The Many Adventures of Jess and Cam {6}

Camilla and I have been best friends ever since I can remember. From the time we were wild little seven-year-olds to the hectic lives we now lead as college students, Cam has been by my side through the very best and the very worst. I had not imagined my life following the course that it has assumed the last few years but I could not be happier with the path I am on. Camilla and I were somewhat apprehensive at first of our "New Home" (a.k.a. Provo), but with a little bit of exploring and a lot of cleaning we are now happily content to live in our little apartment. Since school has begun we have experienced many new and exciting adventures including:

 attending our first intramural football game, 

purchasing our first donuts from the oh-so-delicious Krispy Kreme's, 

and discovering a pineapple dole whip ice cream parlor at our very own apartment complex! 

I am beyond grateful that I have such a wonderful friend as Camilla. I cannot wait for the next adventure college has in store for us!

Rhetorical Analysis Thesis Statement {5}

The Fate of Our Nation: Inspired by the Words of a Patriot 

On a cold, wintry day in March 1775, 120 conflicted delegates sat clustered together in a small church as the fate of our nation weighed upon their shoulders. With the mounting threat of the British sending troops, the delegates of the Second Virginia Convention had one very important decision to make—delay their defense or declare war. That day the hearts and souls of men were stirred when Patrick Henry bravely stood and delivered a speech that has since been remembered as one of the greatest moments in history. He rallied together his patriot brothers as he urged them to prepare for the battle he claimed, “Had already begun.” Through Henry’s effective use of timing, diction, and tone he successfully elicited the support of both his fellow delegates as well as that of the colonists throughout the states. Patrick Henry’s passionate plea to the honor, logic, and emotions of his fellow Americans influenced the outcome of the convention and impacted the future of our nation.

Simply Devoted through Service {4}

What have we done today?

We shall do much in the years to come,

         But what have we done today?

We shall give our gold in a princely sum,

         But what did we give today?

We shall lift the heart and dry the tear,

We shall plant a hope in the place of fear,

We shall speak the words of love and cheer,

         But what did we speak today?

We shall be so kind in the after while,

         But have we been today?

We shall bring to each lonely life a smile,

         But what have we brought today?

We shall give to truth a grander birth,

And to steadfast faith a deeper worth,

We shall feed the hungering souls of earth,

         But whom have we fed today?

We shall reap such joys in the by and by,

         But what have we sown today?

We shall build us mansions in the sky,

         But what have we built today?

‘Tis sweet in the idle dreams to bask;

But here and now, do we our task?

Yet, this is the thing our souls must ask,

         What have we done today?

-NIXON WATERMAN

We are often thinking about what we are going to do in the future instead of taking action today. Is it convenient to be kind? In our hectic, self-centered world it is very easy to get caught up in our busy lives. Our individual spirituality increases with each unselfish act of kindness that we impart on another's behalf. 

Charity is best defined as the pure love of Christ exemplified (1 Corinthians 13:1-2, 8). I believe that President Gordon B. Hinckley, one of the beloved prophets of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is a perfect example of someone who has developed charity and demonstrated it through the service  he rendered throughout his  life.

His work ethic, sincere kindness, genuine love for others, and incredible willingness to share his time and talents with all the world  made him a true example of Christlike behavior. If Charity is the pure love of Christ, then it is through service that we can truly demonstrate our love and devotion to the Savior.

Stories That Bind Us {3}

Growing up in a family of six very competitive children I have always wondered how it has been possible for me to have such close relationships with each of my siblings. Even with the 2-20 year age gaps, we have all always maintained a close knit bond with one another.

My whole life I attributed these close relationships to my family's musical background.

All six of us began our musical studies between the ages of 2-4. From performing to competing, we have traveled all across the globe as concert pianists. There have been countless times where we had to compete and sometimes face defeat in the face of another sibling but we have always been supportive of each other regardless of the circumstances. I always considered the power of music to be the underlying reason of why we could stay close to each other even under hard circumstances. It wasn't until I read "The Stories That Bind Us" article in the New York Times that I began to realize that music was not the only factor behind the developed harmony in my family.

As a child I was enraptured with the stories my grandmother would share with me about my grandfather and his service in World War II--specifically his involvement in the battle of the bulge. Even though he passed away before I was born these stories made me feel like I knew him. 

