19 things I have learned in my 19 years of Life.

Inspired by Jody Allared’s post on Ravishly. And that can be found here:

http://www.ravishly.com/2015/07/08/37-things-ive-learned-my-37-years

I turned 19 a little over a month ago, but I was inspired to make a list of things I know and have learned since being here on this planet. 19, still a teenager, but not for long. Seen as a child and yet treated as an adult. What a confusing life. But I have learned a few things.  

1. Just because someone is an adult doesn’t mean they are right. Just because they are older doesn’t mean the way they think is correct. They aren’t always right and it’s good to question them.
2. Friends are important. But school and work need to be a priority as well.
3. Just because they got into college doesn’t mean they are smart. Learned that from a kid in my biology class that asked if I thought this class was relevant to his major. He was going into Genetics.
4. You don’t owe any boy a date. Just because he is nice to you and called to ask you out literally means nothing. If you don’t want to go out with a boy, you don’t have to regardless of how nice he was to you.
5. Just because you are nice to a boy doesn’t mean he is going to ask you out. Even if he did use almost all your Nyquil when you let him borrow it. That street goes both ways.
6. If your religion doesn’t influence every aspect of your life, what is the point?
7. Listen to whatever music you want. And don’t worry what people think. It only matters if you like it.
8. It’s okay to wear your hair the same two days in a row. It is also okay to wear the same outfit next week. No one really cares.
9. Buying a nice bra isn’t splurging, it’s investing.
10. Not everything in your life needs to be matchy-matchy and cute. If you do that you are going to be broke.
11. Asking for help isn’t being a burden. Everyone has to eventually.
12. Forming an opinion is just that. Don’t be ignorant. Learn about the subject and talk to others and then decide what you think. And remember opinions are just that.
13. A fire alarm going off at 4 in the morning the week of finals isn’t ideal. But you might as well laugh. Because if you think about it, it is actually hilarious.
14. Sing in the shower. As loud as you can. It’ll make you feel better.
15. Crap happens. It doesn’t mean you need to sit in it. MOVE ON.
16. Grades are important. But so is a good resume. Balance is key.
17. Hug your mom while you can.
18. Looks will literally get you nowhere. Maybe some Instagram followers and a stalker or too. But that is it so stop focusing on it. Unless you are going into modeling...
19. Time flies.

Here you go. I think I’ve learned a thing or two. 

Hello! I’m Sister Scholz!

This post is dedicated to the LDS missionaries serving all around the world.

Some of you know that I am Mormon and for those of you who don’t—SURPRISE! I’m Mormon. Some of you also know that I live in the Fresno, California region and The Book of Mormon musical is coming to the Saroyan Theatre in Fresno. A lover of theatre and a Mormon, what a predicament.

First off, if you love this musical, have seen, or just love belting the songs anywhere that doesn’t mean you are a bad person, that you hate Mormons, or that we hate you. It just means you love the musical. Second, this musical is not an accurate representation of Mormon Missionaries and should be treated as such. The authors, Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone, have written other works together including South Park and Avenue Q. And is very much the same style as The Book of Mormon musical. The musical is described as a religious satire musical and should be viewed as one. This musical is for pure entertainment and should be used just as that. If one actually wants to learn about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints this musical is not a tool that should be learned to be used.

Being 19 and a Mormon girl is harder than being a normal girl.

I have so many friends who are leaving me this year and won’t be back till 2017.

Most of us don’t think that far ahead, but I do.

But I am so proud of them because of the works that they are participating in. Most everyone has seen a Mormon Missionary, on a bike, in Wal-Mart, or right before the door was slammed. Maybe you have even hidden from them. But I’m here to tell you a little bit more about them.

The mission age was just change which rocked a lot of kid’s worlds and maybe not in the best way. Boys were able to serve a mission when they were 19 and girls were able to serve when they were 21. And then they would submit your mission papers 120 days prior to his or her availability date; which is the earliest they could go on a mission and at that time they have to be the required age. But then in October 2012 they changed the mission age to 18 for boys and 19 for girls. Which created a flood of missionaries pouring into Mission training centers around the world. There are a lot of speculation about why the mission age was changed, so they could enter the temple sooner, get more kids out there, to keep this generation out of trouble etc. But these missionaries are not that old at all and yet are being shipped across the world. Kids whose biggest step is just moving out and attending college are living in apartments in unknown places and following strict schedules every day for two years, (for girls it is 18 months).

It is taught within the church that the young men should all go on missions. And that girls have the opportunity to go on a mission.

And this right here is a red flag for some, they think CULT! OH MY GOSH YOU ARE FORCING THESE YOUNG MEN TO GO ON MISSIONS AND THEY HAVE NO CHOICE AND THAT’S JUST WRONG.

Or some other dramatic declaration.

But, our church believes in personal revelation, which means we believe that we can ask for guidance from God and he can guide us in the right direction. And many young people use this daily in their lives when looking at colleges, looking for spouses, picking majors and go figure, deciding on whether or not to go on a mission. And sometimes the answer is no, even to young men. I personally know a couple of them and this is acceptable. Being a missionary is not something that is required to reach the Kingdom of God, but it brings others to it and that is why it is important. And yet we can also teach others without going on a mission. That being said no one is ever forced by the Church to go on a mission. Some are even honorably excused from serving because of health issues and such.  

But if you think about it there might be a reason that boys are asked to serve. Crazy, right?

