So this is Grad school…

Well, here we are. I have officially made it through my first month of Grad school (if you include orientation of course)! And might I just say that overall it is wonderful! That’s not to say that its been easy in any way, but I’m very excited for what is ahead.

So, I could tell you all about it in the traditional form, but in the spirit of school, I thought it would be more fun to have you take a little test! Don’t worry, this won’t count toward your grade as a friend, but you should still do your best!

1) I got my first calling in my first student ward
a. The very first day I went to the ward
b. Within one week of attending church
c. I have somehow avoided a call as of now
d. 3 days before ever actually attending my ward

2) Grad school is
a. Overwhelming
b. Thrilling
c. Slightly frightening
d. Exciting
e. All of the above

3) My new roommates are
a. Adorable and clean – couldn’t ask for more
b. A little on the crazy side and make me a little nervous
c. I rarely see them because I spend so much time at school
d. A & C

4) BYU overall
a. Isn’t quite as bad as I expected it to be
b. Has already converted me to Blue side
c. Is full of crazy people
d. Makes me want to live in P-town forever

5) Over the past 3 weeks
a. I’ve done more reading than I’ve done in the past year
b. I’ve learned more about me and the world around me than I did in a year in my under grad
c. I’ve loved sitting in class and gleaming information from some of the most intelligent people I’ve ever met.
d. I may have developed back problems from carrying a huge backpack around all the time
e. All of the above

6) On the days that I’m not at school
a. I go to the Tanner building anyways to work on extra-curricular activities and attend study groups
b. I wake up and start studying right away so I can take my test online before the deadline
c. I run away to SLC to regain my sanity
d. All of the above – as applicable

7) Some highlights from the Y campus thus far have been
a. Watching someone get proposed to in Brigham Square
b. Finding out that there is a flag rising and lowering ceremony everyday. When the National Anthem comes on everyone just stops where they are and puts their hands over their hearts. It was a strange and frightening experience.
c. Going to Regional conference in a basketball stadium and deciding it looked more like a mini session of general conference. (Holland, Packer, Scott, and Sis Beck were all there)
d. Watching someone get busted for disobeying the honor code
e. B & C
f. A & C

Answer Key:
1 – d – I’m a Relief Society Teacher
2 - e
3 – d – and I’m oh so grateful for them!
4 – a – If you said d we probably shouldn’t be friends and it would probably be best if you just stopped blog-stalking me RIGHT NOW! ;)
5 - e
6 – d – I thought my light load on Fridays would allow me to run away to SLC all the time, but over the past 3 weeks my Fridays (and Saturdays) have gotten just as busy as the rest of the week. :(
7 - e – I’m still waiting for the other two. I’ll be sure to let you know as soon as they happen!

What's in a Name?

Yesterday I met a girl with my SAME NAME!!! Now this may sound like a very lame everyday event, but this has NEVER happened to me! She is 16 years old and adorable. She plays the electric guitar amazingly, which was fun but still rather strange.

Any time someone called out her name I felt so strange because I knew they weren’t talking to me, but it was MY NAME they were calling out. So now I know how it feels, and I just have to say that I’m glad to have an original name and don’t have to deal with this ‘multiple person, one name’ issue very much! :)

P.S. She spells it Starlie so technically our names aren’t completely the same… I don’t know why, but this was important to me.

Cougarmail?!?!

Umm ... I get 'Cougarmail'. This is very telling of what my life is going to entail in the very near future. I'm a little excited (aside from the whole drab BYU blue thing - you would think they could come up with a better school color.)

By the way, I didn't buy football tickets at the Y (duh, who do you think I am?). But I was also unable to buy U football tickets, so if you ever have an extra ticket and want to let my inner Ute free, give me a call - I'll be there in CRIMSON from head to toe! :)

My 'Devil wears Prada' moment

In the movie, The Devil Wears Prada, everyone calls the new girl in the office, 'the new Emily'. Whenever Andy is introduced everyone just asks where Emily is and then calls her 'the new Emily' anyways.

Well, after almost 5 years of working at the University of Utah, I'm moving on. I'm training the new girl, and as I introduce her everyone just says, 'oh, so you're the new Starlee?'. It's nice to know I've made my mark on the University Information Technology department, and that she'll just have to be the 'new Starlee' until she makes her own place among all of these techies and nerds I've come to love!

PS - Only 7 work days left :)

Long weekend at the Cabin

I used to worry about what I was missing back in the 'real world' whenever I was at the Cabin. But I must say that i'm really getting this whole relaxing thing down. Life can actually be a lot of fun without cell phones and computers...for a little while at least.