Understanding your ancestry inherently makes you feel closer to your family and gives your family a mutual purpose. As we have gotten older and traveled across the world. My siblings have

ended up in New York City, Orange County, and all across the state of Utah. This distance has created more of a wedge in our tightly knit relationships. A couple of months the ago my oldest sister felt the desire to dig deeper into our family ancestry. At this same time I happened upon some information about or family tree while I was at Disneyland of all places. I was able to trace the Coombs name back to the medieval ages where I discovered our family coat of arms. I was so excited to share this with my family and you can only imagine my surprise when I heard that my sister was also looking for ancestry ties. Our genealogy work has brought my family closer and is continuing to fill the distances between us. One thing I know with assurance is that we were placed in specific families for specific reasons. Knowing our family genealogy ties our families together regardless of where they go because it instills a closeness unmatched by any other. 

Social Media-A Blessing and a Curse {2}

Every second 684,748 items are shared on Facebook, 100,000 tweets are tweeted on Twitter, and 48 hours worth of video footage is uploaded onto YouTube. We live in a technologically advanced society where we have the ability to reach out and connect with friends through the click of a single button. This instant accessibility can be a blessing and a curse depending on how we choose to use it. In Elder David A. Bednar’s 2014 Education Week address, “To Sweep the Earth as with a Flood” he offered the following suggestions as guidelines to use when accessing our social media: be authentic and consistent, edify and uplift others, respect intellectual property, and be wise and vigilant. I believe that if we follow these guidelines our experiences on social media can serve as blessing instead of a curse.

     From the moment a message is swept off into cyberspace, it has the ability to travel across the world in a matter of seconds. The authenticity of our messages directly reflects who we are as individuals. We must always make sure we are spreading truth that is consistent with our values. Although our computer screens may seem like a covert way of communicating, we will always be held accountable for the things we say—online and in person.

Before we post, share, or tweet any message; we should always ask ourselves, is this going to uplift and edify my friends and followers? Many have dismissed the seriousness of cyber-bullying despite the increasing number of victims. According to a study done by Yale University, bully victims are 2 to 9 times more likely to consider suicide. What we say not only matters but can also directly have an impact on the lives of those around us.

Respecting the intellectual property of others is imperative when using social media. Copyright laws warn us of the seriousness of copying or claiming the work of another individual. It has always been in our best interest to give credit where credit is due. In the words of Judy Garland, "Always be a first rate version of yourself and not a second rate version of someone else."

Lastly, we should wisely evaluate the time we allot for social media each day. In 2012 the average consumer spent 11 hours on digital electronics every day. Science Daily projects that the average time a consumer spends on electronics will increase to a total of 15 hours each day by 2015. It is vital to our health and success to diligently monitor the amount of time we spend online. If our devices constantly consume us, we will lose sight of the world beyond the digital screen.

      The messages, pictures, videos, and comments that we send can have an impact on a global scale regardless of what content they possess. It is our responsibility to ensure that we are honest, kind, respectful, and wise with the time we spend online. Social media has the ability to be a blessing or a curse; we are the ones who determine what role it plays in our lives. What will you choose?

Make a Difference {1}

"I exhort you to sweep the earth with messages filled with righteousness and truth—messages that are authentic, edifying, and praiseworthy
—and literally to sweep the earth as with a flood.” —Elder David A. Bednar 

Do we have something we want the world to know? If so, have we ever stopped to consider what that might be? There are over seven billion people on the planet right now. How many of them have we crossed paths with, without even knowing?

Think about the people we pass in the streets,

sit next to on the train,

and stand next to in the grocery store.

Are we  so consumed with our own busy lives that we don't stop to consider the countless individuals we come into contact with on a daily basis? Where is he from? What's her story? Do they need help? Social anxiety is more prevalent in today's society than it has ever been in the past. How often do we miss out on opportunities of changing the lives of others just  because we were too afraid? In the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, "You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do." Although we live in a society of the most technologically advanced nature, we have become exceptionally antisocial. We spend more time conversing with our friends through our screens than we do face-to-face. Some might ask if this surge in social media is a blessing or a curse. To this I might add the proposition that social media is a tool to be used as we choose. What we do with it determines what impact and role it will play in our lives and in the lives of others. 

In today's technologically advanced society communicating with strangers all across the globe is not an uncommon thing. Social media has given us the ability to speak with individuals from all over the world. The real question is how are we using the amazing technology that has been given to us? Our social audience has increased by epidemic proportions and we now have the ability to influence others just through the click of a button. Are we following Elder Bednar's counsel and sweeping the earth with authentic, praiseworthy, and edifying messages? If not, what are we waiting for? Now is the time to make a difference. Now is the time to have an impact. One person CAN make a difference. Elder Bednar exhorted us to touch the lives of others. Will we accept his challenge?