This is just my speculation, but I think it is a pretty good one so I’ll share. Men in the Church have the opportunity to receive the Priesthood. Which is described as the Power of God. The same power that Christ used to bless the sacrament, baptize and perform miracles. We also use this same power to bless the sacrament, baptize, and perform miracles in addition to many other ordinances. And all Elders on a mission have this power and without this power missions would not be possible. They would not be able to baptize, confirm or give personal blessings. It’s not that men are better missionaries that women or that they are more capable but because they have this power.

Then the dramatic yeller might come in and say BUT WOMEN DESERVE THAT POWER AND THAT’S NOT FAIR! GIVE IT TO THE WOMEN.

Our Church gets a lot of flak for that. But because that has been the way the priesthood has been used since the beginning of the church and I’m not talking about the Mormon religion but since Christ but even before him it isn’t going to change. Women have special attributes and “powers” but they just aren’t the same as the priesthood and that is okay.

Now that I have talked about how people decide and when they can go on a mission let’s actually talk about a mission. After one’s papers are submitted they receive a mission call within two to three weeks after. A mission call is a fat envelope with a letter from the presidency of the church that tells you where you are going and when. There are 406 missions one could serve in all over the world and 15 Mission Training Centers. I have friends in Denmark, Chile, Ohio, New York, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Spain, San Diego and Idaho. And I will soon have friends in Finland, Portugal, Colorado, New Jersey and various other places.

While on their missions they don’t get to call home, except for on mother’s day and Christmas, go swimming, use fireworks, go hang out, and they have one day a week (usually Monday) called P-Day or preparation day where they can email home, answer letters, meet with other missionaries, get a game of soccer in etc. And so many people when I tell them this ask get freaked out and ask why? And usually I just tell them it’s so they can focus. Because a mission ideally is basically just serving others and by not focusing on being home sick or what is going on at home allows for the work to come first.

Missionaries knock on thousands of doors, make teaching appointments with millions, and are able to change lives with the gospel. 

The Book of Mormon is what they use to teach because if it is true then the rest of our religion is true. It is the corner stone of the church. The Book of Mormon is a record of people in Ancient America and it was translated by Joseph Smith. It is another testament of Christ and is used so much in our religion because like the Bible it is a work of scripture but has only been translated once and therefore has not been manipulated.

I know that this book is true because I have read it five times and I just started my sixth. I know that God knows who I am and I can receive guidance from Him about my life. And that this church is the light that most people are looking for and I am so blessed to have been born into this church. So maybe the musical is cool but I think the real Elders are cooler. 

If you have any questions you can always ask me or the missionaries in your area.

http://www.mormon.org/missionaries

SUMMER CAMP

Summer has been busy, busy, busy. But that is how I like it. Last week I finished two summer camps: the 5C Experience at West Hills College Lemoore and the 1^st Annual Drama Camp at Hanford High School. The 5C experience consists of eight camp days and two training days and the Drama Camp consisted of six camp days and a counselor retreat. (These two camps were about the same time which meant I was only able to help out two of the six days at the drama camp.) Some people might think that summer camp isn’t worth it and that people like me, ones who would spend every day with children, are crazy. And yet we keep doing it. And why? Because it means something.

Every day at West Hills we would have a staff meeting and within one of these meetings one of our teachers said, “You never know, your hug maybe the only hug they receive that day.” And I’m not going to pretend that every child lives in a broken home and is neglected. But for those kids your love and attention means something. And for those kids who do have supportive families sometimes it’s nice to be recognized by someone who is not related to you. Remember that saying “It takes a village to raise a child?” Even though villages for us are a thing of the past the concept reigns true. Children need constant attention and it’s hard for parents to constantly attend a child, work, and attend to other callings etc. Children need attention because it is important to many aspects of their learning and growing and summer camps are one way to increase that attention.

In addition to the extra love a summer camp supplies, it also can show that being silly is okay. The kids I worked with were from ages 6-14. And for 6-year-olds it’s expected for them to be silly but as a child approaches high school age they feel like they have to preserve a self-image and often times that self-image doesn’t include being silly. Kids become “too cool” at a very early age. It is important that children see older kids, especially kids that they look up to, be silly. When your parents dance around and be silly doesn’t mean much, but when a college student who is idolized by younger kids does mean something. But some might say that being silly isn’t important and that the sooner children grow up the better. I have a problem with this. I’ve sat through so many classes in high school where kids are too afraid of trying things because they might look dumb or they care too much about what other students think. Kids aren’t realizing their full potential because they are too afraid. Watching a student perform half-heartedly is discouraging when you know they can do better. Being silly allows the student to feel less embarrassed, smile more, and show others that it is okay to be silly.

Another reason that kids should go to summer camp is summer camps can be inspiring. How often are your kids inspired? Inspired to go to college, to try new things, to get on stage and perform, to believe in themselves. Summer camps are special because they are different, they aren’t the normal schedule and guess what? THEY LEARN THINGS. It’s different than school. I wish I could convey my feelings to you but I thought that this video produced by Larrin Baker the Video Maker for 5C does a better job.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHWb8NvjkHw&feature=youtu.be

If you are reading this and you didn’t watch it, go back and click on the link. In a world where we are so accepting of ideas such as: “I’m just not good at math,” “I’m just not musical,” or the classic “I might not even try because I already know that I can’t do it right,” it is amazing to see what happens to children we someone believes in them enough to push them.  

I could spend a life-time talking about this topic. Because I believe in kids so much. And you should too. Because the world will soon be in their hands. If you would like to support a summer camp today the 5C Experience is already panning for next year and has created a go fund me account.

http://www.gofundme.com/5cscholarships

This account is used for scholarships so we can send more students to the camp. If you would like to learn more about this camp this is their website.

http://www.westhillscollege.com/lemoore/students/student_programs/5c_experience/

A year in review: From an anxiety prone college student.

