Learning and growing from the past

Over four years ago, I heard some news that shook my world and turned it upside down. It took me a little while to get over it and figure out why it had to happen. I was ashamed though because I brought it upon myself so I kept it to myself except for a few select people. But I'm finally ready to talk about it.

Beginning of 2010 I was at BYU-Idaho in a tough semester on my very last thread of sanity. I had two jobs and was taking 18 credits. I was on my fifth full time semester in a row with. Then at the beginning of the semester my brace broke so I had to traipse up and down the snowy hills with poor balance. I also wasn't as good as I thought I was at balancing my desire to have a busy schedule.

So I put a lot of things upon myself without the tools necessary to handle it all. I did it to myself and I know it.

I ended up not doing as well on my grades as I thought I did. I got put on academic suspension. I had to leave BYUI for a year and get at least a 2.0 GPA with at least 12 credits at another school before I could go back.

I was devastated and embarrassed. I had to call home and tell my parents what happened and suddenly figure out what I was going to do with my life for the next year. I knew I could go stay with my family but after living on my own I didn't want to do that unless I needed to. Luckily for me I had a family I was close with that let me come stay with them in Spanish Fork for a bit while I found a job and a place to live.

Two months later, I had a job and an apartment. I got started at the nearby university towards the end of my year requirement so that I could go back to my beloved school.

But to my surprise, when my year was up I didn't want to leave.

I had grown attached to my new life in Utah. I had made some great friends and new connections and I loved it. Then I got confirmation that I did need to stay.

So I stayed. I wasn't sure why but for some reason I needed to stay. The longer I stayed, the more I loved it.

Still though, I hid my reasoning for leaving Idaho. I avoided the question and kept it a secret from anyone who I deemed "unworthy" to know.

But I have finally moved on.

It's taken a while, but I am done hiding. I may not be proud of my prior mistakes, but I have overcome them, learned from them and grown from them.

It may have taken longer than I originally planned, but I'm graduating in April in a field that I never before imagined me loving. From leaving Idaho, I took off my career blinders and allowed myself to develop other talents I had and some that I didn't know I had. And because of that, I'm grateful that I had to leave Idaho. Because of that window opening, I have made some of the best friends that I sometimes wonder how I got so lucky to have them.

The amazing thing that I didn't realize until recently was how much I have focused on doing the best that I could and how much that effort was paying off.

Wednesday, October 22 I was inducted into the Lambda Pi Eta: Alpha Beta Beta, a National Honor Society. In order to be eligible for this, you had to be a junior or senior, have at least a 3.0 overall GPA, at least a 3.25 GPA in your communication core and be in the top 1/3 of the graduating class. Once you join the society, you are a lifetime member. I also will wear honor cords with my cap and gown at graduation.

It was after receiving notice about being eligible for this society that I realized how far I have come. Never mind that it took me 7 years to graduate. I have been on the path that I needed to be on the whole time. My mind just didn't catch up with it until now.

Upcoming status: Amanda Hollman, proud graduate with honor society standing and a lot of life experience under her belt and unashamed of her past.

The Sleep Deprived Lifestyle of a College Senior

While writing once a month isn't prime, at least it's better than before! I'm really trying to do better with updating this but with my crazy life it gets difficult.

This semester hit the ground running without much time to catch up with it. While I love all my classes, they are a lot of work. Both of my art classes give assignments over the weekend to work on, and they are typically not quick ones. My PR class has a quiz each day on the chapter we had to read, which is never short. Comm law is just plain intense (I mean, it's law so really it's expected). My theories class requires the least amount of work and I really enjoy what I'm learning so that's not bad at all. All in all, I'm pretty busy with school but I'm learning a lot and I am enjoying it all so I try not to complain too much.

Despite the workload, I am so glad that I chose to take my two art classes. I have learned so much about different techniques and it's helped develop my skills. I'll post pictures of them when I get them back from portfolio so you guys can give me feedback too :)

A couple weeks ago I got the chance to meet one of my heroes: Noelle Pikus-Pace. If you don't know who she is, I'll give you a brief recap. She got the silver medal in the 2014 Olympics for the US. A few years ago she was badly injured when a bobsled ran off course and ran into her leg-ya, serious broken bones-but she pulled through it like a champ and went back to the Olympics. She also went to UVU when it was UVSC and she was the keynote speaker for a leadership training last year. Ever since then I have wanted to meet her.

A few months ago I sent her a message via her website just telling her that I admire her and a little about my life. She sent me a sweet message in reply.

