PHYSICS EXAM

Hello Everyone!

This has been a very very busy week (as always). It started off very nicely on Monday... after my last class was over (7pm), the Miller family (Uncle Brett and Aunt Heather and cousins) came to pick me up for a family home evening lesson and some homemade food. It was pretty cold outside, so we just drove down to the RB (Richards Building - where all the sports have practices and stuff), pulled some benches together in a deserted hall and had a wonderful lesson about Paul and his teachings about trials of our faith.

Tuesday was review day in physics... I was getting really nervous and felt pretty unprepared for the exam that we were reviewing for (not a normal feeling for me before a test). Wednesday afforded no chances to study (it's one of the busiest days in my week), and calculus was especially torturous as always. Thursday I committed to study for physics all day... what a bleak prospect! The Lord knew I needed a little reassurance and I did get a little sunshine in my day! My German professor emailed me, congratulated me on participating so well in his class and being prepared, and finally on my exam - according to him I had written by far the best exam of the class! I got up and screamed for joy!!! I could do college! I would survive, no matter what happened in physics or calculus. If things got really bad, I'd just major in German and have fun (which I have been seriously considering by the way).

FRIDAY came. Exam day. Surprisingly, I wasn't too nervous... it didn't really matter if I failed, all I had to do was my best. Tender mercy of the Lord: the test was easier than I expected, and although I'm sure didn't get 100, I didn't fail (I find out sometime this week). Friday evening to celebrate, Erin and I went to play volleyball and some football (2 hand touch) which was really fun.

Saturday I woke up early to go to a study group for Book of Mormon (I have an exam coming up this week for that), and I'm a little nervous because there are sooooooo many things to remember. Right after that I listened to 30 min. of Handel's Water Music for German, came back to the dorms and started to write my paper about it. Erin and I went to lunch, then got ready to go to World of Dance. It was pretty much absolutely amazing. The cougarettes, the ballroom dancers, the theater ballet, the stompers, the cloggers... everything!! All of these people moving in perfect unison in brilliant costumes with awesome music... it was inspirational. I came back and continued work on my music paper for German, but within a few minutes it was time to leave for the Relief Society broadcast in the Merriot center. Erin was so kind as to drive us all up... it was a freezing cold wet night... the mountains were covered in snow. When we got back I did homework till midnight, and I still have some things to do for Monday (I made significant progress though!).

Today in like 15 min. I'm going to a Relief Society training meeting... always something going on!!!!!!

Love you all and love to hear from you!!

Margaret

Last Week's letter

Hello Everyone!
I've survived another week... I think every week that I do survive is a major accomplishment. Still got little scraps of my cold hanging on, but luckily I've gotten rid of most of it. The week has been pretty uneventful, except for the fact that I took my first exam (German) in the testing center. There were 12 essay questions to answer and I spent 3 1/2 hrs writing for all I was worth. By the end my hand was aching and I had about 6 pages single spaced double sided to hand in. I felt good about it. I knew what to say for every question, although I know I probably forgot to write some things.

Later that day I also went to see the Homecoming Spectacular, which definitely lived up to its name. The ballroom dance team preformed, as well as the young ambassadors (the theatrical group), the living legends, the symphony from Temple Square and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It was just what my spirit needed to recover from that grueling test!!

Today I was called to be the Relief Society chorister... I went to a stake meeting at 7:45am to learn about it.

Next week survival is going to be tough - I've got my first Physics exam, and I don't feel ready at all. Pray for me please!

Love you all, can't wait to hear from you!
Margaret

Hanging on the edge

Hello!
Yeah, I'm still alive. College is tough. Still floundering in calculus, although I think it might be getting a little better. German isn't going to be as easy as I thought, that's for sure. I spent at least 3 hours yesterday listening to German music, writing a report about it, answering at least 20 end of chapter questions, and the fun actually begins this week: an additional two page paper three times a week! AHHHHH!

New adventure of the week: finding voice lessons. I have 10 min in between classes, and I had no idea where I was supposed to go. As soon as German was over I was ready to rush out the door when one of the guys in the class asked me when I had been in Wupertal. Turns out he served in Wuppertal just after we left. Didn't really have time to discuss it, I had to find voice lessons.
I power walked across campus, got lost somehow, asked directions, and finally found the KMB. I walked in the first door I came to (I was definitely late) and was greeted by complete and utter silence. Taking out my schedule I reconfirmed that I was supposed to be in the KMB, and saw I had written room number 34. Looking up I saw the number on the door next to me: 329. Worried I had written the number down wrong or something I walked all around the building. Everything was empty. I started trying random doors, and everything was locked. Nothing was stirring. Desperate, I said a silent prayer, then called as loud as I dared "Hello? Is anyone here?" No answer. I felt like such a freshman and continued to try doors, hoping the noise would bring someone to my aid. Just as I was about to give up a door opened, and an old man walked out. "Sir, could you help me please? I'm lost." I blurted out. He chuckled. "Yes, I bet you are. What are you trying to find?" After a quick explanation from me, he chuckled again and explained that the building was divided into 2 halves, and that you couldn't get from one half to the other half without going outside. A few directions later I walked out the door and found the other door he described. I found room 34 too, except it was locked. The door next to it was open, so I decided to go ask for help there. I had to wait another 5 minutes as the lady at the desk finished her conversation with a young man, then finally I was able to tell my story. The secretary smiled, and took me to a different room where I finally found my voice teacher. She's really nice - even though I was 20 min. late she offered to do the whole 1/2 hr anyway since she didn't have anyone after me.