A year ago from next month, a strange timeline but that is what it is, I embarked on my first year of college. Unlike a lot of the kids, or if you prefer to call them adults, I was not attending Fresno State or a college 4-5 hours away in California. I decided to move 12 hours away to a different state. And I was excited, proud, and extremely nervous. My first semester was everything that it should’ve been. It was challenging, unpredictable and really fun. I worked, took 15 units and had a blast. After that, my roommate showed me the ropes of air travel and soon I was home for Christmas Break. Again, unlike the other students around me, I only had 2 weeks of Christmas vacation and that thought was always in the back of my mind. So as I tried to enjoy visiting my family and the Christmas holiday, I would get overwhelmed with the fact that I would have to leave again. It hurt my heart that family events and activities would proceed without me and one night I fell apart in the lap of my Mom begging her to let me stay. And her wise words still did not completely soothe me but nevertheless they drove me and my roommate to the airport and we left for the cold, not so quiet campus. A couple weeks later I had planned a quick trip to come home for the weekend to see a high school show and visit my family and friends again. I caught a red-eye flight and soon I was home. This was probably not the best thing I could’ve done. I was able to visit and love on my friends and family for two days and then I had to return home. Which broke my heart even more. I got back to school extremely tired, because I decided traveling all night and into the morning was a good idea. I skipped church to sleep and tunneled my way into my bed and I cried. I cried enough to quench this awful California drought. But because I was too proud I decided that I was fine and I would get over it. I continued going to school and going through the motions and nothing change. I felt like I was stuck in the dark and I didn’t know what to do. I began to journal, read, do yoga just to help me feel better. And one night I came home with a letter from my best friend (and if you are reading this know that I love you so much) and in that letter she told me that her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and I can’t remember what stage, but I just knew that it was serious. And that, my friends, was my breaking point. I at my dorm desk at 1 in the morning and I cried until my roommate new that something was wrong. And I am so blessed to have a roommate that cares so much for me. But I remember her asking me what was wrong and I said everything. I was mad at God for making life so unfair, I was mad at myself for all the choices I made that led to this moment in a place so far from home, I was mad at my friends, I was mad at my parents for thinking I could do this, and I was just mad. And my sweet, sweet roommate hugged me and asked me if I wanted a blessing from our friend Stephen. And those who are not familiar with the LDS or Mormon religion, a blessing is exactly what it sounds like. A man who has authority and the power lays his hands on your head in order to give you guidance and comfort by expressing the things that God would like you to know. And for many of you that may seem very abstract and out-there but to me it was very familiar. However, I said no. I didn’t want to bother Stephen especially because I told him recently that I was mad at him and that we were just acquaintances. And yet Nicole helped me put on a sweater and walk over to the boy’s dorms. And Stephen being the kind person that he is, spoke to me about what I was feeling and then gave me a blessing. And I felt this great weight of comfort and stability come around me like a hug as he spoke clearly and calmly about how God was watching out for me. In a time where my Mom and Dad couldn’t hold me and tell me everything was going to be okay. My best friends were able to lift me up in such a way as to help me finish my freshman year and do it happily. (And if you must know I told Stephen we were friends again after this encounter). The only thing I regret about my freshman year is that I didn’t enjoy it sooner. And I know that every college student doesn’t commune with God, has great roommates or even has trouble moving away. But I did. And I know that I am not alone in this. Which is the exact the reason I am writing this very post. Because you can do it. You may not be able to do it alone, but what fun would that be. 

Let's Talk About Virginia

From bleeding through a swim suit, to using make-shift tampons, even the mortifying experience of having someone walking in on you, puberty is embarrassing. I remember being in fifth grade when boys and girls were split up into separate rooms to have “the talk” about their bodies and then sent home with pamphlets-and in the girl’s cases pads, tampons, and panty liners. Now, I would never refuse free tampons; however, at that age, I was traumatized. The school made a huge deal of separating the girls and boys up and we were told that if we talked about what we learned with members of the opposite sex we would be penalized. Due to our embarrassment, we girls were too scared to even talk about it with each other. I came home to my parents wanting to talk with me about what I had learned but it was the last thing I wanted to discuss. This was when the term the “Virginia” was introduced. The word “vagina” embarrassed me, so my parents called it the “Virginia.”  Something about saying the real word was weird and I know I’m not alone in that.  

            If we avoid talking about vaginas, we run into various problems. Girls can start their periods basically whenever their bodies feel like it; some start at age eight and others at the age 14, (Kid’s Health). Blood coming from your crotch is a terrifying experience for a ten-year-old girl. Marissa, as a fourth grader, was convinced that she had cut herself but instead of talking to her mom she just went along merrily throwing away her underwear until her mom figured it out. As kids we form a view of the world that becomes our set point for everything that occurs in our lives. For Marissa a period was new and needed to be accommodated to her view of the world.  When her mother found out it was much to Marissa’s surprise that the world wasn’t as she believed her previous set point now needed accommodating. When does a parent know to bring up the talk? For girls like Marissa the fifth grade “talk” is ineffective. Although not every girl starts menstruating when they are ten, there are plenty that do. These girls need to know about their body before the end of the fifth grade.

