I almost feel like a prodigal son ( or daughter in this case ) right now as I sit here typing. It's been over year since I've approached the Anger Management Seminar. Partially because Im not really angry anymore...okay that's a lie, somewhat, but life has been more than interesting since I was accepted into the athletic training program at BYU. And for the record, I think it's best to read this blog while listening to "Kindly Unspoken" by Kate Voegele on repeat.

Anyway, I know Im not the best journal writer. I sit and claim that I write better than I talk, which, while true, forgets the small adendem that I might not write on a consistently frequent basis. There are some reasons for this accompanied with excuses: I'll admit it, Im a creature that tends to go the path of least resistance unless I have a deadline. I have given in to being trained to requiring a deadline to get things done. Clearly this is a phase of the common man I need to overcome, but that will be a long hard habit to fight, so don't expect immediate results - primarily because it doesnt have a deadline. Besides being lazy, long days and early classes didn't help. Being in the athletic training program means you willingly sign your life over to the Athletic Department for a 2 year service project, and I mean this in the kindest, but most practical way ever. Some people I dont think understood what life as a student trainer entailed until they were neck deep into their schedules - these are they who I think complain and refuse to take advantage of the situation. In the program, some things are handed to you, but there's a good deal that you have to seek out yourself if you're going to glean everything you can from being there. Then there were those who knew a good deal of what they were getting into - these are they who, while not exactly happy about the situation, make the best from day to day. I fit somewhere in between these two. I partially understood what the program would demand of me, but my mother taught me to finish what I started. This principle is one of a few things that has kept me going through the days of drudgery.

On the outside, student training has the blatant appearance of usery, but it took me getting to know my staff trainers and my players to give that "usery" more of a sense of meaning. Yes, I'm required to be at practice 1.5 hrs early, and I have to stay later until everyone is treated and the paperwork is done. Yes, that cuts into classes I need to take during key hours. Yes, that requires me to take the bulk of my classes early in the morning, or in the evening, or one night a week from teachers that may or may not be the best at teaching that subject. Yes, it's the kiss of death for my social life, hobbies, or other pleasurable things I enjoy. But y'know what...we're adaptable, and I've done it. Yes, I about killed myself doing it, but I'm still alive, damn it, and I now know my limits, and i wouldnt trade that knowledge for an easier lifestyle. I wouldn't know how clutch my softball girls are, or how sweet my football boys, or how trusting my volleyball girls. I wouldnt be able to practice, or experiement with my knowledge. I wouldn't have relied upon my Heavenly Father as much to help me finish my day. Looking back on this past year, yes it was a pain, but once I'm in the training room, I can forget about the world for a moment - it's my time to be something to someone else who has come to depends on me. In my view, it's the involvement that changes the usery to learning. I refuse to be dragged down unwilling. That's how others get the best of you, I've found. How I respond is my choice and I like to hold the upper hand - that's how I mastered this beast of a schedule. Im grateful for the friends I've made along the way, because without them, it would have been harder to adjust.