She came to the Deseret Book near my house to do a book signing and I was super excited and determined to fit it in my schedule. I had a Relief Society activity that I was partially in charge of that started a half hour after the book signing started. So I got to the store early to make sure that I was in the beginning of the line. Since I was 3rd in line, I got up to the table pretty quickly. She was really nice and in the conversation I mentioned the message she had sent me. It just took a couple words for her to remember who I was and she stopped signing and said she had to give me a hug.

It was a great experience. Plus, I even made it to my activity with a little time to spare.

When she realized who I was

This past weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to go up to Rexburg to escort my sister through the temple. It was so good to be able to be there and to help her with that experience. It was a short weekend but it was definitely great. I also got to participate with many others in Utah in the re-dedication of the Ogden, Utah temple. I forgot how much I love those meetings. It was truly a blessing to be able to attend in my stake center that acted as an extension of the temple.

PS, I was slouching-she is so not that much taller than me!

I look forward to plowing forward with this semester and the wonderful adventures that are in store!

Kicking off Senior Year

A few weeks ago I was talking with my friend about how we were both heading into our senior year of our undergrad and realizing that in less than a year we would hopefully have a full time job and figuring out what we're doing with the rest of our lives.

It's quite intimidating actually. I mean, I've been going to school for 6 years (it'll be 7 when I finish) and I don't really know how to live life without going to school. I did do it for a year when I moved to Utah so I could get in-state tuition but let's face it, I was a bump on a log that year working part time and really doing nothing else. We're talking about the real world here! It's crazy.

Well in this conversation with my friend I told her that I'd probably have major senioritis since I've been going to school for so long. She said something that changed my perspective on this final year:

It's the last year before everything changes. We'll never be in this situation again; make the most of it.

I've been pondering that thought since that conversation and it has really got me charged up for this year. I am so excited to see what I can learn, what experiences I can have and what life has in store for me both while I finish up my bachelor's degree and what comes after.

I headed to my first day of classes with this new found energy and drive. It made all the difference: I am so stoked for this semester! I'm working on classes for both my major (journalism) and my minor (digital media-where I'm taking web classes and art classes to get graphic design skills) so I have a few of each kind this semester.

My first class of the week is 2D Design. We were only in class for 20 minutes (it's usually a 2 1/2 hour class) before he let us out to get supplies but I'm so excited for it! We get to draw, paint and I'm not even sure what else we're doing but I'm excited to see my art skills develop over the course of the semester.

After that art class I go to Theories of Communication and Culture. I was a little intimidated for the class before I even went because it just sounds intense but from the moment I got in the classroom I changed my mind. The teacher is energetic and so happy to be there. There are at least a half dozen students who have taken at least 1 class from her before and they raved about her classes. I know a few people in the class too so that'll be helpful.

My first class of the alternate days is Basic Drawing. This is a drawing class for non-majors and it's all about learning skills to draw. There students vary from "I know I can't draw" to a girl who was sketching while we waited for the teacher to come and since I'm in between those levels, I totally feel comfortable in that group. The professor said that his goal for the semester is to improve our drawing and he said that we should be able to see an improvement in just 3 weeks. Like I said for my other art class, I'm excited to see how I'll improve. The teacher also said that taking these 2 art classes together is super helpful since they teach similar things but in different ways.

Next I go to Free Expression in a Democratic Society. Yes, it is as intimidating as it sounds haha. This is a law based class, especially about the first amendment, so that as journalists we know what rights we do and do not have. The class is based almost entirely on tests (best 2 of 3 exams, a quiz, a small assignment and coming to class) so I'll be studying a bunch this semester.

My last class is Public Relations. I'm taking this with a newspaper friend of mine, which will be great so we can study together. The teacher has all kinds of experience in the field and he just loves what he does.

I found a website/app that you put in all of your homework assignments and it helps keep you and your deadlines organized. It works on my laptop, tablet and phone, which is really nice for whatever device I happen to be using at the time. So far it seems like it's my style of organization so I'm excited to see how it'll help keep me balanced and not to procrastinate.

I'm again on the UVU Review staff, this time as the Culture Editor (basically, online only Lifestyle section). My section covers primarily the arts with other culture like stuff in the mix too. It's been slow this summer but it'll get rolling in September so that'll be a fun addition to my semester and my senior year.

Well, I hope to update this throughout the semester to let you know how it's going, but I'm not guaranteeing anything because I don't have a very good track record at keeping this up haha.

Here's to having a great second to last semester!