            Comprehensive Sexuality Education is a program that begins early in kindergarten with age appropriate material and progresses through the grades. Comprehensive Sexuality Education as defined by the Sexuality Information and Educational Council of the United States (SIECUS) is an educational program that focuses on more than 36 age appropriate topics covering from basic human development, abstinence, contraception (Comprehensive Sexuality Education). Often, when people hear the words “children” and “sex education,” they tend to tune it out or freak out. Very few are willing to explain the roles of vaginas and penises to kids, and that is wherein the problem lies. There is no definite time for the “talk,” whether the “talk” be about puberty or sex. Comprehensive Sexuality Education is successful because of the way it handles the subjects. Teachers try to teach in an environment where it is appropriate to talk about our bodies, breaking down the awkwardness that can come with sex education. These topics are extremely important if not more important than other subjects taught in school because whether we like it or not we have these organs and we see the daily repercussions of them. By educating children earlier on the importance of their body we can save them from feeling alone whether they’re early or late bloomers.

Even after we are comfortable with what is going on with our own bodies we are usually embarrassed to talk about it. In the 7^th grade the feminine product dispensers were taken out of the bathrooms and replaced with a paper sign that read, “If you need a pad/tampon, come to the office and they will give you one.” For most people it was not a problem they either had not started yet or they came to school prepared. Every once in a while you would get that girl who was frantically asking her friends to save her from embarrassment and frankly, her underwear. When she asked me, a late bloomer, I responded, “Why don’t you just go ask for one in the office?” From my lack of understanding I received an earful convincing me that it just might be embarrassing. However, in my head it seemed a lot easier to just walk to the office get the product, use the bathroom, and be done with it. All of the workers in the office were women and would have been understanding. There would have been no giggling, no waving of the pad and announcing the incident. Yet, we are so scared to talk about the fact that we are menstruating. Having had the idea that it is inappropriate to talk about such topics as penises, vaginas, and sex drilled into our brains at a young age it is no wonder that there is this sense of filthiness surrounding such topics. These are natural bodily topics and ones we will be forced to talk about at some point in our lives, so why not start young?

We are taught to be proud of who we are, and our body is a part of our identity, and so we should teach young children about their bodies so they can be truly proud of who they are not embarrassed or ashamed. Teaching that talking about bodies is inappropriate lends itself to crude jokes. If I haven’t proven my point just start counting the many times you’ve seen penises drawn on desks, the many times the penis game is played, or how many derogatory nicknames there are for the word vagina. Teaching students earlier about their bodies could reduce this embarrassment or humor that comes with the “talk.”  It is extremely important that children, adolescents, and adults alike feel comfortable with talking about their own body. If they don’t, they tend to rely on sources such as Yahoo Answers, Urban Dictionary, and Web M.D. which may be helpful in some situations but I highly doubt “ilovepeanutbutter86” can answer all your questions about your vaginal problems.

I’m not asking you to use the vagina in everyday situations but to merely overcome the embarrassment of using the word. We should be able to talk to our kids, parents, or doctors with the confidence that body functions are not embarrassing or scary but instead a part of life. Take a stand and use the word vagina instead of “Virginia.”

Advice to Seniors from REAL college students.

I know I was super nervous for college and I would spend countless hours scouring over blogs written by college students. Now as a college student I thought I would write my own blog about college. But I wanted to include other perspectives because not everyone's experience is the same. First I asked a bunch of seniors (if you are one of them, thank you for making this possible) what questions they had about college. Then a mixture of college students answered them.
Here are the college kids:
You can read their bios or just skip straight to the questions.

Michaella - Hello there! This is my blog so if this is your first time here, welcome! My name is Michaella Scholz and I am currently a freshman at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. I graduated  from Hanford High in June 2014. I continually fell in love with theatre all throughout high school and I realized I couldn't live without it. I am a Theatre Studies major right now and will apply to the Theatre Education program in the fall. I was inspired to write this post and recruit others to help me because I was extremely anxious before moving and even after living here for seven months sometimes I still am, and I know that there are people (like me) who just need to find some comfort in the words of people who have been there before. Thank you to all those that helped with this post and enjoy the words of the people who have gone before you. In the wise words of Effie Trinket, "May the odds be ever in your favor."

Nicole - Hola! My name is Nicole Haroldsen, I'm originally from Ecuador but moved to Kingsburg, California when I was still in elementary school. I am a freshman at Brigham Young University - Provo. I am Michaella's roommate, lucky me! And I am majoring in Dietetics and Nutrition. I hope I could help you feel better about opening up the next chapter of your life!

Hannah - Hey students! My name is Hannah Hilyard and I am a freshman at West Hills College Lemoore. I graduated from Hanford High School in June of 2014. I am studying Liberal Arts, as I want to be a Kindergarten teacher. I hope to transfer to either Sacramento State or Cal Poly SLO. I teach dance and love to volunteer in elementary school classrooms. I wish you all the best of luck on your future college endeavors!

Elyssa - My names Elyssa, I’m a freshman at the beautiful Chico State and I don’t know how to write my own bio. I’m majoring in nursing but I’m only in the pre-nursing program right now and I’m  planning on beginning to start minoring in either psychology or child development. I choose to not live in the dorms my first year and instead move into a cute little town house with some roommates, and I love the freedom and responsibility that I get because of it. When I’m not at work or school  I like to inhabit a vegetative state, watch netflix or youtube, play the ukulele and eat mac-n-cheese.

Jessica - Hi! My name is Jessica Rinehart, I go to college at Cal Lutheran University (aka CLU), and I am a freshman. My major is English with a concentration in Creative Writing. CLU is 4 hours away from where I live. My school is a private Christian college and was probably one of the colleges that I didn’t expect going to.  I ended up choosing this college because I loved how you could have one-on-one time with your professors and how everyone was friendly. You can really tell that all your professors want you to succeed in their class. It feels good to know that people are on your side. In my spare time, I watch shows on Netflix and spend time with my friends. I try to write for my blog, Imaginable World. Imaginable World is on WordPress and is about my experience at college and some college advice. If you have time, stop by and take a look at my blog.