With that diatribe over, ugh! let's move on to the more entertaining things. As you've probably guessed, sports was my life this year, but we had some pretty entertaining times back at the apt. and in my ward. Some highlights: Mary's dating season (5 guys at once, 4 of them in the same room one night); Sayaka's cakes and Josiah; Berkley, our 6th roommate; Kelsey's Wedding (and for a while Boyd, our other 6th roommate before Berkley); teasing Caleb at the Remmington's and Brother Remmington enjoying that so much, he was sure Caleb and I would hook up; Riley only talking to me because I was a trainer for the football team; THE DINNER GROUP!!!! And my reaction when I found out that Allan had a girlfriend back home; staying friends with Allan; Class of doooooom; Liann's smoothie parties; Stu's music; Swing dancing; my softball girls kicking the frickin crap out of Utah and making it to the 2nd round of NCAA tourney; Dr. Knight; getting to know "Cleatus" - surprising at how sweet he really is underneath all the gruffness; my football boys - EJ and never knowing his real name ( and I KNOW it's not Everlasting Joy), Justin's comments, Craig's comments, Jayson's wrist and sweetness, Judd requesting me to tape him; Billy and Adam, Gordo's flirting even though he's a married man, Sean My Camel, The Freshman ( OHHHH Grant and Isley), Sean Nu'a and Hala Paongo - two of the best polys ever born, Nate's pseudo pessimism, Dan Coates' 5 bucks on my first day; pickle juice; my own little blow torch; Steve, the asst. equip manager thinking my name was Tiffany; getting to know Tom Hunt and ADORABLE wife; Rich Nehring dutifulness; Leo's whining, and how he NEVER came in for treatment; Todd Watkins' and I somehow agreeing that I had black in me because I had a black name; Joe Semanoff's daily treatment discussions; Spad and Chencer; Eddie Keele wearing our tape jobs to practice when we hadn't passed off for taping yet; Curtis Brown cutting off my circulation while taping my ankle; Mike Fischer recognizing me on campus even though he wasnt on my squad; JP - enough said; Spencer Rickertsen (spencer!!); BENCH BALL!!!; Black Cherry powerade concoctions; Not getting anything because we were on the second rotation; learning from George =); Having coach Crowton tell my guys to back off his 1st string offense (hell yes); Lut's tacky suits; the same christmas CD over and over; Chris' sense of humor; Sean Nu'a trading a steak dinner for Amy's beanie. My volleyball girls! - Amy Schlauder introducing herself to me first off and saying we'd be seeing a lot of each other; Lexi's particular preference for Gaye, her rolled up shorts, but being a clutch hitter in tough game situations; enduring my second coach firing - congratulations jason; Jason supposedly being from Australia, even though I SWEAR he's from germany; Stim and Study Sessions; Anatomy; my taping regulars; BEING WITH LINDZ!; half of the Mens team coming to practice; Jenna - way too many laughs; Goody's hand; Stacey's hand; Goody looking too much like Mary's sister; Lolo coming to trust my taping; Louie's compliment; quality time with E Lott; converting E Lott and Goody to becoming trainers - we think; yellow powerade; teaching Hulse the pathways of the heart; quality time with the Men's team; "so ninja"; Michael Burke being our model for the venous system; Carlos - his break up with E Lott, his miff with Ashley ( who replaced Lindz ), and teaching him how to tape; LEARNING FROM GAYE!; getting to know Gaye; autonomy; the stretching routine fiasco; Cala!; Friendship with Joe Hillman; Rachel Dyer's reasoning "But Kate said I could!"; lasering Jenna; having to break it to them that I wouldn't be with them in fall; my girls DATING my football boys - just when you thought your worlds wouldn't overlap; having them put their complete trust and faith in your abilities. Aaron Well's comparing me to Jodie Foster; Dr. Draper being bipolar without his meds; Dr. Mack - can't follow his lectures, but he's so wickedly cool!; Dr. Mack picking on me since I was "the trainer" of the class; Ty surfing the conference table to Hawaii Five-0; bonding with the semestermates; Judd's lil boy; Dan.; Kathy being the truly reasonable one; Microbiology and squiggly things; Slurpee runs on Monday's; Being the world's coolest FHE mom; my canadians; "Your Father" and "Joe" - there is a difference; Bruce's hair - nothing softer or redder; the secret personality of Jared Oaks; being officially dubbed "The Doctor" - and treating the ward for almost every illness and sports medical issue; the Dr. Love scandal; Six little snowmen; becoming friends with Allan; Paul Aylworth's cynicism being overturned by a little kindness; BENJAMIN RUSSEN FORSTNER; Country Dancing with Kathy; Swing dancing at The House; RED'S!!! (in memoriam); The Dutchman; It's Raining Men; Liann's many men and going to INDIAHHHHHH; the best phone in the world - The Communicator; Men's volleyball games; Michael Burke - enough said; three dates in a day and a half; Spring Semester - rooming with Sam and Wendy; gaining a new sister in Sam; Fridays at Guru's; Bruce and Jacob; Kelvin and Aaron; My boy's in #14; Chemistry 106 with half my football team and some amazing brainiacs with one wicked awesome TA; Chem 107 lab with a TA who was unknowingly after my own heart and sarcastic beyond belief - he really softens when you call him on it, it's surprising; the wannabe surgeon; always being the last one done; Dr. Linford's homework assignments - 30 hrs of chemistry a week; HIS TESTS!; Dr. Linford almost blowing himself up; teaching Sam how to play catch with Shawn; my dancing class; Crushing on my TAs; the Crash Apt.; Hender; School of Rock; Spencer, Sam, and the Newsroom; Forehead Kissing Steve; Chemistry Quiz comments; Somehow getting a d*** B in the class; heart to hearts with Sam; growing closer to friends with whom I may never associate again with in the future - but you never know. And I came home...

It's been a busy year, and while mentally exhausted, it was a good year. Im still recouperating, but by the time the 29th rolls around, I'll be ready to go out fighting. I just hope it's ready for me. Y'all be good. Until next time...