Tonight on WWE: Bethany vs. Sophomore Year

Welcome back to college folks!

I've spent all summer preparing for this, but it is nothing like I expected.

The drive down marked the first scene of change. Last year, Mom and I left sometime after noon and made our way down south. We were called inside at the border to discuss some things and then stoped in Idaho Falls to sleep. Our journey took two days and Mom did most of the driving. The drive this year included me, Mom, Rachel and Kung Kung. The four of us piled into the car, which was easy to do since most of my stuff was already in Utah at Aunt Dorothy's. We left at night, around eight pm, and drove through the night. We drove through the border really easily, they didn't pull us inside this time, and then I took the first driving shift in the US. The I-15 is really fun to drive in the middle of the night because the only other drivers on the road are semi-trucks. There was this one car that came zooming up behind us and once it passed me, I figured, if he could be going that fast without getting caught then chances are I'd be safe too, so I kept pace with him. I won't admit online how fast I was driving. But it was fun. Everyone else fell asleep while I was driving, and eventually, the car outdrove me, so it ended up just being me and the mountain passes. The mountain passes are soo pretty... when it isn't the middle of the night. Instead, they were wildly confusing, and there were some lanes closed off so at one point I wasn't even sure if I was driving on the right side of the cones. Mom switched me off after five or six hours of just me driving (I love driving at night so much, but I was starting to feel really sleepy). I woke up later to Rachel at the wheel and we were stopping to get breakfast. Honestly, leaving at night was the best way to do that drive, so I think I might do that method from here on out.

Home sweet home in Utah though. We got to Aunt Dorothy's in the mid-afternoon and it was so hot out. Fortunately, her house has AC, which is not something we have back in Canada. Not that it's not a thing in Canada at all! Only my parents' house doesn't have AC lol. Either way, I miss being here.

Well, I miss it for the most part. What I've started realizing is that what I missed about Utah was the people I had in Utah last year. Specifically, with Patrick gone and all my friends scattered around campus, it really doesn't feel the same. Eve, Joseph, and Kaylee all live in Heritage Halls, so I can't just see them from a five-minute walk or less. Now it takes a twenty+ minute trek to the other side of campus. Jayden and his roommates and Anna are right across the street from me, but honestly, I've seen them all less than I've seen the Heritage-ers.

I was worried last year that I wouldn't want to invite people over to my place because it was too small and cheap, but I am so glad to be wrong. I really like my apartment, especially for the price. I pay under $450/month for rent and utilities. With the stress of getting my student loans issued out and money being tight for my family right now, I've been really grateful for my scholarship and for the price of my apartment.

I also REALLY love the girls that I live with. I was nervous at first because when I moved in I was told that everyone else had already moved in. I thought that moving in earlier would mean I was one of the first to be here, but I was completely wrong. Two of the girls who live here have lived in this apartment for a full year already, which was surprising to me. I don't mind though, because it means that they have a fully stocked kitchen of appliances (pots and pans and stuff) that I don't have to buy all on my own now AND the living spaces are pretty well furnished too. Two other girls moved in together on one of the first days our lease started, but they both live in Utah so it wasn't a hard move for them to make. Plus, one of them goes to school at UVU so she started a week before everyone else at BYU, which just happened to be a week after the lease started (another reason why she was here so early).

My room roommate's name is Rachel. She's the one on the far right in this photo of us 6. Rachel is a senior, the only senior in our apartment. Three of them are juniors, and me and Kennedy (the blonde who is second from the right) are sophomores. Again, this is a very different change of pace compared to my living arrangements last year, since we were all freshmen at Helaman Halls.

Rachel is one of the coolest girls ever. Her room is beautifully decorated and it's been such fun getting to know her. She has a record player and lets me use it whenever I want which is the most amazing thing ever! I've bought my very own vinyl record, Delta Kream by The Black Keys, and I play it all the time, especially when I'm doing homework. Rachel also has a piano and a tv, so she's really contributed the most to the quality of our living room.

Speaking of the living room, I took the shelf that I had in my dorm room at Helaman and put it under the window on the far wall. There were a bunch of plants on the coffee table that I migrated to the shelf so they have better lighting, and it really adds to the room. We're all still deciding what to put on the walls, but I'm so excited to see how much we can do with the space.

Here's a little collection of photos that will act as an apartment tour:

(excuse the messy room :P)

On the topic of classes, I really like all of mine. Except for physics. But I was already expecting that. Kennedy randomly ended up being in the same religion class as me, so we sit next to each other. Jayden is in both of my CS classes, but I've been slowly making some new friends in those classes too. I've made the goal to put myself out there and maybe make some friends with the girls in my CS classes. It's a lot harder of a feat to accomplish than making friends with the guys since the ratio of girls to guys in both of my classes is close to 80:20, but I'm willing to give it a shot. I'd really like to have some estrogen on my roster.

I've run into some really cute guys and have already involved myself in a few bouts of drama. Go figure. I would like to point out though, that I have been holding myself to a higher standard with making friends and having crushes, which is something I am proud of. A key lesson I learned from the summer was to no longer go around with people who make me uncomfortable because there are enough people out there who I can be much more confident and comfortable around, so those are the people I am willing to wait and find.

Oh, I also made the "mistake" of including my summer calling in the Red Deer YSA as a pianist, because not more than one Sunday later I was extended the calling of pianist. I accepted it because I love serving and I love playing piano. I especially love creating a spiritual environment through the prelude at the beginning of meetings. That's the spice I like to say I add to meetings. But I wanted to do more. So told the member of the bishopric that extended the calling to me that if there were any positions that needed extra support, that I am willing and available to serve. I want to have an active position in our ward and do more to serve. I am looking forward to getting my ministering assignment too.

Here are some BeReals that outline my past month:

All in all, I really like my ward. I really like my roommates. I really like my classes. I really like the friendships I've started making with people in my classes. And I really like what this semester is looking up to be. I hope everything is going well with all of you ♡