Over the last six months, I’ve experienced so much. At this time, the entire last year of my life feels unreal and dreamlike-a blur. I know that nothing anyone could have said would have even come close to preparing me for what this new opportunity has presented. Like-wise, no one can tell you what your future holds. In the next year, you may acquire the best roommates. You may have 3 dates a week. You may have 3 dates in an entire semester. You may be headed out as the world’s greatest missionary; you may be off to work the toughest job. Or Mr. Right may present himself right off. And, you may even be successful in a classroom. Sometimes, you'll feel like the world is on your side- the stars have aligned just for you. But there will be days that you swear they saw you coming and misaligned themselves.
When I stepped out of my first apartment on onto my own “Welcome” matt, the city’s morning noises filled me with a myriad of feelings and flutters of excitement. I almost skipped down the stairs in a perfect “first-day-of-school” fashion.Beginning college gave me a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach. Like when you’re swimming and you want to put your feet on something solid, but the water is deeper than you think and there’s nothing there. I discovered that occasionally my toes would begin to find some ground and it would turn out to be a passing turtle. There is only one thing that has been a grounding factor for me. Only one thing that has continually caught me as I learn to trust that I can be lead to solid ground, even if I have to tread water for a while. That is the Gospel. There are many ways that we find the gospel touching our lives: so many ways that the Gospel puts our lives in Christ’s hands.
“There’s a peace I’ve come to know, though my heart and flesh may fail. There’s an anchor for my soul, I can say, “it is well”. Jesus has overcome and the grave is overwhelmed. The victory is won; He is risen from the dead. And I will rise when He calls my name, no more sorrow, no more pain. I will rise, on eagles’ wings, before my God, fall on my knees and rise. I will rise. There’s a day that’s drawing near when this darkness breaks to night, and the shadows disappear and my faith shall be my eyes.”
I am a member of the Latter-day Celebration Choir at the Orem Institute. As I have participated in this choir, I have learned so much. Aside from the amazing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities I have been privileged to participate in, I have learned that it is very possible to feel the spirit in every ounce of life. As a choir, we feel the spirit in our fun and some days it has struck hearts in profound ways: especially mine.
On particularly rough days though, when I’m sure I can’t possibly endure, my choir director’s contagious attitude reminds me that my track record for getting through bad days so far is 100% and that’s pretty good! And some days, the fact that we’re all still breathing is reason enough to celebrate. Institute is the place where people will celebrate with you. And on the best days, my institute teachers are helping me to look to a life that I can love 100% of the time.
Through institute I’ve been reminded to do more, need less, smile often, dream big and realize that I’m much too blessed to be stressed.
There will be nights that it’s 3 am and you can’t sleep. In the last while, when this has happened to me, I’ve stepped out onto my front porch with a blanket and my journal and just felt the cold outside as it enveloped me. I would breathe in and create clouds when I would breathe out. I would watch the star scattered sky and search for the moon. I would then whisper all of my uncertainties aloud. I’d let the stars carry my worries for a while.
I’d sit and pray and I’d write lengthy and out reaching words. I would write the things I wanted to tell people that I knew I didn’t have the courage to show them. And I’d write until my hand cramped and I was shivering from the cold and I’d crawl into bed again feeling just a little lighter.And it’s on those nights that I finally realized that unexpected things are always going to happen in life.
And with that, that the only control I have is how I handle them. So I’m making the decision to survive using courage, humor, grace, and most importantly, the Gospel and Christ. With that, the choice of success becomes mine. Start deciding to live the life that you had imagined. Believe you can and do it.
Replace your fear of the future with curiosity of your potential. And one day, you’ll look around and find that life is pretty amazing.
I encourage you to be beautiful, not through the world’s eyes but be beautiful because of the way you think. Be beautiful for that sparkle in your eye when you talk about something you love. Be beautiful because of your ability to make others smile even if you’re sad. You aren’t going to be beautiful for something as temporary as your looks. You’re going to be beautiful deep down into your soul.
There will be many ways for you to come to know Christ better. There will be many tools that lead you to your solid ground. Institute is one of those God-given assets that have proved to be profoundly instrumental in the success of my college career. Heavenly Father will place teachers and fellow students into your path that will change your life and whole post-high school experience.I bear my testimony that there is “a peace I’ve come to know though my heart and flesh has failed. There is a safety for my soul. I can say, “It is well.”” I know that if you make institute a priority- whether or not you will be attending college right away, you will feel the influence of Christ in your life more impressively than ever.
You will feel His sustaining vote as He qualifies you for your calling.
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