Spring Term!

Hello dear readers!  Once again I feel the need to apologize for the lapse in my blogging.  I swear one of these days I will get better at this.  Today's post is more of making the most out of the college experience, and not necessarily how to survive college.

My original plan was to go home, back to Michigan, for spring and summer semester.  However, long story short, I decided to stay for spring.  At first I was not excited to be staying and going to school for an extra 2 months.  However, I have come to the conclusion that Spring semester is so much fun and a great way to make the most of your college experience!  If you have ever stayed for a spring semester, are currently staying for a spring semester, or are debating whether or not spring semester is a good idea, the following list of things to do during spring semester may be of use to you:

HAVE AN APARTMENT WARMING PARTY

 Sparkling Apple Cider is great for such an occasion

MAKE COOKIES

BUY FAKE MUSTACHES (These were won at the nickel arcade in Orem--150 tickets)

If you have done something fun this spring, please comment.  I would love to hear about it!

Finals are finishing/over!

I hope everyone got through their finals all right or are just finishing up and will be free like the rest of us soon enough.  Either way I will congratulate every one now.  WE DID IT!!  For me, I think it is a really big deal because I am not a freshman anymore.  YEAH THAT'S RIGHT!  Say hello to Shelby Olsen, the sophomore.  This really changes a lot for me.  I can FINALLY move off campus (yeah, I am sick of the Cannon Center), watch movies whenever I want with whoever I want, and I will have a lot longer than 4 hours of visiting, in which I can hang out with guys!  Well, I hope you enjoyed this post, and here is something else you might enjoy:

How to survive Finals!

Finals are upon us!  Today is the last reading day and then the testing commences.  I want to take this time to wish everyone the best of luck on their finals and offer some advice.  For those of you BYU alum, please comment and add your own advice.  Well, here goes:  I find it helpful to have something fun planned as a short break from the long hours of studying.  This could be anything from enjoying the weather to reading your favorite blog (mine?).  Anyway, whatever you do when you need a break, try not to make them too long or take too many.  Another tip that I find helpful is to have something to look forward to.  When I am done with my finals, I think I am going to grab a blanket and pillow and take a long nap outside.  Just having something to look forward to, big or small really helps.  It can be your light at the end of the tunnel.  Whatever you do, try your best, don't cram, eat well, and get enough sleep!  Pace yourself and you can accomplish everything you need to! Once again, good luck!

Spring To Do List

For those of you staying spring semester, here is a tip to help you make the most of it.  CREATE A SPRING TO DO LIST!  This will give you things to look forward to if you ever regret your decision to stay another semester.  Spring is also a good time to make a list of things to do, because there is so much TO DO. The number of indoor and outdoor activities is endless!  Get a group of friends together, make a spring to do list and complete it!
Here is my spring to do list, feel free to borrow and if you have suggestions please comment!

• Hike Y mountain
• Bruno Mars Concert
• Go on a Picnic
• Cocoa Bean
• The Chocolate
• 7 Peaks
• Paint Me Mine
• Sleep Outside
• See Never Say Never
• Classic Skating
• Ice Blocking
• Sparklers
• Kite Flying

American Heritage finally worth it!

American heritage is a really hard class.  But today's lecture made up for all the hard tests and dull readings.  My teacher did the Napolean Dynamite dance, in costume and all!  Watch it on youtube--here.

Blog Decisions

When I decided to start this blog, I didn't know exactly how I wanted to write it, or what  I wanted to get out of it.  I didn't know if I wanted to be an anonymous writer or not.  I didn't know what style I wanted to write with or if  I would have several styles.  All I really knew was that I wanted to start a blog.  I started the blog, and have made some decisions about what I want from it, and what I want you to get from it.  First I have decided not to be an anonymous writer.
With that being said,  My name is Shelby Olsen.  I am from Canton, Michigan (Detroit area) and I love to read, write, and run.  I have lived in Michigan all my life, until becoming a BYU student. I am currently in my second semester at BYU.  I am staying spring semester.  My major is English, and I plan to minor in editing, but I still need to declare it as my minor.  I live in Helaman  Halls, and I am sick of the Cannon Center.  In spring I will be living in Elite and will be able to cook whatever I want.  No more fruit sauce on my meat (something the Cannon Center is very fond of).  Anything else you want to know about me, or have I said too much?

This is me!

I have also decided that I want it to be clear why I am writing this blog.  This isn't a blog that is about me and how awesome my life is.  This blog is meant to be about you and how awesome your life is.  I want to write about my life to demonstrate that there is always fun to be had, and that it is important to make the most of life.  I am going to try and post a weekly update of things that are going on at BYU so that you are aware of all the fun things going on.  I want this blog to be similar to a college survival guide.  But I still want it to remind alumni of BYU how much fun they had here, and for those not here yet how much fun it will be for them.

