Things I Learn From My Communication Research Methods Class

Communication Research Methods. It's a class. It's really hard. I'm going to fail. Ha! Okay. That's not completely accurate. I think I'll do fine, however, my brain exploded when I found out I had to take this class. The first day, I sit down and I'm in sheer panic. I don't know what to expect from this class, but all I know is it's going to be really hard. Truth be know, it wasn't as horrifying as I made it out to be. Instead, I actually learned something. My professor started talking about a wall she encountered as she was going to grad school. She called it the Statistics Wall. She said that as she took more and more statistics classes she felt like eventually she would hit a wall. She imagined the wall being 20 feet high, all completely cement with barbwire on the top. She kept taking classes and kept acing them and wasn't hitting any kind of wall. Even though she totally hated statistics. When she decided to finally graduate...(she's one of those crazy teachers that LOVES school and was in school for like 25 years...) she went to talk to her statistics professor about taking another statistics class and she ended up telling him about her imaginary wall. He looked at her and said "It's not a wall, it's a door." She explained that, that statement changed her life and that instead of thinking that she'll eventually hit the wall and become a statistics puddle, that she flows freely door to door, picking up every kind of information she can possibly get. MY MIND WAS BLOWN. And I began thinking about how I could apply that in my life. Instead of believing that I'll eventually fail and become a "statistics puddle", I should believe that every opportunity is just a door. It opens and closes and I have to make the choice to open the door, whether I fail or not. I won't hit a wall. I just close a door. I don't fail at something. I just close a door. I don't get rejected. I just close a door. And it's not like I won't ever be able to open a particular door again because I've already got the key that unlocks it. Life shouldn't be about hitting walls. It should be about opening doors.

Perception

I started reading this book today:

Stephen Covey talks a lot about perception. He explained one instance when he was on the subway in New York. The car of the subway was subdued and quiet. When the train stopped, a man and his unruly kids got on the subway car. His children were being disruptive and obnoxious and Covey leaned over to the man and said, "Sir, can you contain your children? They are being quite disruptive." The man gently responded "Okay. We just got back from the hospital where they're mother just died. I guess I can try to contain them..." Covey was immediately filled with compassion and sympathy. That experience of Covey's got me thinking about my own experiences. How many times have I done that? How many times have I judged and not known the situation? Covey explains that it's what we see that's flawed. Our perception is based on outward appearances and lacks real and authentic truth. Covey also goes on to explain the Character Ethic and the Personality Ethic. The Personality Ethic is based on outward appearances. Things that are very temporary and short-term, while the Character Ethic is based on integrity and your character and is long-term. Covey explains that perception is only based on what we see and we think that if people don't see it that way that they are wrong. I do this all the time. I think that there is only one way...the way I see it is correct and there can be no other correct way, which isn't true! Example: Yesterday, I texted one of my friends and I asked him about one of my other friends. I was frustrated with this particular friend and wanted to know why they were being so obnoxious. I can't give specifics, but he told me a detail about my friend that changed my perception. Instead of being annoyed or frustrated, I felt like I needed to be kinder. Because I knew that back story about my particular friend, I was able to see my situation clearer.  Perception is SOO important! Harsh judgments can be made about people and those harsh judgements will stick with us forever until something changes our perception. Crazy, right? Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to snuggle up and read my book!

11 Things I Love About College

1. People-watching  2. Listening to my iPod while walking to classes. 3. I can wear the same shirt two days in a row and it doesn't matter because I never see the same people two days in a row. 4. Writing to missionaries

5. Having the option to skip class, but never actually doing it. 6. Free food. 7. My jobs

(I work at a Performance Hall as an Usher and I'm a gallery guard at an art museum) 8. Boys who open the door for me. 9. Dance parties with my roommates

10. Laughing 11. Making friends

People

I was walking home from campus today and I was in a bad mood. I was tired. I was hungry. And there were a million things weighing down on my mind.

My headphones were in and I was rocking out to some heavy stuff, when I spot a boy out of the corner of my eye. He waves to me and pleasantly exclaims "Hi Elisabeth!" Immediately, I felt so much better. This boy isn't considered attractive by most girls, but ya know what?  He's the nicest. And that's all that matters.

Reality Check Number 1000

It seems like I've been getting some reality checks every day over the past three weeks, but this specific one takes the cake. I was talking to my roommates today as we were primping for a roommate photoshoot. My roommate Ashley & I were complaining about how our hair wasn't turning out and how our butts were too big. As most of girls conversations go, the topics morphed together until we started talking about our families. My roommate Sandra started talking about her family specifically. Ashley & I listened as Sandra unfolded a story that broke my heart. She talked about how her & her sister would buy Christmas for their family every year because her parents didn't have enough money. She told us that when she went home this last weekend, the cupboards at her home were bare and the fridge was scarce. She talked about how she was valedictorian at her school, but it was really nerdy to be smart so she often got made fun of.  And here I was, complaining about how my hair was too straight and the boy I liked wasn't asking me on a date. I'm incredibly blessed. I'm so thankful that my parents are responsible and realize their roles as a parents. I often feel guilty because my parents still have to support me, but my parents are so amazing and have told me on multiple occasions: "Elisabeth, we're your parents, that's our job." Seriously. Can my parents get any better?! There is always food in the cupboards and my mom starts planning Christmas in June. My dad has a wonderful, stable job and so does my mom. My mom is even getting her Master's degree!  I have the opportunity to go to college and continue my education.  I have the ability and talent to talk to everyone and anyone. I've been incredibly blessed in my life and I don't think I'll be complaining about having a big butt any longer. *Names changed for sake of privacy*

The ULTIMATE photo-bomb!!