Pheobe - Phoebe Zayas-Defiance is a 20 year old freshman at West Hills College Lemoore. When she is not earning her AA in physics, she is also a professional musician. Her post-college goals are to be a rock star and perfect time travel. 

1. How much sleep do you get in college?

Nicole says: "Well, I try to go to bed before midnight and I usually get up around 8 so I about eight hours (on good days)."

Michaella says: "I get about 6-7 hours and that’s on good days. But it’s all about choices. I choose to work mornings so I get up a lot earlier than most kids but I also take naps during the day and I usually go to sleep at 11-12. But sometimes you just have to choose sleep over Netflix or hanging out with friends versus sleeping. Both are important. One thing about sleep is it's going to vary a lot. Being in college gives you a lot of freedom you may choose to stay up till 3 am and then maybe go to sleep at 9 pm another day."

Eylssa says: "I usually get about 6 hours of sleep but because I choose to go to bed late. During finals though its a whole other story."

Jessica says: "It all depends on my classes. If my classes are at 8 in the morning, or 9 in the morning I try to go to bed at 11, or 10:30. If my classes are at 10 am I will stay up till 1 or 2 am. I also factor in priorities. If I have an important test, or assignment, I might stay up later."

Hannah says: "I really try to still get a solid 6-8 hours of sleep, but often times that is way easier said than done! Sometimes with working and such it’s hard to get homework done at a decent hour, but I try to compensate by sleeping in an extra half hour or whatever. Sleep is SO important."

Pheobe says: "As a procrastinating night owl, I’ll start studying and doing homework around 10 pm and finish around 2 in the morning. But I still manage to good 7 and a half to eight hours because my first class of the day isn't until 11. I didn't kid myself, no morning classes for me!"

2. How do classes compare to AP classes?

Nicole says: "Ugh. They’re freaking hard. Like you think High school is hard? No. Just no."

Michaella says: "For me I wouldn't say the classes are harder, I’m very capable of learning the content. However, the speed and sheer amount of information is difficult especially, since there really isn't any busy work, you have to stay on top of studying because there is nothing that forces you to do so."

Eylssa says: "In these past 2 semesters I’ve only had about 3 classes where the actual work was more challenging than ap classes and it was because they were pre-recs to get into my major.The hard part actually comes with the amount of work given that you have the responsibility of doing/learning on your own. Some classes on the other hand are just easy peasy lemon squeezy."

Jessica says: "I would say college classes are a little bit easier than AP classes. It might be because I already know how to manage my homework and classes, along with hanging out with friends and catching up with all my favorite shows. The reason why I feel like college classes are easier, are because you don’t have the same class everyday. So you have more time to prepare (or procrastinate, which I do not suggest) for the class. Also some classes’ homework are reading and then discussing it in class. I think the hardest part about college classes is that teachers don’t always have grade class work or their homework, so if you don’t do so well on a test, you have nothing to cushion you, which could possibly result in  your grade crashing and burning."

Hannah says: "I did not take any AP classes, but I would say the difficulty/workload varies by class and by professor. I had a math class last semester that took me an hour a week to complete homework wise. I also had a sociology class that took me about 45 minutes a day throughout the week. So I would definitely say it depends."

Pheobe says: "I never took AP classes, but you’ll definitely stay as busy in college as you did in AP. I can say though, this biggest difference is if you miss an assignment, your teacher is allowed to swear at you out loud and not just in their head."

3. Were you prepared for college?

Nicole says: "I think for the most part I was, but there are just somethings you can’t really prepare for like homesickness."

Michaella says: "I thought I was. But no matter how much you think you are prepared, you probably aren't. That’s okay because even if you aren't you can do it just like every other kid that leaves home."

Eylssa says: "I want to believe I was for the educational part of college but as for the things outside of school maybe not as much as I believed."

Jessica says: "Hahaha. Nope. I don’t think you could be fully prepared until you actually go there and experience it yourself, but don’t take that as a terrifying thing. I was more prepared for classes, because of the honor classes and AP classes I took. What I wasn't prepared for were how to deal with roommates, how to make friends quickly, and being homesick."

Hannah says: "Yes and no. I didn't go away to school, so there was no adjustment there. The biggest adjustment came in the sense of freedom I was given. Nobody reminds you to do anything in college. Professors hand you a syllabus and expect you to navigate it all on your own. I had really supportive high school teachers so this was a big change."

Pheobe says: "Yes, but I didn’t go straight out of high school. I didn’t take a class or choose a major until I had found something I was so passionate about that I didn’t care how much work I had to do to get there. It’s okay to not know what you want to do right out of high school, it could take a while. It took me two years, and I’m so glad I waited."

4. Were you nervous about going away from home?

Nicole says: "I was always that girl that could NOT wait to move out and leave my little small town but when it came down to it I don’t think I have ever been so nervous about something as I was when I moved out."

Michaella says: "Like Nicole, I couldn't wait to leave home, at home I felt so confined and bored so I was excited to come to school. But I definitely cried a lot the first week of school just because I was home sick. But you are entirely capable of moving out; no one would let you move out if you weren't ready. Just trust yourself and know that your family is only a call away."

Eylssa says: "NO! i wanted to get out of my home town and be on my own so bad. The worst part of leaving was actually just saying goodbye to family, I cried hardcore when my dad was leaving my apartment which was weird because I usually can be very unemotional around him. But after I sat in MY living room and laid in MY..."

