There are two traits
I carry that that have led me to where I am today: I love to write, and I am
fascinated by people. With the help of some positive, and not so positive
influences in my life, I was able to use these two traits to find myself.
I always knew I was
interested in people and relationships, but I didn’t acknowledge my love for
writing until I was in high school. English was always my favorite subject in
school; it just made sense to me. At Layton High, Miss Merrell is probably one
of the most beloved English teachers, and I am happy to credit her for getting
me on a path that would lead me to my passion.
I
was a sophomore in high school when I received a letter from the editors of
Layton High’s newspaper, The Centurion. They told me that I was recommended by
Miss Merrell because of my writing skills. I decided I would take on the
challenge because I was always eager to be involved in extracurricular
activities.
The
next year, I joined the Centurion staff as a reporter; I loved the freedom and
the writing, but I hated reporting. I could make any interview into an
interesting story with few errors in a short amount of time, but I was terrible
at the interviewing process. Taking that into consideration, and my dislike for
the editors, I decided that I would quit after the first semester. When word
got out that I wanted to leave, my advisor offered me the opportunity to be
Editor-in-Chief the next year, and I couldn’t pass that up.
During
my senior year, I loved being in charge and having my own column. I was also
taking a Creative Writing class with Miss Merrell, and I knew that I had
finally found what I loved to do. With my small journalism background and my
interest in writing, I decided that I would go to college to study journalism
and eventually be an editor over a fashion magazine.
Once
it came time to actually join a college, I had no idea what I was doing. I was
taken care of fairly well while I was growing up. My dad pretty much handled
everything for me. I had a part-time job working in retail, but no money to pay
for school. With my scholarships and my care-free attitude, I decided to follow
my best friend down to St. George to attend Dixie State College (now
University). While signing up for the orientation, we were prompted to pick a
major. I knew she chose Communications, and I wanted to be with her, so I chose
it, too. However, little did I know that I actually signed up for Family and
Interpersonal Communications, which put me on a path that was slightly
different from journalism.
Right
as the semester was starting, I dropped my math class at the last minute and
signed up for Small Group and Interpersonal Communications. It was this class
that made me realize that I wanted to focus on relationships, specifically. At
the time, I was in a fairly hostile relationship, myself. My boyfriend was back
home, yet still controlled my every move from 300 miles away. I became
fascinated by how people communicated in relationships, and what made them work
– even when they were so hard.
When
I moved back home after my first semester, the boy who I told everyone that I
was going to marry dumped me. I was completely devastated. I fell into a minor
depression and slacked off in school and at work. I felt totally alone. I soon realized that the people who I had
pushed away while I was in that relationship, my family members, were the only
ones who were really there for me during my hardship. I was immediately
intrigued by the importance of family and close relationships.
One
of my biggest motivators to push through those struggles was my cousin, Jake.
Jake listened to me and let me vent. He was always there for me and helped me
to see that I deserved to have much more than what I ever had while I was with
my boyfriend. I racked up the courage to go back to school full-time and to
continue studying families.
Fall semester of
2010 is when I met the most important person in my story, Jordon. I was
preparing to travel with an agency to China to teach English to young kids,
when Jordon completely swept me off my feet. I decided to stay home and save my
money, instead. We got married the next summer.
Being
married has been the most rewarding, yet challenging stage of my life. One of
my most influential church leaders, Brooke, gave Jordon and I a book called The 5 Love Languages as a wedding
present. After reading that book, I knew more than ever that I wanted to help
people to have healthy and happy marriages.
With
all the media classes I was taking, I knew something wasn’t right. I hated taking
them. I didn’t care when radio or TV started, or how public relations saves
companies. None of that mattered to me. I remember sitting in these classes
thinking, “What on Earth am I going to do with all of this?” Marriage as an
Interpersonal Process is part of the Family and Interpersonal Communications
major, luckily. I took that class, along with multiple media classes during the
Spring Semester of 2013. Dr. Dan Hubler taught this course, and he helped me to
see what I really wanted to do with my life.
I
looked forward to Wednesday nights because I got to finally learn about the one
thing that mattered so much to me – marriage. After a few weeks of Dr. Hubler’s
class, I came to realize that I was in the wrong major. I found that I wanted
to be a Certified Family Life Educator so that I could teach marriage
education. With help from Dr. Hubler, I was able to change my major to Family
Studies, and use my communication classes for a Communications minor.
Now
that I am a senior and studying people in depth, I have learned so much more
about myself and how I came to be the way that I am. I have learned that the
relationship I was in when I first started college was completely tearing me
down, without me even realizing it at the time. I was totally cut off from my
family and closest friends, and I was going downhill fast. However, I never
would have been able to appreciate the amazing husband I have now, had I not
experienced such a hostile relationship. Overcoming that experience turned me
into a much stronger person. I am more strong-willed and stubborn now than I
ever was before. I am now able to recognize the signs of an abusive
relationship (emotional, verbal, or physical) and stay away from people who
show those signs. When I know what I want, I go and get it, and I don’t let
other people stand in my way anymore.
At
times when I struggled, I didn’t feel like I had anywhere to turn. I was alone,
but the worst part was that I didn’t even know it. I know that many other women
(and men) feel this way, and I want to help them to recognize it. I want to
help people fix their problems, before they even become problems. I want
couples to have the knowledge that I wish I would have had when I was first
considering marriage at such a young age.
I
am amazed that finding my true passion all started with an English teacher
recommending me to a journalism class. Looking back, it all makes so much sense
to me now. I have always been interested in people and their motives. I truly
believe that I have been through so many different types of relationships so
that I might be able to better understand what other people are going through,
as I try to help them improve their own relationships.
I
appreciate everyone who has crossed my path and impacted my life, in one way or
another. I appreciate my family for putting up with me as I analyze them and
try to tell them what they need to do to be better in their relationships.
Their questions motivate me to learn more so that I can know how to help others
while in the field. I especially appreciate my dear husband for letting me use
him as a lab rat. The patience he has for me is incredible. Oftentimes he can
tell when I don’t like the way he does or says something. I light up when he
says, “What is the right way for me to say/do that? What do your text books
say?” I know that I can make a difference in others’ lives, and I can’t wait to
turn my passion into a living!
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