Who Wouldn't love the cabin when you get to spend time with this hunk!

Mostly I just hang out and read/sleep/have hammock wars with people who get on the hammock next to me.
This trip was a truly special one because I shot a gun for the FIRST time.

This is me pretending I know what my dad is telling me to shoot at...

I was a little bit terrified but my dad is a pretty good teacher. He got mad at me when I closed one of my eyes and told me to keep both eyes open. This immediately reminded me of that scene in Pocahontas when John Smith says the same thing. The fact that i'm making these kinds of inferences will show you about how much experience I have with guns.;)

Oh ya, that is the shell from my very first bullet! I think i'm pretty hardcore, but Landen said I looked sort of pathetic when I actually shot the gun. "Very non-Sarah Walker'esk" in his words (reference to Chuck). Next time I go shooting i'll wear a miniskirt and high heels - I bet my aim will be better that way, and then i'll really be able to show off my MAD Secret Agent SKILLZ!

23 years...

Yup, that's how many years I've been hanging around this beautiful earth learning lots, and experiencing more than I ever thought possible. I've been blessed with wonderful opportunities over the past year and forced to break out of my comfort zone a lot. I have a feeling this year is going to be another one of those years full of experiences that I wasn't sure if I was ready for, or if I even really wanted, but that will help me grow into a better more understanding person!

So here I go, marching into my 23rd year with head held high, ready to embrace whatever comes my way!

I know I'm a little slow, but here are the highlights from my birthday weekend, that I just happened to share with my wonderful family, adorable boyfriend and very favorite country - AMERICA!How many people have a brother cool enough to make them a birthday smoothie (complete with lit candle - very tricky)

Spencer wanted to make sure that I had my own fireworks that weekend so I didn't get too jealous of the 4th of July madness.

BEST-GIFT-EVER
Words fall short when trying to describe how cool this is, so I'll just leave you to imagine what it would be like to get a portrait of yourself for your birthday, that your boyfriend spent hours working on! But let me assure you, it's rather AMAZING!

Birthday at the Cabin!
Yup, I had a colorful Rice Crispy treat cake so that my dad could join in the festivities!

Overall my birthday weekend was WONDERFUL! Thanks to all those that made this weekend memorable!

Miss Utah Scholarship Pageant

Well, it came and went in the blink of an eye. The week that I had spent months preparing for was over before I realized it had begun. It was harder than I thought it would be, I made more dear friends than I would have thought possible, I learned wonderful lessons about myself and others, and found myself in a much better place physically, spiritually, mentally, and intellectually than I started. I know you are probably having a hard time seeing how this could be, considering I left Capitol Theater on Saturday night exhausted, drained and thinking about earthquake prevention (one of the funnier answers that came out in the on-stage question).
But in all honesty it was an experience that I will take with me throughout my life and helped refine who I already am. It showed me my weaknesses and my strengths and helped me overcome some of my own personal fears. I didn't win anything in the competition, however I left the experience with more than I could have ever asked for. It was the ride of a lifetime and I couldn't be happier with my performance. If given the chance to do it all over again I would, and I wouldn't change a thing! :)

So now on to the fun stuff...PICTURES!

This is my evening gown. It was quite the experience finding and remodeling the dress. If you ever need a really good seamstress just ask because I found a WONDERFUL one who made this dress possible.
Interview! My very favorite part of the competition. I also like the on-stage question...even if mine was the dreaded 'gay-marriage' question. Good thing I was prepared for everything they threw at me! :)
oh swimsuit.... my least favorite part, but it was still fun.
Talent! I performed a classical Tarantella on pointe. The judges didn't seem too interested in the classical performances, but I sure had fun. Dancing on that stage is like coming home for me. I don't even get nervous because i've performed there so many times. The memories I have on that stage have all been so fun, and now I have a few more. :)
Just a few pics of me and some of my friends for life. Who knew pageant girls were such fun, kind, genuine, helpful girls!

There is no way I could have done any of this without all the support of my wonderful family and friends. I couldn't surround myself with any better people, and I appreciate all of the hours that were spent helping me prepare. Each time I was on stage I knew I wasn't alone, I was just the representative of all the hard work that many people put in.

Thank You Thank You Thank You for all of your love, patience, understanding and support. It means more than you'll ever know!



And just so you all know, my platform is the Strengthening Families Program. I'm trying to raise awareness about this wonderful program that will be available to all Utah families that will strengthen our families, and in turn strengthen our communities and nation as a whole. Please watch this short promotional video to find out more!