Jessica says: "I couldn’t wait to leave! I’m going to  a private college that is near Los Angeles and the town is WAY  bigger than the town I grew up in. It made me excited just thinking about it. Though I was nervous about being alone. I was moving away from the familiar and was being put into a position where I knew NO ONE. I knew what I was getting myself into, but it still made me nervous."

Pheobe says: "Moving away from home was the most liberating feeling of my young life, but I also only moved an hour away. Being further away, like in a different state brings up a lot of feelings of homesickness, but that is a feeling that makes you all the more grateful to have your family."

5. What if I want to go somewhere far, but no one I know is going to go to school and I’m scared of being alone in the beginning?

Nicole says: "That is scary, but at the same time there will be soooo many people in your situation so most people tend to be extra friendly because they just want to make friends as well."

Michaella says: "I moved 12 hours from home. But I knew my roommate and knew a couple people going to my school but it was so scary. I cried a lot, but the thing is you really aren't alone everybody there is trying to figure things out just like you are. You have your roommates, your classmates, and your parents and friends back home are just a call away. My advice is if you want to make friends go to things. You can't make friends by being alone in your dorm. And if you really want to go far away do it. Don't spend your whole life afraid of what could've been. Life is too short."

Eylssa: "I moved five hours north and I only came with my boyfriend who wasn’t going to my same school. But the first day in my first lecture I started up a conversation with the girl who sat next to me about the most random subject (I was nervous talking) and we ended up having our next class together. Now were such great friends. Just know that there are so many opportunities to meet people you just have to find the courage to use them, it's worth it."

Jessica says: "I know where you’re coming from. I decided to go to a school where I knew no one and I was terrified. The first two days at my school were the WORST. People were walking together, laughing, and being buddy-buddy with each other, while I probably looked like a scared little girl. I didn’t know who to talk to or hang out with. I even cried to my mom saying I was going to be a loner for the rest of college. Until the third day some people that were in my orientation group ate breakfast together, and I joined them. I didn’t meet my closest friends until at lunch. After that I felt free to be myself and talk to other people."

Pheobe says: "Spontaneity is the key to your survival. If you want to make friends, you have to perk up the second you overhear a conversation about your favorite book or your favorite band, no matter how weird it feels. You will be alone at first though, but solitude is a great time for self-reflection and knowing who you really are, and that’s one of the more unspoken importances of the college experience."

6. How busy are you during the week?

Nicole says "You know how in high school you’d be so happy for the weekend because you got a break from school? Yeah that doesn’t happen here lol.. So just brace yourself bc college really is like a full time job. It’s hard but it is also very rewarding and sooo fun!"

Michaella says: "Extremely busy. College life is a lot busier than high school just because there is so much going on. I work, I have 6 classes this semester, and then I have homework, sleep, and friends to juggle. My word advice is to know when it is too much. I thought about dropping a class this semester and I talked myself into keeping it, now I hate myself and I’m super struggling to keep a good grade in that class and it’s only the 6th week of class. Know your limits and don’t be afraid to admit that you can’t do everything and things will work out."

Eylssa says "Last Semester I took 16 units, had 3 of my hardest classes I would need to take through my pre-recs and had a part time job that LOVED to give me many hours mostly during the holiday season so iI had a lot on my plate for a freshman. I didn’t know how to handle it yet and though I could make it without dropping a class, however it took a  toll on my grades. So this semester I chose to take 13 units so I’m still full time, and told my job i had a bit less availability and now I get out of class by 12 on most days and have a lot of free time for naps."

Hannah says: "I am SO busy during the week. I am a liberal arts major so I am required to do classroom observation days. So when I don’t have class, that’s where I am. In the afternoons, I have a job taxing some kids from dance around, then I teach at the studio, on top of dancing myself. Though I only have class on campus 3 days a week, I am busy 7 days out of the week."

Pheobe says: "I go to school from 11 in the morning to 10 in the evening three times a week, and study hard the other two days of the week to have time for the weekends, which are dedicated to band practice, performances, and anything else I have to take care of like grocery shopping, doctor’s appointments, family time etc. Adulthood and college life consist of tight regimens, all the way down to the fun parts."

7. Is it a lot harder than high school?

Michaella says: "You've got this. All of high school was supposed to prepare you for this and more or less it does. If you are struggling there are TA reviews, walk-in labs, and office hours to help you out."

Hannah says: "There are aspects that are definitely harder than high school. For me, at West Hills (Community College), I am often talked down to as many of my fellow classmates are full grown adults who are coming back to school. What does an 18 year old know right? It is often hard to try and hold your own, but you’ll find your niche within time."

Pheobe says: "It might be. I did poorly in high school due to learning disabilities, but you’ll do fine if you take advantage of all the resources your school has available to help you succeed."

8. How easy is it to make friends?

Michaella says: "If you are like me its hard to make friends. Just because I really just hate being out of my comfort zone. But once you try its easy and once you make one freind they have freinds, who have freinds, who have freinds and then you have tons of people that you can befreind."

Jessica says: "It depends on what type of person you are. It may take a few days, or it may take a few hours. One thing that you do have to remember though is to NOT change yourself just to get a group of friends, because you really want someone to like you and another is that it’s COMPLETELY fine if you don’t find friends right away. You’ll find them eventually."

Pheobe says: "Sure. Walk around campus and you’ll find your people! Every friend I have made in college has been by overhearing conversations about things that I am interested in, and then chiming in. Just don’t be scared!"

9. How is it having roommates?

Michaella says: "Just know right now that you aren’t going to be the perfect roommate. You are all going to be learning how to live together and it is going to be tough sometimes; but you truly get what you put into it. Make it work and you can find some of your best friends."

