Big Fish

COLLEGE. OMG.

It's finally here. The place I've dreamed about and talked about for years and now I'm really here in big kid school. My classes start tomorrow. 

This past weekend was freshman orientation, or Get Connected, as BYUI calls it. It was SO much fun! So many fun, social activities. I've met hundreds of amazing people from all over the country, and even outside the country. 

I had an amazing opportunity to perform in the talent show this past Friday. About 75 people auditioned and only 19 people got to perform that night. I made it, and I was the first to perform?

I'm not used to being the first to perform in concerts and shows like this. I'm usually toward the end. But, FIRST? Like, do they want to get me over with or something? It kind of freaked me out for a minute. 

I performed an original composition that my producer, River White, and I wrote. He named it "Dragon". It's definitely a Lindsey-Stirling-type-ish song, very dubstep and hip hop, so it was definitely one to pump up a crowd. As I did sound check and as showtime became closer and closer, I did not feel nervous one bit. I just got even more excited. I was so excited to have this opportunity to shine and show this new world who I am. I recalled performing in Carnegie Hall earlier this year in February with an orchestra. That hall is BREATHTAKING. The depth of the audience, the acoustics, the SIZE of the audience. I realized that I would rather perform for 5000 over 5 people any day. I have no nerves whatsoever. I absorb all the energy from the audience, whether they're screaming or not, and I spit it back out at them, and they give it back, then I give it back. It's like a cycle. 
So, I played my piece and had a paparazzi later, along with the other amazing talent show participants. BEST NIGHT EVER. I'm SO pumped to perform more often this semester, both classically and contemporarily. (is that a word?) I feel like a rockstar here. 

This wasn't actually during my performance, but I LOVED the view of all those iPhone flashlights. So beautiful. 

Aside from all the partying and socializing, I do have a degree to pursue. And what is that? Oh, yeah. String PERFORMANCE. Haaa! Perhaps some of this socializing does help get me an audience! The only thing I fear this semester, and future semesters, is balance. Balancing good grades, sleep, health, study time, practice time, fun, sanity....it's gonna be an adventure, that's for sure! 
And I'm SO. EXCITED. 

I am so blessed to have the House of the Lord just blocks away. City on a hill. SO BLESSED.

Dear, Father in Heaven, you spoil me way too much. 

The Journey

Today I taught the young women in my church and I was telling them how it's the "journey" that is most important. The final destination is your goal, yes, but how are you getting there?

One of my best friends, Danielle Fox, is serving a mission in Las Vegas right now. For those of you who don't know me, I go to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Young men and women can serve a mission starting in their late teens and twenties. Men serve for two years and women serve for eighteen months, and they are called to any place in the world, spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and serving the world. 

Danielle was saying in an email about two weeks ago how it's all about the journey in this life. Yes, we would all like to go to heaven in the end, but going through the steps in a robotic manner won't get you there. 

My church encourages everyone to pray to God every day and study the scriptures every day, and to attend church every Sunday. It seems so simple, but sometimes our lives get so busy that we forget the purpose of these things. 

If you are doing this already, awesome. Don't stop. I do my best to read my scriptures every night, but I don't always succeed, especially when I'm absolutely exhausted. However, I think the least anyone can do is pray. Pray when you're in need, yes, but don't forget to be grateful. Communication is one of the most important things in a relationship, and it's important to communicate with our God, too! I mean He kind of created you, so take some time out of your day to thank Him for existing in the first place and ask him to help you know your purpose. 

For those of you who are not religious or believe in God for that matter, I invite you to pray anyway, and "pretend" there's a God, and see if you receive a response. No, you probably won't receive some amazing vision or voice, but if you are patient and faithful, He will let you know somehow that he IS there. I KNOW this more than anything else in the world I know. 

If you're really starting from scratch, start with a prayer. Find a quiet place and get on your knees and close your eyes. 

It's simpler than you think. 

I teach violin to young children, and they have to start from scratch too (especially if they're toddlers). Before they learn how to play and read music, they need to know the basics of holding the instrument and having good posture. 

Look at these nuggets. It doesn't get much cuter than this! 

These little girls aren't even holding bows yet, but they will, and they will create beautiful music and someday receive an applause. 

That applause is truly one of the thrills of being a musician. 

God wants us to return to Him someday, and he put us on this earth for a reason, so go find out that reason and get to work on that journey!

This is Danielle Fox, looking beautiful as usual as she's having the time of her life teaching others about Jesus Christ in Las Vegas! 

~Happy Sunday~