Hi my Absolutely Amazing Readers!
It’s 7pm up here in Idaho and I just got back from looking outside my door and admiring all the snow covering the ground outside. I still can’t believe that I am actually a real college student. Before I came up here I thought I would have a hard time, but it actually has been an easy transition. My whole thinking process has changed though. Throughout my high-school years my mom would be reminding me multiple times a week (if not every day) that I needed to start managing my time better.
I’ve had to keep myself from Pinterest to make sure my school work gets done. That’s why I’ve also kept from my blog for a few weeks. I wanted to adjust to my new life and get the hang of my classes before I added in my blog. I’ve been putting my schoolwork first in my life (after the Lord, reading my scriptures and praying of course) and making sure I get that done first before I allow myself to go do other things. My parents have paid so much for me to have the opportunity to come up here. I feel like the unprofitable servant, and I know that the only way I can pay them back is to put my full focus on my schooling. I have had to cut out certain things that could have been fun like going to parties, dances, and other activities, but my school is my full-time job. By keeping my grades up, I can earn scholarships and help pay for my schooling even if I’m not working during the semester. (I’ll most likely be doing that on my off-track.) Now that I’m here at college my schedule has changed from what it used to be at home.
Here’s a typical day for me: a Day in the Life of Kat – College edition.
Wakeup: 6:00am (Sometimes at 5:00am, depending on when my body decides to wake up me up).
6:00-6:20am – quietly get ready for the day. (All of my roommates don’t wake up until 8:30am, so I try not to wake them up as they stay up later than I do.)
6:20-6:40am – make breakfast
6:40-7:20am – read my scriptures/do homework (if I woke up earlier that morning I add that extra time here)
7:20-7:30am – pack up my backpack and head out the door
7:45-8:45am – Class
9:00-9:20am – eat a snack.
9:20am-12:00pm – rewrite notes, complete assignments, do reading for class(es)
12:00-12:20pm – make lunch
12:20-12:30pm – pack up my backpack and head out the door
12:45-1:45pm – Class
2:00-2:35pm – rewrite notes, gather stuff for my next class
2:35-2:55pm – eat a snack
3:15-4:15pm – Class
4:30-5:30pm – go to the gym
5:40-6:00pm – get cleaned up
6:00-6:20pm – make dinner
6:20-7:20pm – assignments, writing essay(s)
7:20-8:00pm— practice piano
8:00-9:20pm – schoolwork, reading for the next day
9:20-9:40pm – get ready for bed
9:40-10:00pm – read scriptures
Bedtime: 10:00pm
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This is a tentative schedule, but it’s pretty much what my days are here. I’ve been trying my best to go to bed at 10:00 every night (and have been actually doing a better job at it than I ever did at home). My body just seems to want to get up early (I don’t know if it has to do with the knowledge that I have stuff to do or schoolwork worries, etc.), so I’ve been endeavoring to get to bed at a decent hour so I get enough sleep at night. I’ve also been doing a lot of crock pot cooking on the weekends (making meals for the rest of the week and putting them in Rubbermaid containers for convenience). I play the piano at church now, so I’m making sure I practice the piano 3-4x a week for about 30-45 minutes each, except on Sundays where I can do about 1 ½ hours (half before and half after church).
I’ve been taking advantage of the gym on campus. My Health and Fitness class requires me to workout at least 180 minutes a week, at least 3 times a week, and each workout has to be at least 30 minutes long. It’s worth a quarter of my grade this semester and it’s an all or nothing assignment. Either I complete it each week, or the highest I can get is a C-grade in the class. And that is the last thing I want. I’ve continued heavy lifting (I do it about 2 times a week), but now that I have access to the gym I take advantage of the elliptical machines, Precor machines, and Zumba classes. 
My eating habits have changed just a little. Instead of 3-4 meals, I’m eating 5 smaller meals a day (sometimes 6, depending on the day). I’m eating an almost vegan diet (I’ll go in more detail about what I eat, how I prepare things, and how I stay in a budget while eating nutrient dense in another post). And you now what? I actually really like it. I’m only eating meat sparingly, and I know my body and my budget are thanking me for it.
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Btw, I just HAD to tell you before I go – I am going on an American Studies Tour in August!!!! It’s being provided by my school and I’ll get to go to the Statue of Liberty, Plymouth colony sites, Revolutionary war sites, see Wicked on Broadway, Philadelphia, Gettysburg, Niagara Falls, Abraham Lincoln plus SO MUCH MORE, in addition to church history sites all across the central to north-east!!! I AM SO EXCITED!!!! I have wanted to go see these places for the LONGEST time, and now I almost can’t believe that I will actually get to see them! Definitely expect pictures when that time comes. 
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I have so much more to share with you, but I’ve got to go finish reading my scriptures for my religion class and Skype mi familia before I head to bed tonight.
I’m so excited to share my adventures with you!
with lots of hugs,
