Question #17

Q: Am I a good listener? How can I improve this?

A: I think that I am. I think that I have always been a good listener. I believe that is why a lot of people like to come talk to me. I feel like I have always taken the therapist role... even when I was younger. I genuinely care about people and listen to what is going on with them and try and give the best advice that I can. I enjoy being there for people and trying to help them. On the flip side, I need people to do that for me as well... and it can sometimes be frustrating when people are not good listeners when you need them. I feel the need to be validated and understood.

How can I improve on my listening skills? I don't know because I feel like I have always been a good listener. I guess maybe the one thing I will say is that sometimes I have a hard time listening when I don't care about the person or don't care about the situation... or if I am jealous or have strong emotions involved.... so I am trying to improve by taking my emotions out of situations and just trying to be there for the person I am listening to.

Question #16

Q: What profession do you hope your future husband will work in? Why?

A: I believe that my answer back in high school would be the same as it is now. I don't care... as long as he is hard working and can provide for me and our family. I think that now more than ever. I can tell you though what professions I find more attractive and the types of guys that attracts. I am attracted to guys that are good with their hands. Can fix things, build things.... even if it is just a hobby. So I have dated a few guys that have worked in construction. I am also attracted to guys that are good business men.... and more recently... I have been attracted to the therapist, because it means they are caring, service oriented and good communicators (but I don't think I would have ever thought that has a high schooler). What type of job the guy has is not a deal breaker.... just as long as he has one, and it makes him happy and it can pay the bills.... I will be happy just to have a man. :)

Question #15

Q: What is my favorite Young Women Value? Why?

A: I think my answer is the same now as it was when I was in High School. Individual Worth.

I think the reason why this value has always been my favorite is because it was the one I struggled with the most. I went through phases of realization where I really understood my worth. The first big learning experience I had with this was in High School. I had grown up being a very happy person that had a lot of friends. In High School I went through a period of time where all my friends were kind of giving me the cold shoulder and I got depressed because I had measured my worth and happiness on how many friends I had and what I was doing with my friends in our free time. This period of time where my friends were cutting them out of their lives for reasons I didn't understand gave me an opportunity to reach out and become friends with the new girls in the ward that were not included in the group. It gave me an opportunity to spend more time with my family and appreciate them and most importantly it gave me an opportunity to learn who I was without friends. I learned how much I care for people, and discovered and developed talents and learned that it was okay to not be hanging out with friends in all of my spare time. It was okay to have a lone time too. What started out as a really depressing time for me... turned into a great learning experience and self discovery of my worth.

Since High school... I have definitely continued to struggle with this off and on. I am still super social and don't like to be a lone all of the time. I still get hurt by friends and by guys and have a hard time not taking the blame and taking it really personally. I can say this though... over the years I have come to really know how I am, my strengths and weaknesses.... and am not only okay with who I am but really like who I am. I think that I am beautiful, talented, caring, fun, smart, and I have so much to offer to those around me and one day my spouse. I am so thankful for all of my experiences that have helped me with individual worth.

Question #14

Question #14- Describe your perfect Spring day. What do you like to do outside?

A: That is a tuff question. I LOVE Spring. Especially since I have moved to Utah. I say that because until I moved to Utah I never really appreciated the seasons. It was pretty nice weather all year round. In Utah, not only is it a beautiful time of year with everything starting to turn green again and blossom, but it FINALLY starting to warm up again after a long cold Winter, so everyone is outside enjoying the sunshine. It is also when people are starting to get done with school and starting to make fun summer plans. It is a great time of year.

My perfect Spring day, I would not be at work (or at school if I were answering this in high school) and I would be outside in the perfect weather with my friends... either at the beach or playing at the park... washing the car while listening to fun music and shorts and flip flops on with my sunglasses. I don't think I have a certain activity that would make my day perfect... just being outside enjoying the weather with good company. Wow... I am so glad that it is Spring right now. :)

Question #13

Question #13: Do you want to serve a mission? Where do you want to go? Why?

A: At this point the answer is no. I'm 29 years old. I want to get married. However, I would love to serve a mission with my husband one day. I won't care where. It would be fun to go to a different country, but only because I love to experience new places and new cultures. As long as I am with my husband, I won't care where I go though.

When I was in high school though, I was not sure if I wanted to serve a mission or not. I wasn't against it, but I didn't know for sure that I wanted to go either. I just told myself, when I came of the right age to go, if I had the desire to go then I would. If not, then I wouldn't go. As I got closer to the age of 21, we had sister missionaries in our ward and they were always wanting me to go with them places and telling me they were training me to go on a mission. Then when I turned 21 and I was not married and not dating anyone, I had a lot of people telling me I should go and asking me if I was going to go. I felt like it was so pushed on me that I didn't want to go because of it. I wish people had not put so much pressure on me about it. The desire was not there, therefore I didn't feel like I should go. I didn't think much about it until later. Everyone thought that I went on a mission. They just told me I acted like I went on a mission... which I guess is a compliment although I'm not quite sure what that means. Then I had a lot of people question me of why I didn't go and people telling me that I still should go even though I was older than most girls are when they go. I don't understand why people put so much pressure on me about it. Although I do know that even though a mission is a great thing no matter what... that you shouldn't go for the wrong reasons. I didn't want to go because I wasn't married and that is what people expected of me, I didn't want to go because I thought it would fix my problems, I didn't want to go because everyone else was doing it. If I was going to go I wanted it to be because I had a strong desire to do so and that I knew it was right for me. I always heard that sister missionaries either made the best missionaries or the worst. I think that it depends on the reason why they went.... even though I don't think a mission was bad for any of them. I just think your heart should be in the right place and obviously mine never was. Anyway.... it is still a little bit of a sensitive subject, but I don't regret my past. I always have felt that I have made the best decisions for me and not based on anything or anyone else. I feel like I have been a missionary in other ways and like I said I do hope to serve a couple mission one day.

Question #12

Question #12: Describe your favorite clothes?

A: In high school I kind of dressed like a tom boy. I was very insecure about my weight and was not really sure how to dress my body type... so I usually went for looser fitting clothes. But I also started to be a little trendy.... Ugg boots, jeans, I went for the Roxy brand clothes and shoes and it was the girls sportsy look.

Now, I am pretty up on the trends I would say. Right now... I love to wear jeggings (jean leggings) with cute boots and a longer top and cardigan. Flattering, comfortable and cute. I am absolutely in love with boots. I just think they are so cute... so I am hoping they don't get out of style anytime soon... and even if they did, I would still probably wear them. :) I love shopping. I have changed SO much when it comes to the way I dress and style myself since I was in high school. If I knew then what I know now... I probably would have dated more in High School.

Question #11

Question #11: What is your favorite Primary Song?

A: I think that it was the same then as it is now. I have always loved the Primary song "I Wonder When He Comes Again". I just think the music is so beautiful. It also reminds me of singing with my family. I really love the Primary music.