Yes. That is me & my roommate taking an adorable picture at the Utah State vs. UVU game....

See that yawning guy in the background? Ultimate photo-bomb.

Where I Come From

I come from my parents. They just loved each other SO much that their love spilled over and made a baby.
I come from hours & hours of reading parenting books, taking parenting classes, & just sheer good will.
I come from family.
I come from my teasing aunts. I come from my rambunctious cousins. I come from my lovely grandparents.
People that have shaped how I am today.
I come from the small-town breeze.
I come from vacations, laughter, and road trips.
I come from cell phones, Facebook, and high school.
I come from friends: Carlee, Lindsay, Sadie, Shelby, & Elise.
I come from the Sugar 4th Ward.

I come from flouncing around in my emerald prom dress.

I come from high-school crushes and embarrassing moments.

I come from junior high, when all I did was wear sweatshirts & ponytails.

I come from watching too much T.V. & sobbing during Pearl Harbor.

I come from refusing to wear high heels.

I come from being insecure.

I come from hope, daydreams, & pumpkin pie.

I come from sleepovers, chick flicks, and too many infatuations.

I come from crying so hard my head starts spinning.

I come from laughing so hard that I cry so hard.

I come from over-thinking & reading thoughtful, intelligent articles.

I come from a lot of things, because really, they have all made me who I am today.

I Like To Be A Chauffeur

I have always had a compelling desire to help others.I've never been very good at it and I've never been very good at knowing how.However, my partrichartical (sp?) blessing encourages me to and I've always had a willing heart.Lately, I've had so many opportunities to do service for others.It's nothing big.I don't cook lavish meals for starving college students or volunteer to help the leprosy colonies in India, all I do is give rides in my 2003 Mitsubishi Galant.Which is weird.A lot more college students have car problems (or don't even have a car at all) than I thought.How wonderful it is that I can help others just by giving them a simple ride?!Now, I'm not trying to boast or even self-promote myself, I just think it's interesting HOW I've been able to serve others.I've been so focused on the big stuff (leprosy colonies) that I haven't realized the service I can do right in front of me.I can pick up litter as I go running or text somebody to tell them how awesome they are.Besides, I like being a chauffeur.

Me, My Big Mouth, & I

My mouth & I have been at war with each other for a while now.My brain tells my mouth:"Hey mouth, you shouldn't say that. You might offend someone."But no, my mouth is all like:"Hey brain, I think I'm going say it anyway. Who's it really gonna hurt?"Boy. My mouth needs to take lessons from up top.Or maybe I just need to learn to stop gossiping.That could be it.At Quiznos today, my manager pulled me aside.(When this happened, I almost had a mini panic attack because last time, I almost got fired)She said that she had heard from someone that I had said that I thought she didn't like me.(Got all that?)Which was actually true. I just felt really bad because she had heard it from someone else.And I had felt the need to exclaim my frustration to my coworkers.I really should have known that it would have gotten back to her.Ugh.That's why my mouth & I are still at war.

PPP Moments

During testimony meeting a couple days ago, I ended up talking about having PPP moments.
What are PPP moments?
They are:
PUKE
PASS OUT
&
PEE IN YOUR PANTS moments.
I learned about PPP moments last summer during my time as a camp counselor for the Girl Scouts.
Part of getting the girls to have fun at camp is to push them outside their comfort zones.
BUT
you don't want put them in the PPP zone. That doesn't accomplish anything.
So, next time you're having a freak-out moment.
Just don't have a PPP moment.

Embrace It.

Snippet from a couple of weeks ago:

Me: College is so awkward. I HATE awkward.

Dad: Elisabeth. I'm 45 years old & life is still awkward. Embrace the awkwardness.

Best piece of advice I've ever gotten.

My Hair Has Reached The Armpit Stage

All during high school, I never had long hair.
I chopped it off all the time.
First day of school: chop.
Middle day of school: chop.
Last day of school: chop.
Yup, I'm a chopper.

(SEE! Look at my short hair?!)

However, now that I can't mooch off my parents and use their money to get a haircut.
I haven't cut my hair for at least 10 months.
Because of this, my hair has reached the armpit stage.
The stage where your hair frequently gets caught in your armpit because its long enough to reach that awkward part of your body.
Observe:

I love it though.
Long hair is so rad.