Thursday morning I woke up with a soar throat and a stuffy nose. I'm pretty sure I got it from Natalie... I'm really glad I got it after voice lessons at least.

Friday I went shopping with Erin (the girl who lives next door and shares a bathroom with Natalie and I), got some school supplies, a music book for voice, some soar throat/cough drops, some salt for a salt water gargle and such. That evening we had our first ward social: an 80's / Hawaiian night (don't ask me how they came up with that combination). The food was excellent. The turn out for the girls was definitely better than for the guys. We were each introduced to our family home evening groups, then the music got turned on. The dance wasn't long, but it was fun. I was exhausted, my throat felt a little better though since I had been sucking on those drops, so I went to bed.

Saturday I studied all day. At 11:30 pm I decided it was time for a break, so I went outside with Erin and she taught me how to throw a football. It was fun... I'm definitely going to need some practice, but for a first try it was pretty good I think. Afterwards we watched Swan Princess (such a cute movie) and crashed for a couple of hours...

That would bring you up to date. I'm still kind of sick... my voice is really croaky and my nose is kind of stuffy. Sorry I haven't really been taking many pictures, I'll try to do better next time so they can be on the blog.
CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR FROM Y'ALL!!

1st week of school - BYU

Dear Everyone,
This has been a challenging week - classes have started and it's intense. Some of my biggest challenges: my last math class was pre-calc, and 95% of the other people in my class have taken calculus, most of them AP calculus, before. I didn't really get anything that was happening during the lesson, but sat down with the TA and sort of figured it out afterwards (I think). The concepts in physics aren't new yet, but we're using some calculus equations that I don't understand. Both calculus and physics are a lot of reading, and you really have to understand the material on your own. My favorite professors so far are my physics and German professors. German isn't to bad yet, but beginning next week I'll be writing a 2 page paper 3 times a week, in addition to a chapter of reading. Once a month or so I have a music report that I have to do - I'm supposed to pick a piece that is at least 30 min. long, listen to it and write a 1-2 page report on it. I'm enjoying my Religion class, again a really good professor, and student development isn't too bad (I've only been there once and we took a personality test to see what our learning style is). I ended up dropping one of my ballroom dance classes (it was just a little much). Voice lessons will start on Wed.
I was glad for the weekend - Friday I went to the temple with Rachel (my cousin), then went to a dance later on. Saturday I studied most of the day, watched 1/2 of a BYU football game, studied a little more, then played 3 hours of volleyball.
Today my room mate Natalie was sustained as relief society president and was at church for most of the day. She's a little overwhelmed. After she got back we went straight to a fireside at the Marriot center... and that would just about bring you all up to date.
I'd luv to hear from y'all!
Margaret

1st few days at BYU

Hello people that I know...
I'm here at BYU (second day on campus), the place of my dreams, sitting and my desk, and I'm thoroughly exhausted already. Yes, there is a reason for this... my first day here I was awake for a full 24 hours. I got up at 4am to leave for the airport by five with my parents. When we finally got here we went to Granny's house for a delicious bowel of lentle soup and a few slices of apple bread, then drove down to campus to set up camp. ID was first on my list of to dos, I met a girl from Hawaii while I was waiting to get my picture taken, then we went to find my dorm. While exiting the cannon center (the closest cafeteria to the dorms) I saw a girl who looked very familiar. I stopped to stare at her for a second, then ran to hug her. It was my room mate Nathalie and two of her friends: Jamie and Shannon.


They went down to get their student sport passes, I went with my parents to unpack my 3 suitcases and get settled. Anyway, after stuff got spread around my parents left and I spent the evening with Nathalie and her friends, and a bunch of other random people who joined us as we played ultimate frisbee on the lawn outside the cannon center. When the sprinklers came on we all ran through them (I decided not to get completely soaked, unlike some others), and tried to make "water angles" by laying on the dry pavement to leave a mark. Long story short, didn't get to bed till 1:30am UT time, which is even later PA time.
Today was orientation... the first meeting in the merriot center was cool... I saw the other 5000 students in my class all assembled at once and we had the university president speak and stuff. The cougar band and cougarettes did a little show to welcome us (reminded me of a high school pep rally on a very large scale). We did the cougar walk in the BLAZING sunshine, which didn't help me and made me quite sure I will never find my way around campus it's so big. I hope the rest of the 30,000 students going here will be able to tell me where I'm going. Went to a presentation about the honors program, then crashed for an hour and a half... now I'm heading to the tradition of honor presentation, so we'll see how that goes...
I've met at least 50 people in 2 days (at least it seems like that), and they're all really nice so far!!
I REALLY WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL!! PLEASE SEND FEEDBACK/NEWS of your own!!
Got to move!
Margaret