There's No Naivity - Merely Faith and Self-Trust

(Sidenote: Before I start I just want to let you know that I am excited to report Anoop Desai made it to the wildcard round, (they tried to scare us by making his name last) and then tonight made it into the top 13! Yep. The top 13 is right... They put him and another guy I kinda like named Matt up to be the last two to get their results from the judges. They told Matt he was through and Anoop hugged him and sadly smiled but said "thank you so much," and started to walk off... Then, they grabbed him and Simon said, "Anoop... We decided recently, we are going to make this a Top 13...” Such emotional manipulation. Haha! I was ecstatic to say the least - haha! I now have a reason to watch the season... :) )

Now, for the real reason I write... more substance. Haha!

I know that this week has been very stressful for many of my closest friends back at BYU... All week there have been some early wake-up calls, individual malnutrition, almost no time for homework or classes, and constant emotional, physical, and mental stress. There have been snide comments thrown there way from those who don't understand their reasoning for current actions or desires... and there have been friends who have have had to compete against one another, causing tensions. It's time for BYUSA elections all over again...

Now, for me, this causes a whole different set of feelings. First, I feel relief that I am no longer in college and can get away with doing my own thing and not putting my all into a campaign. I apologize if that offends anyone, but I did my part in campaigning the last two years and I was not feeling the need to jump back into that. I love many of those who were/are running and have no desire to choose a side this year... I am loving life on the other side. I mean, I can't even vote...

Second, I feel a bit sad. I mean, I put my all behind a certain campaign and really believed in them. I sacrificed all that was listed above and more... as did the candidates. We were successful, and they had the opportunity to take their place in the BYUSA Presidency and work hard to serve and love others. They have done an incredible job and it is a bit sad to think that what we we worked so hard for is coming to a close for them. Even though I wasn't at BYU anymore this year, I still felt like at times I was a part of their Presidency in a weird way... in spirit? I don't know. I do feel a bit sad that I was not there with them too... It's like I was and wasn't part of it all. All I know is that it feels a bit weird...

Anyway, as there has been so much backlash from the student body and school paper recently because of the elections, I felt I would give my thoughts on an organization I love and am still a part of in heart. This is ACTUALLY more about the power of the individual. It is something that has become so cliche to our generation and I don't know why. I do NOT like it.

See, I was writing my friend a little note last night and I was inspired. I realized that everything we do DOES affect someone and matter. Individuals matter, and one person can change things, inspire someone or things to change, or help them grow. Even if some people believe that BYUSA is there for reasons other than why those who work in there KNOW it is there, or that BYUSA efforts are in no way "wide-spread," there is something that has yet to be recognized. If someone can touch one student, help one student, serve one student... that IS a big deal. Every individual is a Child of God - a son or daughter of GOD - and thus, they are of great importance to our Heavenly Father... and hopefully to us as well. The people I know in that office have sincerely helped others grow inside and out of the office, and THAT is what truly matters.

I don't believe that the recent editorial, "Level With Us," in BYU's Daily Universe was completely incorrect in their thoughts and opinions. In fact, opinions are never WRONG... an opinion can not be wrong. It is simply the information that creates that opinion that can be accounted for as wrong. Sorry. Tangent.

Anyway, this article stated, "The president’s leadership only really influences those directly involved with BYUSA." This young man is SORELY mistaken - misinformed if you will, to create this opinion. :) Why, you ask, do I think he is mistaken?

If you teach one person to serve others, and they teach three more, and they teach one more, and that person has two children, then those two have families of ten and teach all twenty of those kids to serve... etc, etc - It slowly changes the world. Yes, I KNOW that sounds cliche to some - to a lot of people. It sound "over-optimistic" or "naive" to some, maybe even you... but that's cause they have lost the ability to dream like I do - hopefully like we all can learn to do a bit more in this life. They don't know how to believe in themselves wholeheartedly... Laugh all you will, but Dream Big is NOT just a song, and one person CAN change the world.

I will keep this child-like viewpoint and stay locked in this bubble of belief... I still have my eyes open to what's going on in the world. I know there is a lot of junky stuff going on, but my bubble, which is called the world, teaches me to have faith in myself, in others, and in our abilities to enact change and growth. Again, one person CAN change the world...

Jesus Christ was one man.

You know, I am just one girl, but if I know I have helped a few students believe in themselves at the school I work at... and that means the WORLD to them. It gives them courage and strength. That provides them with opportunities and experiences... It creates their world. And you know what? They don't even know that in turn, they have changed MY world. It's amazing how often that happens... That you get so much from the service you provide for others... It's a beautiful contradiction.

Oh, that sounds like a good song title... :)

*muah*

Song for the Day: This was hard today because I wanted to put something like Michael Jackson's Man in the Mirror in to talk about change, or some clever song about the power of the individual (I will not say power of one after the summer - haha!), but I decided to say PLEASE go check out Benton Paul's newest CD... His song Don't Go is somewhat hautning and asks the questions many have asked in realationships, but my favorite song on the album is called Paris. It is phenomenal! So, Benton Paul's, Paris.



What a beautiful song... Don't Go is good too though.... Haha. Just go order the whole CD and decide what the best song is... :) Or, go to the David Archuleta concert. He is opening for David... Clarifying note, I liked Benton Paul's music long before I knew who David Archuleta was. Haha...

(Sidenote: I think I am OBSESSED with putting videos on my blog now, just because I know how to do so now.... Sidenote: I think I am obsessed with writing sidenotes.)