Eylssa: "Its fun yet challenging. I ended up moving in with friends 2nd semester and now live with three girls who at most times I love but other times I wish i had a lock on my door. Its all about communication and letting your roommates know what you’re comfortable with and what you want without being a nazi. I like being alone a lot and one of my roommates is SUPER social so i had to let her know that when my doors shut it means I need some space but any other times just knock. And the other 3 girls see the fridge as a free for all no matter who bought what but because I wasn’t comfortable with that we had a sit down and easily created a little sytem to know what was up for grabs and what wasn’t."  

Jessica says: "It’s a learning process. They’re not your siblings, so you can’t just yell at them and then have Mom or Dad intervene. You have to learn how to be civil. Also if you’re an only child or don’t share a room with anyone, please remember that you are now sharing a room with someone and if they’re asleep they might now enjoy being woken up by a slamming of a drawer, or door."

Pheobe says: "I have so many roommate stories, I don’t know where to begin. Generally speaking, living with other adults who share common interests is great. You’ll do fine living with one other person or even nine other people as long as everyone cleans up after themselves and respects each other’s boundaries."

10. What if I don’t get along with my roommates?

Michaella says: "The thing is you don’t have to be friends with your roommate; it is ideal. But the truth is you can finds friends other places. You just can’t hate your roommate. You’ll be fine!"

Eylssa says: "You won’t always agree with them or like them but you guys share a room, house or apartment and its key that you can be on somewhat good terms so your living situation is bearable. Drama with a roommate can also affect your school work so try to find ways to compromise on issues. Communication really is key, just as long as is compassionate communication and not just biased arguments."

Jessica says: "Make rules and be civil as possible. Hopefully you have another place to study, or can chill somewhere with a friend, but also remember that it’s your room too so you shouldn’t feel like you have to be away all the time because of your roommate. If there is a serious issues, talk to an RA or request to change rooms."

Pheobe says : "Put a line of duct tape down the middle of your living space in a sitcom-like fashion. Wait for hilarity to ensue."

11. How do you deal with now seeing your friends from high school?

Michaella says: "If college taught me anything it was who my friends are. People who love you will make sure they are in your life. But that’s also the reverse if you want to stay friends with someone make sure they know that. Otherwise people move on."

Eylssa says: "I miss a lot of friends so much and I’m not the best communicator but I’ve learned to use skype and at least make an effort to text someone I havent in a while at least once a week. It’s sad seeing people move on with their lives without you but if you really miss them its all about effort. Because just because they’ve found new people to hang out with so have you and in the end most people will miss you as much as you miss them."

Jessica says: "If you want them around, you’ll make it happen and vice versa."

Hannah says: "SOCIAL MEDIA. This is where social media is a blessing. Follow them on twitter, see what they’re up to on instagram, those are all awesome ways to keep up with each other during such a busy time."

Pheobe says: "Unfortunately you won’t see each other as often as you used to, even if you do attend the same school. You’ll make time for the ones that really matter though, and facebook/snapchat/twitter etc are such a blessing for keeping in touch."

12. Did you just bring a lot of your makeup with you or did you just buy a bunch?

Michaella says: "I brought all my makeup but I cleaned out a lot of my makeup. I got rid of all the sparkly eyeliners and bright eyeshadows I didn’t wear. But moving out is definitely a good time to purge out all the old stuff and move on with what you actually use."

Eylssa says: "GIRL, YOU ARE ON A COLLEGE STUDENT BUDGET! Ha bring up all your makeup, I did. You’ll be happy when you don’t have to spend some money here or there on stuff that you already have at home. But sometimes I do spoil myself and buy something here or there."

Jessica says: "I actually didn’t own any makeup besides eyeline, mostly because my parents did not approve of a lot of makeup. After a month or two I bought eye shadow and started to experiment with makeup. My parents weren’t around to tell me no lol. But if you do own makeup already I would suggest bringing it because makeup is not cheap."

Pheobe says: "Sephora was on my college shopping list. I prefer to look fabulous while doing science."

13. What the heck do you do for the period situations, again did you just have to bring a lot?

Michaella says: "My advice and this isn’t just for period stuff but a lot of stuff like toilet paper, lysol wipes, paper towels etc. When your parents drop you off before they leave go shopping and stock up on toiletries because the worst thing is to run out of toilet paper or tampons especially if you don’t have a car. There are places on campus where I can get stuff but its more expensive and they only have cardboard tampons here. (Gross.) I still have stuff from the beginning of the semester that will probably last me until the end of winter semester."

Eylssa says: "Yes I did. Actually my mom didn’t want me to have to worry about budgeting and running out of things that we all need so a few months before I left me and my mom started sort of like care-package-stockpiles.We would buy thing that I was going to  regularly need such a toiletries every few weeks and it’s helped out a lot to not have to worry about tampons toilet paper, toothbrushes or other alike things for a few months. It really does help to be prepared."

Jessica says: "If you become friends with your roommates, ask them if they have anything if you run out. I don’t ask mine because my two of my roommates are in sports and use tampons."

Pheobe says: " Spend not just college but the rest of your menstruating life stocking up on tampons/pads/stain remover like the world is going to end tomorrow."

14. Is there really such a thing as the freshman fifteen?

Michaella says: " Yes. Okay maybe I didn’t gain 15 pounds but I did get a little chubbier than I started. My advice is to not worry about it. You will probably eat more junk food in college more than any other time in your life. Just because it’s fast, easy, and cheap. But you are also walking a lot more and so it cancels out. Just remember that eating is important so don’t skip meals just so you don’t gain a couple pounds. (And if you are really worried most colleges have gyms and such!)"