Birthdays at College. Yeah, they're kinda a big deal

Today was my friend's 19th birthday. Last night a bunch of girls in our hall decorated her room like CRAZY!  Today we all watched the basketball game together (I'm not going to say any more about that) and we went to the grand opening of the Progressive Power Tumbling gym at its new location.  The new location has TONS of new stuff.  There are more trampolines, and foam pits.  There is also a rock wall; something the last one didn't have at all!  The night was a lot of fun, and I learned how to do a front flip (into a foam pit)!  After we partied hard in our dorm lobby with a delicious cake.  We also bought our friend, the birthday girl, a piñata!  She had no idea, and was very pleased to find a University Mall gift card inside.  So yeah, birthdays at college are a big deal!

The best excuse for not doing homework

On Monday, my FHE family created accounts at the church's new family search site. All you need is your membership number and you can make an account too!  Just click on the link.  We also learned how to index.  Go to the church's family search indexing site for a one time download of a software that will allow you to index. I don't know a whole lot about these things; I'm just learning myself!  However, the first site will allow you to see how far your family line has been traced back, and the possibility of necessary names that need temple work.  The indexing site allows you to look at documents and prepare information for other people.

Both sites are fantastic.  Learning how to use them, even at a basic level, has been a huge blessing for me.  I love looking at how far my family line goes back and where my ancestors came from.  I have also started indexing and I really enjoy it.  When I don't want to do my homework, I index--a great excuse for not doing homework because, I'm helping bring souls to Salvation!

Sorry for the Lapse

Hey all!  Sorry for the lapse in my blogging.  Life caught up with me--hey it happens! hmmm, what has occurred in the past few weeks that you want to know about?

I could talk about all the tests and papers and projects I've had to complete, but that isn't interesting.

I could tell you that in the past week and a half there have been one or two nights in which I was able to get more than 6 and a half hours of sleep, but that is boring.

I know!  I will tell you all about my social life as a BYU freshman.  I have been extremely blessed with a great and totally fun ward.  On Saturday night, around 10 P.M a huge group from my ward played fugitive (a cop and escaped prisoner game, in which the prisoners have to make it from point A to B without the cops catching them).  It was a lot of fun and several of us are talking about playing again sometime.  Last night, a group in my ward had a MAJOR food fight!  I had always wanted to be in a food fight, and last night was no disappointment! Ammunition included cake, pudding, frosting, 7 and 1/2 dozen eggs, whipped cream, and unfortunately ketchup and easy cheese.  By the end I was a sight!  My hair was covered in egg, easy cheese and all. My face was hidden under a mask of pudding, ketchup, and easy cheese.  Needless to say, I didn't smell so good.  But I had fun doing something spontaneous and crazy, and that is what college is all about!

The Adventure has Started!

I want to start my story with a most important moment:  The fireside tonight.
Tonight was a CES Fireside with L. Tom Perry.  Me and my friend went an hour and a half early because we have always been huge fans of church speakers and wanted good seats.  I am happy to report that we got good seats (second row on the floor of the Marriot Center)!

The fireside was fantastic and so inspirational.  It also answered a question that I had been pondering today.  I was wondering if I had been doing enough service, and Elder Perry said that we should be doing daily acts of service.  I'm not sure if I serve on a daily bases so I decide and felt the prompting to write in my journal every day and be sure to include a moment when I served someone.

If you have a desire to see this fireside here is a link: CES Fireside: L. Tom Perry.  I encourage you all to watch it if you have not already.  His message is truly inspired, and uplifting.

After the fireside, me and my friend were able to shake Elder Perry's hand.  There was a group of about seven who got this privilege.  He asked us how we were, and told us all that we had beautiful smiles.  All I could do was smile, and after some time I managed to say thank you.  Although, I spoke so softly that I do not think he heard me.  His handshake was quick, but I could feel the warmth and I knew that he loved and cared about me.

My new blog

I am so excited to be writing this blog.  For a long time I have wanted to start a blog to record the adventures I plan to have at BYU.  I sincerely regret not starting last semester, because I have already changed and learned so much.  And that is what this blog is all about.  With this blog I want to tell my story as a student at BYU.  I want to share with you all the amazing things that can happen here, and do happen here.

I don't know who you are.  Maybe you once went to BYU, and hopefully you can relate to something, and remember you best experiences.  Maybe you are currently attending BYU, and you can relate to my story, and take advantage of the blessing it is to be here.  Maybe you want to attend BYU and one day will, and you will one day relate to my story, and someday be able to enjoy the amazing opportunity it is to attend a school so wonderful as BYU.

Whoever you are, this blog is for you.