{a two year mission}
Living in Utah, you get asked the
question, “Have you ever thought about serving a mission before?” Whether you
are a boy or girl, you will get asked this a few hundred times. Some people
love it because they can answer with a resounding YES!! And others say, “It’s
not for me”. But what is a mission? It’s
2 years of someone’s life that they improve spiritually, mentally, and
strengthen qualities that are lacking. They also are have opportunities to lift
other people and teach them. For me, I didn’t go to a different state or
country to teach the gospel, but in a way I feel I went on my two year mission.
//:THE PREPARATION://
Those of you who really know me
know that the one thing I’ve always loved is dancing. To start off, here’s some
background. I’ve danced for years and
years; since I was 3. I started off at a dance school in someone’s studio next
to their house. It was called “Shellie’s School of Dance”. It was great! Close
to where we lived, and it was fun for a little girl, like me, to dance her
heart out. It wasn’t like the other studios where you compete for trophies or medals;
it was for pure fun and enjoyment. It taught me that I always needed to have
fun especially when you do something you love, it should never be stressful. As
I got older I was able to join more prestigious teams. I was able to be a part of Synergy Dance
Academy for a few years where I learned a lot of technique and skills I hadn’t
known before. I learned different leaps, jumps, ballet, hip hop; you name it I
did it. For the first time in my life I felt so uncomfortable. I was in a room
where all of the girls my age had been doing the specific skills for years. I
was an amateur. I felt awful and
completely ashamed… but I stuck to it. This studio did competitions. I competed
and I loved it. I loved the team I was on and also the instructors I had. From
there I made the Drill team at Copper Hills High School with my very best
friend Kinzi Corral. (She also switched studios and went to Synergy with me).
Let’s just say Drill was amazing. I learned heaps from being on this team. Not
only did I learn to have fun, but I was able to gain about 50 new friends and
sisters throughout the three years I was on it. I learned discipline. I was
only late 1 time. If we were late, we ran a mile, and if we were more than 30
minutes late, we ran 2 miles. The day I was late I woke up at 6:00; let’s just
say PANIC. That day was the best because after drill I went home to get ready! J oh the joys. On drill,
I learned how to be really loud an obnoxious.
Every time I took a guy to a social with the drill team, they saw a
whole other side of me. (sorry) But that was who we are. We danced, we laughed,
and we were LOUD. But we didn’t care. I learned sign language. This is where my
love for sign language started. We weren’t allowed to talk during some parts of
practice, and during sophomore year, I remember the seniors would always sign
to each other, so you better believe the next year I signed up for sign
language. I’ve loved it ever since and I’m majoring in it. Funny how people can
influence you huh? I learned how to be as friendly as possible. There were 20
some odd girls on the team each year. I learned how to love people every day;
how to be a protector of my little sophomores and juniors. I learned how to
care for each of the girls when they were hurt, sad or just lonely. I learned that even when I wasn’t supposed to
talk in line up, I always whispered to the girl in front of me, even if she
didn’t talk back, I would just keep blabbing. I don’t know how to stop talking.
I learned that memories are important to hold onto. Memories are what you
remember about your past, its all we have. I learned that if I wanted something bad
enough, I had to work at it. In drill we had to try out for each dance we
competed. Everyone would learn the dance, and then during hell week, we would
audition and the cuts were made. My first year I didn’t make dance routine ,so
what did I do? I worked hard on the sidelines, and eventually I was put into
the dance! ALSO junior year I didn’t make first cut of lyrical, so I took
privates with the instructor that came into teach. I did two privates a week
and worked hard on the sidelines. And eventually I was put into the dance. I learned
that practice out beats talent any day. I might not have had every dance step down, but I worked hard to improve.
Practice makes perfect.
~two year mission~
The thought never crossed my mind
that I would go on to dance in college. My ultimate dream was that I would stay
home and get married right out of high school to my bf at the time. One day my
mom sat me down and said, “You’re trying out somewhere. I don’t care where, but
you are going to.” So I went with it. It wasn’t my idea, but I trusted my moms
instincts, so I did it
{YEAR 1}
A FRESHman. Holy. Started from the bottom. I started off as the quiet one. I didn’t give
much imput because there were so many older girls that I felt it was easier if
I just didn’t give my opinion. I regret that so much now. It was all new and I
was just going with the flow. We started with parades, I did all that I could.
It was so much fun! I had never been in a parade before, and I don’t think I
will ever have to be in one again, I did soooo many! But it was fun J We went to Vegas for a
dance camp, and I swear I almost ran away. It was the hardest week of my life.
