about

There are a few things that everyone should know about me. Whether you believe them or not, that's up to you. But here are the FAQs...

Where are you from?
Believe it or not, I have no idea how to answer this question. Let me tell you why.. I have never lived in one place for greater than seven years. If "where I am from" is based on longevity, then I am from Saint George, Utah. But then again, I haven't lived there since I was seventeen. And then there's Danville, California. Though only living there for five years, it's the place with some of my fondest childhood memories. Currently, I reside in Provo, Utah, but I wouldn't call this a permanent residence by any means. I am here for school...and then I am outta here. Oh, and I almost forgot: what about Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Springville, Illinois; and Richfield, Utah? Where exactly do those places fall? I graduated from high school in Bountiful, Utah, and my parents live there. But is that really home? After all, I only lived there for two years... So I guess I will let you decide on this one. What will it be?

What are you doing in Provo, Utah?
I am a student at Brigham Young University. And lucky for me, I graduate in 11 months...not that I am counting down or anything. I am studying Social Science Education; that's right, I want to be a teacher! I want to teach geography or something similar, but we will see how that all pans out!

Wait. If you go to BYU, does that mean you are a Mormon?
Bingo. I am a Mormon, or rather...a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. And I couldn't be prouder. All the crap you here in the media is just that: crap. If you really want to know what I believe, then visit www.mormon.org or www.lds.org. For now, I can say that I am Christian. I don't have horns. I don't practice polygamy (nor do any other Mormons I know). And I am firm believer in present-day revelation. Oh, and The Book of Mormon is true.

You mentioned you moved around as a kid. Was that hard or what?
I got used to it. The only move that really left me peeved was when we moved to Bountiful, Utah. I was seventeen years old, and I still had two years left in high school. There was no way I was going to start my life all over. But guess what? I did just that. I made new friends. I began new hobbies. I got a job. And life fell into place quite easily. I can't tell you everything about Bountiful, and I definitely can't tell you who my neighbors are. But I can tell you that it was a change I needed. It helped me find the little joys in life; it taught me that not all change is bad or negative. It's all up to you. Life is what you make it!

What interests and hobbies do you have?
My interests and hobbies are far too wide and extensive for any one person to handle. Mostly, there is no limit to my interests or my hobbies. But, to name a few...
I am always up for something new and exciting. I love experiencing new cultures and languages; there's just something about being completely out of my element that is exciting! And as such, I love to travel and do so every chance I get.
Music is my life's blood. I grew up in a home where my mom was always singing or playing the piano. Through her example, I developed a great love for music. I took voice lessons, piano lessons, and flute lessons throughout my life. And beginning my 8th grade year, I began teaching myself various musical instruments: the guitar, the trombone, the oboe, and the saxophone, to name a few.
I began reading at the age of five and never stopped. I hate to admit it, but I have never read the Harry Potter series. I love to read, but I love to read classic literature, such as Shakespeare, Nicholai Gogal, Jane Austen, Ernest Hemmingway, Charles Dickens, etc. etc. I was never fond of the fantasy books everyone else was reading. I was more interested in whether or not Raskolnikov would ever fess up to his murder in Crime and Punishment than if Harry Potter would truly be the "Boy Who Lived".
Medicine, and human anatomy, have always fascinated me. I actually started out studying pre-Physical Therapy at BYU. And some days I wish I had never stopped. After two major surgeries over the past two years, one on my jaw and one on my knee, my interest in medicine grew. It was amazing to watch my body heal, to adapt to the changes that took place. The human body is amazing.

Travel is one of your main interests/hobbies. Where have you been? Where do you want to go?
My parents gave my siblings and I every opportunity growing up. As such, I had traveled extensively by the time I moved to college. I have now been to seventeen different countries around the world, on four different continents. Such countries include Israel, Greece, England, France, Mexico, Jamaica, and Australia. It is impossible for me to choose a "favorite" place I have been because they have all been so different. However, there is one place I will always want to go back to: Israel.
Where do I want to go? The better question is where don't I want to go! India, Egypt, Russia, Poland, Japan, New Zealand, Brazil...there is so much out there in the world to see, and I hope that I will be able to continue seeing the world as I age in life. Travel is expensive, but it is beyond worth it. The memories you make, the lessons you learn make it worth the price.

What do you do in your free time?
I basically do whatever I feel like. Sometimes I wander around the mall and buy a few things. Sometimes I call and talk to members of my family (my mom, mainly). But my favorite thing to do is nothing at all. I like just cuddling up in a blanket and watching old black-and-white movies with someone next to me. That is when the weight of the world completely disappears and nothing else matters but Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, and James Stewart.

One last question...and it's kind of ridiculous...but where do you see yourself in five years?
The age old question... But to be honest, I see myself married to the man of my dreams, starting a family of my own, and being the best teacher ever. I have no idea where I will be (I am hoping for the West Coast near to my sister!!) but I know that wherever I will be, I will be happy. Because if there's one thing in my 22 years of life that I have learned, it's that only you can create happiness--no one else.