Eylssa says: " Yes there can be. I have gained some weight for stress and REALLY unhealthy eating. During the holidays the best thing to do if you really want to avoid it is to just try to not buy so much prepackaged food. If you live in the dorms try to take advantage of the fruits or healthier items in the dining halls. For me I chose to budget my money in a way to where I could spend a little bit more on groceries because fruits, vegetables and healthier items are unfortunately, more expensive. And if your school has a gym like mine take advantage of it! Dont be afraid to go in everyones new at one point and will be just as self conscious as you are."

Jessica says: " You can just do what I do and not weigh yourself and then work out hoping that it cancels out something. I’m pretty sure my method is wrong though…"

Hannah says: "Yes, there is. The important thing here is to have all things in moderation. You can treat yourself, but don’t forget that your body needs fuel. I find that packing clif bars or keeping fruit snacks in my backpack to munch on during class keeps me from binge eating after class."

Pheobe says: "Don’t worry about it. You’re going to be growing for little while longer. As long as you take care of yourself, your body will always look exactly the way it’s supposed to."

15. Is it weird to not have your own shower?

Michaella says: "I have my own shower! Well I share it with 3 roommates! But at BYU there is one freshman dorm in Helaman Halls that is a suite so it has a bathroom between two rooms. So make sure you look at the dorms closely because having my own bathroom rocks. Do your homework and look at your college’s dorms."

Eylssa says "Not really I had siblings growing up so it wasn’t weird to share with my boyfriend or roommates because we all knew when it was time to be cleaned. the hardest part is trying to figure out where to put everything. But if you live in the dorms the best advice I can give is to invest in shower shoes."

Pheobe says: " Nah. I shared a shower with nine other men and women and never even thought twice about it. Just clean up any messes you have when you’re through, and if they do the same, you won’t even notice."

16. How do you sing in the shower when there’s other people who can hear you?

Michaella says: "Just sing anyways. Screw the haters."

Eylssa says: "Ha YES! I love one of my roommates because I’ll be coming home from school or work and she’ll be in the shower singing her heart out for all our neighbors to hear. The best thing to do is own it and know that everyone else is envious that you’re not afraid of it when they are."

Pheobe says: "Confidence, that’s how!"

17. What are some fun things to do in college?

Michaella says: " Lots of campuses put on events, my dorm complex always has activities and dances, in addition to the general BYU activities. Just keep an hear out there are a bunch of people your age all looking for things to do! Find a good friend group and just go find stuff to do (but also be cautious, there are crazy people and not everything is worth doing but there are lots of other things that will be)!

Jessica says: "It depends on the college. At my college they do not do a good job at advertising things and it’s more fun to do things off campus. Sometimes I get sushi with my friends, or go to the beach. Most of the times I’m in my dorm watching Netflix with my friends. Though some campus events are really fun. For example, my campus has Improv every other Thursday. There are a lot of hot guys and they’re all funny, so I make sure I go to that event."

Pheobe says: " Lots of campuses have movie nights, and of course be sure to find your local music scene and catch a show! College towns are full of artists and performers that would love you in their audience, and you’re bound to find a band or two that you will fall in love with, no matter which city you’re in. Culture is a must!"

18. What are the best ways to study?

Michaella says: "Coming from the girl who hates studying, I have to have something that I am working on: making flash cards, study guides or doing picture notes and I have to motivate myself. I am a very visual learner and writing things out help me out immensely. Before lectures, I do the reading, in lectures I handwrite notes, and after I organize my notes and type them. That sounds like a lot and it is but by doing this I save a lot of time by not cramming right before and exam. A week before an exam, I will go back through my notes and study. If I want to stop I usually leave where I am studying and walk around and find a new one. This helps me stretch, clear my head and I also get a snack and fill up my water bottle. Studying can be boring but if you do it consistently throughout the semester; but by keeping up with your studies can make finals week more manageable."

Jesica says: "Honestly, I was never that good at studying in high school and I’m still trying to figure it out. For me I usually read my notes and go over the powerpoints (if my teacher posts them). If teachers give you practice quizzes then I would also study off of that. Oh, and FYI, some professors DO NOT give you a study guide for exams."

Hannah says: "I didn’t really have to study in high school, so this was all new for me. I have a playlist on spotify dedicated to ‘study’ music, and I color code EVERYTHING. Keep organized notes (I like outlining). Find a system and stick to it."

Pheobe says: "Binural beats! There are frequencies you can download or stream on the internet that help your brain to focus. I’d be lost without them, google it!"

19. Things you wish you would’ve brought with you?

Michaella says: "Medicine. I remember the first time I got sick I had nothing to take. Leaving me to trek to CVS to buy a bunch of drugs. I would stock up on DayQuil, NyQuil, Ibuprofen, Pepto Bismal, and Excedrin. I also keep lots of Benadryl and allergy medicine because I'm allergic to everything. Also ice packs and a heating pad are good to have on hand. (I threw out my back last semester and could do nothing about it. Not the business).

Jessica says: " My dog. In all seriousness, you’re going to forget something. As of right now I have everything I need, but at the beginning of school I would remember random stuff that I wanted but left at home. For example, I like to draw on my spare time but I did not bring any of my sketchbooks. I had to wait till Thanksgiving to get them.  I also forgot my toothbrush when I first arrived and my parents had to go buy me a new one."

Pheobe says: "My mom’s cooking and a curling iron."

A question for you:

20. ARE YOU EXCITED?

Till next time!