Life Learning with Shaun

So this semester has been kicking my butt. Between working, graduate school applications, and Statistics in Psychology I have spent many nights staying in the ELC til 1 am figuring out what I am doing. This leads to things that I have learned during this hell semester.

• sometimes people really don't have your back or best interests at heart. Here is what I mean. I sent my personal statement for graduate school to three different people with what the requirements are for them. All 3 were saying it was a good statement. Then I sent it to my friend in one of my programs of choice, and he ripped it apart and gave me the constructive criticism that I really needed. Find those people and stay close to them. They will want you to be the best, no matter what is going on.
• sometimes you need some "me" time. This can come in the form of something delicious, a netflix show, hulu, or something like Revenge.
• spend some time cleaning your room, bathroom or other places you spend some extra time at. 
• when life seems to throw lemons at your face, or different curveballs, look for the silver linings. Example: Life is crazy. I find myself getting more and more overwhelmed with everything. I have been lucky enough to become surrounded by a great support system. The amount of people who will run things and jump to my aid, let me vent, or someone I can just talk to.

Well friends and family, it is day one of finals week, I am 1 down, 5 to go. Here is to a supply of Dr. Pepper, trail mix, sandwiches, and stress. 

The Beginning of the End

It is so hard to think how fast this summer has gone. 2 months ago I had just gotten back from Nepal. I had my first Cedar City summer, adventures and fun times. As I sit here on my bed thinking about this next semester that starts tomorrow, I can't help but think of the biggest life decisions I have made to this point, aside from my mission. The big decision that changed everything was my choosing what school to go to. When I got back from my LDS mission, my sister had flown home and she spent a week after most of my family had left so we had a good opportunities to catch up. It was fun. Here is a picture from before I left.

Our convo (from what I can remember) basically went like this "So Shaun have you thought of where you are going to go to college?" 

"Probably UVU so I can get a job, rent a place, and work my way through college" 

"You should go to Snow. That way you don't have to worry about Dad giving you a hard time about renting something in Orem."

Needless to say, she had a very strong point and I had no plans. So mom and I took a trip to little ole Ephraim and I loved it. I finished my two years there, and was looking at my options available to me. The two schools I was looking at were USU and SUU. SUU wanted me more from a very persistant Amie Anderson telling me everytime I saw her to come down to their leadership weekend. I went, was accepted as an Ambassador, and my life has gone up and up from then. From having amazing experiences giving tours, rubbing shoulders with Administration, making awesome friends that motivate me and encourage me when I just feel super low, my sister's family visiting me when they came down to the Shakespeare Festival, to being able to serve on the Executive Council of Ambassadors and operating behind the scenes, being on search committee's, and having yet another mom, (I swear I am at least 6 different moms children by now), going to Nepal I mean honestly how often does that happen, and getting a awesome job that is going to make me marketable for grad school. What?

As I look back I see my parents always supporting me, while at the same time I know they want to retire. I am pretty sure that many times they think "Can't Shaun just graduate already so we can do our thing and no longer worry if he is going to make his rent payment this month?" The answer to that mom and dad is YES, I will make the payment this month, but maybe not next? Jokes I will.

As I look back on these decisions and opportunities I am humbled by the people I have met. I am starting my final fall semester as an undergraduate thunderbird. So SUU, this year is for you. Am I ready to enter the big world and get a job? No. Not a chance. But I am going to enjoy this year. Time to create my senior year bucket list!

Hey Check this out

So since this Nepal trip is a study abroad I will be posting A LOT on this http://experientiallearninginnepal.blogspot.com/ Something cool with this blog is it is not only my voice but also the voice of my fellow travelers. check it out! It will give some different perspectives on the same things we are experiencing. Check it out.

So it begins

So here I am. Sitting in McCarren Airport waiting for my first flight for Nepal. Currently a shop is playing "Heres to never growing up" by Avril Lavigne. This is the first that I am getting nervous. I am traveling out of the country for the first time ever. It is going to be an interesting trip to say the least. Blood pressure rising and waiting for the inevitable.

This is me on 3 hours of sleep before leaving this morning. Forgive me if I look a little rough around the edges. I am NOT a morning person. I doubt I will be a flying person too.

Cedar City Summer!

Finals are done with. It is a glorious feeling. I have been talking with some friends and we all are staying here this summer, and graduating this year too. So we decided that we needed to create a summer bucket list and then also a senior year bucket list. Friday night we got together and brainstormed our ideas for our summer bucket list. In this picture is our bucket list.

This is my friend Bailey holding it up for some pictures. It was a pretty fun night.

And this is our base group of people that are going to accomplish these things.

Our list includes, but is not limited to:

• Tiki shack
• "C" sunset
• picnics
• Cedar Breaks
• Little Brick house
• Red Cliffs
• Tin Foil Dinners
• Bonfire
• 2000 flushes
• Yard Sales
• Concert
• Hot Springs
• Yoga Saturdays
• Tiki Shack
• Random Roadtrip
• Pizza cart
• Cooking Lessons from Shaun
• Running/ Eating healthy
• Picnic Greenshows

I am excited for this summer. It is going to be a lot of fun and super simple. Now just to find a job here in Cedar that won't freak out when I leave for Nepal.

3 weeks

A quick little update mid finals stress. It has now been three weeks since I have had a coke or any type of soda. I have now lost 9 pounds since doing so. Boo yeah. I am feeling great too which makes it a bit easier. Well, back to finals studying. You will hear from me before I go to Nepal, no worries. :)

Expectations

So many of you have followed my life posts on Facebook. But it is time to do a major update. So a couple months ago SUU hosted a career fair. Steller. One of my good friends suggested I look at Target for their internship program because of the benefits and such. I talked with them, and they were really interested. So I revamped my resume in 3 hours to make it impressive to them. I got 2 interviews with them but then they said "nope. We are going with someone else." I was upset. I had turned down a counselor position at SUU for a summer Academy because I needed to answer before my second Target interview. So I had my summer plans fall apart.

I was looking at what to do this summer when my old boss calls me up and offers me a promotion. Steller. It would be specific hours, on specific days with around 32 hours a week. I was really liking that option but something just didn't feel right. I told them "hey thanks, but I need to try for this." That was one of the hardest things I had to do in my life. The main reason was because I feel like I am taking a step back in my life by going home for the summer. All I do is work and I have no time for fun. So I started to look for other options.

Things were then left unknown for me. I turned down one of my favorite jobs I have had for something unknown. Then, two weeks ago one of my professors emailed me saying she wanted to meet with me and with an admissions councilor. I had no idea what to expect or what it would be about. They want me to participate with a study abroad this summer and host an SUU open house. In Nepal. The University that we would work host the open house at is well known and popular over there. They gave me the weekend to think about it. The whole weekend I was debating it, whether to go or not to go. During my sunday morning shower, I realized if I didn't go, I would regret it. So I set up appointments with financial aid and talked with people to figure out how to pay for it. I am happy to report that I have found payment for 1/2 of the total cost. I am getting more and more excited about it as I think about it.

Seriously, words cannot express the importance of taking a leap into the unknown. Do I know what I will be doing for work this summer? No. Am I going to let that bother me? No, you wanna know why? Cuz im going to NEPAL!!!

p.s. If anyone knows of some sponsors I would be most appreciative.