up at the Baltimore airport and made the most of our time together. We went to the D.C. temple, Six Flags, New York City, Philadelphia, and Ocean City all within a week. We were so exhausted, but we couldn't waste one second on sleep! We stayed up talking and jammed out during long car rides instead of napping. I was an emotional disaster dropping her off at the airport, and cried the whole way home. ONE MORE YEAR till we could be together again, but phone dates would suffice until then.

Summer 2013:
          By this time, I already graduated high school, and Janine only had one more year left. Our last year at EFY totally tanked, but we were together at the exact place where our friendship started. We were roommates again, and we spent late nights talking about our future together like lovestruck teenagers in a serious relationship. I was heading off to BYU, and that's where Janine wanted to go as well. We talked about rooming together in college and being able to spend longer than a week together! The thought alone made me so happy and excited for that day to come! When we said goodbye at the end of the week, we knew this was the last time we'd have to say goodbye for a WHOLE year. The next time we saw each other, it would be for good. I no longer had to survive off of three hour phone calls each week, because I'd get to see her everyday.

8. How Much Can Change in a Year

          Wait...is my third semester at BYU almost over? Apparently, time really does fly when you're having fun...or when you're too busy to even bother keeping track of what day it is. College is a whirlwind, but I'm so grateful that this year has already been ten times better than my freshman year. Last year, I lived in Helaman Halls with a roommate I got along with, but who wasn't exactly my best friend. Obviously, I loved her, but there were so many incidents where she made adjusting to the change a lot harder. Now as a sophomore, I get to live off campus with a kitchen, my own room, a living room, and a laundry room! I also get to room with one of my best friends I met four years ago at EFY, in addition to two other roommates I love dearly! School is stressful enough, and luckily, I've been blessed with amazing roommates who make my time here even more enjoyable. Every time I pray, I make sure to express my gratitude to Heavenly Father for putting these amazing girls in my life.
       

          This year is also a million times better, because I finally decided on what I wanted to focus my studies on! I was set on studying business, until I realized how much I hated it. I didn't love or even like the prerequisites, other than marketing. They were difficult, and I dreaded going to class and sitting through boring lectures. Even though it brings in good money, it's not something I'm passionate about whatsoever. SO I've decided on studying communications, because SURPRISE, it's a department I thoroughly enjoy learning about. Hopefully this goes well...

7. All I Want for Christmas is....

          Sometimes it's the little things that put the biggest smile on your face. Yesterday morning when my roomies and I were driving home from conference at the Marriott Center, my roommate Alexis asks, "Are we allowed to listen to Christmas music yet?" My other roommate Carly answers back saying, "Um yea! it's past November 1st!" Before she even gets this sentence out, Alexis had already changed the music on the radio. Guess which Christmas classic she put on first? Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You." Maybe this isn't your traditional Christmas song, but it is a jam. I'm pretty sure every single person in the world has jammed to this upbeat tune at least once in their life. Listening to this song and other Christmas classics puts me in the best mood ever. I even started tearing up in the car while I thought about all my past Christmases, and how I couldn't wait for this upcoming Christmas!

       
          Christmas is my absolute favorite time of the year. I love being with my whole family. I love the food. I love remembering the Savior. I LOVE EVERY SINGLE THING ABOUT CHRISTMAS. Being away from home has made Christmas even ten times more exciting and special. After four months of being away from all my friends and family, I finally get to go home and celebrate such a wonderful, joyful holiday with the people I love. I remember my past Christmases so vividly. Every Christmas was always a great experience, except the one year when I was a junior in high school. My boyfriend broke up with me on Christmas Eve, over the phone (picture below is a lovely candid of this event.) HAHA classic. BUT I didn't even care, because I was out exploring New York City with my cousins! Nothing, especially an irrelevant, teen boy with a bad combover, could ruin my holiday spirit. Obviously, it was still a great Christmas.
   

           One more month till I'm home for the greatest holiday of the year, and I could not be more excited. Hearing Christmas music puts me in the greatest mood ever, whether I'm listening to Michael Buble, Mariah Carey, or the Mormon Tabernacle! I will listen to any and all Christmas music. As my roommates and I belted every note to Mariah Carey's hit, we joked about all the guys we wanted wrapped up in glitter ribbons, waiting under our tree for Christmas. But honestly, all I could think about was just the simple joy of being home for Christmas. I mean yea, it would be nice to have this one guy with the big glasses, chiseled jaw, and gorgeous smile, but NO. I just want it to be December 18th. I want to be boarding my flight home, landing in the Philadelphia airport, and running straight to the open arms of my parents. I want to laugh and surround myself with family I haven't seen in so long. I want to walk through New York City and admire all the bright lights. I want to drink hot chocolate and reread conference talks with my parents. I want to snuggle and give my dog tons of kisses. I want to hang out with friends and reminisce about memories that seem so distant. I want to stroll the cold, empty beaches. I want to be home, and that's the best Christmas gift I could ever ask for.

