Raleigh Reality

“Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.” (2 Nephi 2:25) Living with depression is tough. Living as a Mormon with depression is agonizing…until I realized I wasn’t alone. First I’d like to talk about exactly what depression is. Depression is a common mental disorder. Globally, more than 350 million people of all ages suffer from depression. ( 1 )  A medical dictionary defines depression as “a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with daily life for weeks or longer.” ( 2 )  Real people who suffer from depression define it in the following ways: “Depression is a dark, inescapable place. It's like being locked in a room with no light, windows or door. It's so dark you can't even see your hands in front of your face let alone find a way out.” “It's like drowning ... except you can see everyone around you breathing.”  “It’s more painful than any physical pain I've ever exper...

I know I haven't posted on time the last 2 weeks, but I've either been super busy or just not in the mood to write.  After writing a gazillion English papers, writing becomes kind of a chore.  But right now its the middle of the night, I've got a lot on my mind, and I want to write. So last Thursday I was sitting in anatomy class when I got the sudden urge to go to Utah. At about 1:45, while still in class, I texted my friend Cali and asked her if she wanted to go with me.  We left for Utah at 3.  Talk about a spur of the moment trip.  Our drive down was actually quite enjoyable, we are good road tripping buddies.  I dropped Cali off in Salt Lake City Thursday night because she was staying with another friend for the weekend, and I went to stay with one of my favorite people ever...SISTER HALL...oh, that's right, I can call you Jenika now! We had such a great time watching movies, eating waffles, and building Lego castles.  I'm so gl...

I had such a great week this week! I don't really even feel like I did anything, but it was just a good week.  For FHE on Monday, we had a bonfire and roasted marshmallows and starbursts which were delicious!  After the bonfire we went up to the rec room at the boys apartments and played pool and ping-pong and just hung out for a while. I forgot how much I like pool, so now that I've played again, I'm obsessed with it. On Tuesday I took my first test in the testing center for physiology and it was torture.  I hate the testing center.  And I didn't do so good on it, but apparently a lot of people didn't because my professor said that whatever grade we get on the next exam, he will put in for our first one too! So I have to study super hard for the next exam so I can make sure I do well! Wednesday was just a weird day but it was full of exciting things!  For one, I saw a kid unicycling to his classes on campus... and then I went to the Crossroads to get so...

So not too much exciting happened this week.  I've mostly just been focused on school.  I'm starting to get really homesick and I can't wait until Christmas when I get to go home!  I mean I am still enjoying myself and having fun, I just miss my family and my pets! I miss my baby Hoover so much! Missing my pretty kitty!                 Monday night our FHE group went bowling...which did not go well for me!  The boys wouldn't let us put the bumpers up and I cannot bowl without bumpers!! Anyways, I think I ended up bowling a 65... I tried out for cheerleading, we had tryouts Wednesday and Thursday night.  I was actually surprised at how quickly everything came back from when I used to cheer.  But unfortunately, I didn't make the team.  I'm still glad I tried out though, the tryouts kicked my butt.  I was so so sore the next few days. Anyways, I found out on Friday that...

This week in good ole' Rexburg was a pretty calm week.  I am getting more used to my classes and schedule and I usually don't get lost anymore!  On Monday for FHE, we invited our FHE brothers over for pizza and we just got to know each other.  We planned out some pretty great ideas for future FHE nights! Tuesday was an interesting day.  This was the day that we had a special guest speaker for devotional. Guess who it was! JEFFREY R. HOLLAND of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles!!!!  But before I got there, everything that could possibly go wrong, went wrong.  I was so frustrated and just wanted to go back to bed, but I eventually made it there, granted I was sitting on the very top balcony so he looked like a little ant, but I made it there nonetheless.  He gave a talk on happiness.  He says if we want to be happy, do what happy people do!  It was such a great talk. Anyways, after that my week was pretty boring up until Thursday. ...

BYUI is so great, I had so much fun this week!  I started my classes on Monday and surprisingly, I think I will enjoy them!  All my teachers seem really nice and helpful.  Monday night we had Family Home Evening and our whole ward went to I-jump in Idaho Falls.  On Tuesday we had an incredible devotional given by President Kim B Clark and his wife, Sue.  The building where devotional takes place, the I-center, looks just like the conference center!  I took a picture of it, which I later found out I wasn't supposed to take (oops) but why let it go to waste?  My Roommates (Kayla and Cali) and I at I-Jump Inside the I-center for devotional Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday I went to my first day of more of my classes.  My anatomy lab seems like it is going to be a tough class, but hopefully I can do well in it.  Did you know Wednesday was Constitution Day? I didn't, until I walked onto campus and saw this... Thursday ni...