My coach kept saying, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”, and it’s so
true. After that weekend I realized that I could do anything for a certain
amount of time. I’ve used that in my daily life. Whenever I just don’t want to
do something, I have realized that failures make you a better person with a
stronger character. Throughout the year we
had many appearances, I learned how to be approachable, put together and always
smiling and having fun. “Because there is always someone wanting to be in your
shoes.”
In the first year, I
learned:
1~ How to pick up dances quickly and try to perfect
them. (We did this at camp in 4 days)
2~ How to be a good bed buddy while sleeping in a
hotel.
3~ How to truly get to know someone on an airplane
4~ You can never pack enough snacks to practice
5~ Seniority is a true thing
6~ People always have favorites.
7~ Accept your faults, and move on.
8~ Always smile. You never know who is looking
9~ Learn people’s pet peeves and don’t do them when
you’re around them = Brownie points!!! ;)
~ Quotes are sometimes more powerful than a
speech.
1~ Learn counts and remember them, because they’ll
get changed a million times, so scratch that, kinda remember them, but when
people change it, just go with it.
1~ Change is bound to happen.
1~ Be kind to everyone, because you never know what
they are going through.
1~ Always be on top of your ish.
1~ Put events on your calendar right when you find
out about it. Then make sure you look at your calendar.
Overall I learned how to live on my own. How to get up
without someone reminding me to set my alarm, do the dishes, make sure there is
enough food for the week, etc. I also learned who I was. I learned that I
didn’t need my parents for me to go to church, I learned how much I love the
gospel and how enjoyable the scriptures are. I learned how to be lonely.
Knowing that I didn’t need a man at that time to make me happy. I learned that
I’m picky about who I date. i learned that if I wanted to be happy, that I had
to do things that would lead to happiness. I learned that I was an independent
person. I learned I’m very scarred of dark parking lots; I would run
frantically through the parking lot to get to my apartment while holding
anything that would make noise. [yah, I’m a spaz].
{Year 2}
I learned..
v
How to take care my babies. (freshman) I
contacted them from the start and tried to include them from the beginning.
v
I laughed and smiled more.
v
Going with the flow is sometimes better than
always having a schedule.
v
Coaches have worse days than we think
v
Always be someone people can count on
v
Take people gifts when they are needed
v
Ask to help out, even if you know they would
never accept your offer
v
Your problems aren’t the worst in the room. So
stop thinking about yourself.
v
Think about others first, and you’re life will
always be worth it.
v
When you get married, you have to accept people
for who they are, love them, and stop getting bugged by what they do. [The
first year of marriage is the hardest because both people don’t truly know how
the other lives their life in every minute of each day]
v
Have a cookie and a coke, it won’t kill ya.
v
Go to the temple with your 5 closest friends,
and then do dinner.
v
Laugh loud.
v
If you don’t have to wear tights, DON’T DO
IT!!!!!
v
When people look like they are sad, cheer them
up with your sweet words, oh and a hug J
v
Winning isn’t easy. It takes hard work, a lot of
practice, and yelling.
v
Everyone needs help, whether you’re 12, 43, or
any age. We all need love and help.
v
If you have a bad day, moment, year; change your
perspective.
v
Listen to any advice anyone gives you. It could
be critical to help you in your life.
v
Be grateful for the little things every day, and
write them down.
This year I learned that sometimes
things don’t go your way, but how you handle it, is what makes you a better and
stronger person. Everything happens for a reason. This life is all about
growing and becoming a better person each and every day. Life isn’t perfect.
Sometimes we just have to put on a smile and keep going. When an experience is
bad, don’t regret it, accept it. You learned something new about yourself that
you wouldn’t have know before if you didn’t have the experience. I learned the
90% of the time the only people that truly care about you is your family. So
love them. Love them more than anyone. Serve them and be grateful for them and
show them with your actions.
These two years I have been on the
team has been the best experiences of my life. I have learned so much about
myself and who I am and what I am capable of. I’m so grateful for the women who
were able to help me become who I am and influence my life for the better. I
will always remember you. You will always be in ever story I tell. You’re part
of everything I do and say. Thank you for teaching me something new every day. I love dance, and it will be a part of my life forever, but for now, it's time for something new.
{As of
right not, this was my two year mission, but who knows, maybe a year or two, I’ll
go serve. Or maybe even 50 years from now I’ll go on a mish with my sweetheart.}
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