6. Reflection of the Research Paper

          It's finally over! All the questions, research, and editing of this ten paged paper is done. The topic I chose was the assimilation and acculturation of cultures when coming to America, most specifically the Filipino culture. This was not my original topic. I went through several ideas until I realized that the Filipino culture plays a huge role in my life, and it was an easier topic to write about since I already knew a good amount of information. Growing up, I have always been super close to my mom's side of the family and adapted many Filipino customs and traits at such a young age. This increased my desire to learn more about culture in general, and how immigrants deal with the clash of two completely different lifestyles.

          The process of completing this paper started with questions. What is different about my family background, and how can I turn this question into a topic for my research paper. Once I picked a question, I did research! I researched all the possible answers for the question I had. The question then became a thesis, and I used all my resources to write a paper about possible outcomes to my initial question. After my rough draft was formed, I got it proofread by a few people before finishing the final product.


          Researching was probably the hardest part of this process. Finding reliable sources that fit my topic was difficult for me. Yes, there are so many sources out there, but I was picky when it came to selecting which ones would support the theme of my paper. Of course, procrastination was kind of a problem. I waited till the last two days to finish up, which did not leave me enough time to get it proofread by multiple people. I also wish I did a better job at organizing my thoughts before I started the paper. A clear idea and plan of execution would have made it easier on myself when completing this paper. Although, it was rough, I did enjoy reading more about the Filipino culture, and other cultures that had to go through the same process of immigrating to America. Sociology is fascinating to me, I enjoy learning about cultures and how they assimilate or acculturate when placed in a new environment. Overall, it was an enjoyable topic, but the research was not as fun.
       

5. Rhetorical Analysis on "Receiving a Testimony of Light"

        On Saturday morning, I had the opportunity to attend the conference center for the morning session of general conference. Being there in person always brings a different feel than watching it at home on the couch. The very last talk given by President Uchtdorf really stuck out to me, because I believe that everyone could've gained something from it. In his talk "Receiving a Testimony of Light and Truth," he focused on the simple concept of testimonies and all the ways we could help it grow. Believing and testifying of what we can not see is difficult, but if we do our part in strengthening our testimony, the Lord will strongly bear witness of the gospel's truth. President Uchtdorf opens his talk with an analogy to establish a relationship between the coming of present day technology and the truth of the gospel.

        
          An analogy provides a mental linkage between two concepts, so the new concept is provided in a simpler manner. Uchtdorf starts of by stating how astronomers and technology, such as telescopes, have  made it possible to learn more about the mind boggling universe. Our understanding has changed, and it has been made possible for us to even view distant galaxies. Now we know for sure that they are there and that they have been there for a very long time. If we traveled back in time and told people of the great technologies we have in our day, would they believe us? Many would not and would condemn us for trying to mislead others. 
         

          Uchtdorf then says, "But they simply would not be able to see clearly because they had not yet received the more complete light of truth." As members of the church, we have the complete light of truth that people around the world are oblivious to. Sharing a message of the Savior and his restored church is not easy, because majority of us have never seen God or the Savior in the flesh, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. Through faith, we build our own personal testimony of gospel truths. We ask and seek out answers and confirmation if we ever have any questions or concerns. Our testimony of light and truth can be strengthened through communication with Heavenly Father. Testimony is how we share the gospel with those who are seeking for the truth. When we testify, the spirit does also. Overall, having a testimony is important, because it doesn't die off in this life, our testimonies will continue to accompany us into eternal life. 

4. Research Topic Ideas:

There are so many stories that I've been told about my family's past experiences and adventure. These stories led to questions...

What was the main reason my grandparents moved their whole family to America from the Philippines?
Why is it tradition to go to New York City every year for Christmas?
Why does my mother put such a huge emphasis on hard work?

*Maybe focus your topic a little bit more.

Find out the events that lead to your mother emphasizing hard work. What happened?
Possibly find out how Christmas started and how it evolved into your family going to New York. 

Those are some really cool topics. Maybe there are connections as to why your family moved to with your mother and hard work. Find connections. I would be interested. 

Find out the story of what happened in New York. Maybe they were poor and had to live in a tiny apartment and work in factories hours on end just to barely survive. Just a possibility.. But what happened then would definitely have an effect on what's happening now.

Can't go wrong with a New York City topic! Make sure to include a solid thesis and lots of personal accounts to give reason and pull your reader in :)

Interesting last comment- the emphasis on hard work. Research into that field would lend itself to the events your Mom has been through, the culture of the family she was raised in, and possibly even family traditions of hard work that have persisted to the present day. It should be fun!  


Thesis:
While some traditions are kept and enriched when moving to a different country, Filipinos often customize or completely forget about past customs and assimilate to new cultural traits over a period of time.

3. Reflecting Back...

       Surprisingly, I kind of enjoyed writing this paper. I have an undying love for Les Mis, so writing a paper about my favorite book and musical wasn't as stressful. Reflecting back to the process of writing this paper, there is a lot I could have worked on to improve the quality of it. First, I am going to start off with procrastination. I did not wait until the very last night to complete my paper, but I also didn't space out the work with all the time I've been given. It's important to start early and use all the time I have, because writing can always be improved. I also should have had more people review my paper. Hearing other opinions and perspectives helps open my eyes to different possibilities I would not have thought of myself. One of my strengths was the interest I had for the topic. I believe that the passion I had for this speech could be felt through the words in my paper. Over all, there is always room for improvement, but it's important to acknowledge what you're good at and do it again the next time around.

2. How Much Do You Know?

          "The more children knew about their family's history, the stronger their sense of control over their lives, the higher their self-esteem, and the more successfully they believed their families functioned."
This statement from "The Stories That Bind Us" sums up the importance of knowing our background and better understanding who we are. I really enjoyed this article, because until now, I never really pondered the importance of knowing the joys and struggles my past ancestors went through to create such a wonderful life for me. My favorite stories such as how my parents were converted, then how they met have shaped who I am and my testimony in the gospel.

          Being a sucker for a good romance story, I'm going to share the time my parents met. This story has been told so many times, and surprisingly, it is a story I don't and won't get sick of, even though I roll my eyes every time they share it.
       
           My dad was a loud dropout from New York before the missionaries knocked on his door at the age of 26. He then turned his life around and was able to serve a mission in the Philippines at the age of 28!

My mom was a shy Filipina, who had just moved to America and was introduced to the gospel by her friend Mimi. My mom is the youngest out of nine children, and she had the courage to accept the gospel and be baptized, even when her family protested against it. When my dad came back from his mission, the missionaries decided to play matchmaker. They told him all about this gorgeous Filipina who just got baptized. My dad then got her number and called her up. My mom was obviously freaked out and didn't bother giving him the time of day, but my dad was very persistent and did not let this stop him. He then went to a party that he knew she would be at. My mom finally gave him a chance, and naturally my dad took her out for pizza as their first date.

       
          They continued to go on a few more dates, and it started getting serious. My dad had my mom over for dinner and Beauty and the Beast, and this was when my mom left the letter. She told him to read it when she was gone, and he did. It was a "Dear John" let's just be friends. My dad was so heartbroken, he went to his bishop for a blessing, and that blessing revealed to him all he needed to win her over. In the blessing it said "grow closer through the gospel, use scripture study." My dad then asked my mom to meet at the library, and these two fairly new converts spent hours on end searching and pondering the scriptures. Their yearning to learn brought them closer, and the Spirit manifested unto them. My mom finally realized that my dad was who she wanted and needed to spend eternity with.

          I love this story, because I can understand how the gospel changed both of their lives and prepared them to come together. My parents are huge examples to me. They are both the only members in their families, and if they had chose to listen to their families and ignore the spirit, I would not be here today. I'm forever grateful that they listened and were sensitive to the Holy Ghost. Seeing how the gospel brought them together has strengthened my testimony and helped me better appreciate the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

1. "All of these Advancements are Part of the Lord hastening His work in the Latter Days."

          I love Elder Bednar! He is such a great speaker, and the two talks we were assigned to read really got me thinking about how we are using technology. Technology is a great tool that we can use to share the gospel, do family history, and other positive works, yet if we are not careful, it can also be used against us. I know I often go on the computer to start my homework, but then realize about an hour later that I got sidetracked and wasted time reading about an unimportant event such as "Kourtney Kardashian is expecting a third child!" It is so easy to get carried away and waste the precious time we have on this earth solely through the useless substances of the internet.

      
          Technology is also replacing the opportunities we have to interact with different people on a daily basis. A rule I have set for myself is to never take my phone out when I'm at a social gathering. It is so easy to avoid real life interactions when we are so set on staring at our phones the whole night. While we are on our phones we could be meeting new people, developing friendships, and strengthening relationships. Although, it is easy to get lost in this cyber world, we are blessed to have it in this day and age. We must know our limits and use it as a resource to share the gospel to people everywhere.
      
          As members of the church, we know of the fulness, and it is our responsibility to share the happiness we have with those who are still seeking. We need to build up the Lord's kingdom, and we can speed up this process and "sweep the earth as with a flood" through technology.