#20 N A R R A T I V E

Auditions

My journey all started in junior high when I first auditioned for band as a percussionist. All the 6th graders were buzzing with excitement as each student was called down individually for auditions. Sitting at small desk in my little red dress I waited for my turn. Waiting for my name to be called was nerve-racking, but I trusted myself to do well.  Dark curls bounced on my shoulders as I quickly stood up at the sound of my name. My short legs hastened to quickly walk down the hallway, stopping to glance at my reflection for a moment and compose myself to look confident. Walking into the audition room, large shiny instruments caught my eye as they sat lined up along the back. There my band instructor was awaiting my arrival. His face lit up when I walked into the audition room, his furry mustache turning upward with his smile. “Good morning, you must be Sarah….Mikesell?” he looked closely at his clipboard to make sure he got my name right. I nodded my head up and down, my curls bouncing in front of my face.

“That’s right,” I giggled, people usually had trouble knowing how to pronounce my name.

“Well, miss Sarah, what instruments are you interested in trying?” A smile spread across my face and immediately I turn my head towards the large shiny drums taking up a good portion of the room. There were multiple reasons that lead me to want to choose percussion. Band instructors required that percussionist have at least 4 years of piano behind them, which I had. Piano and percussion are similar when finding the rhythm and knowing when to play the keys. As a dancer, finding, keeping, and feeling the beat of music came natural to me. Also, both of my older brothers were percussionist and listening to them play put me in awe, their music filling throughout my whole body.  My dream was to one day march in High School as a snare drummer like my brothers.  Nothing was as exciting to me as watching them march down in parades.  I already knew percussion was what I wanted most, I would consider nothing else.

“I want to play the drums please!” The instructor looked over my small frame with hesitation. Having a small young girl want to play the large percussion instruments was not what he expected.

“Are you sure? They’re pretty big and heavy. Wouldn’t you rather try the flute first? It seems about more your size.” He started to pull out a small case. I started shaking my head slowly. I don’t want to play anything but the drums, why would he say that? Confused but determined I stood a little straighter.

“No, I really want to try out the drums. It’s what I really want to play.” The instructor sighed, but handed me a pair of drumsticks.

“Okay, if that’s what you want.” Yes, very much so. I held the drumstick firmly in my hands. “I’m going to sing a beat and I want you to march to a beat and drum at the same time.” I wasn’t going to let him have the satisfaction of telling me I didn’t have what it takes. Up and down I followed the beat, doing my best to concentrate on the sound he was making. Giving me one last look up and down the instructor scribbled something down. “Well young lady, looks like we have a new drummer. Good job.” My lips curved into a smile, and walking back to class I felt my whole face glowing with delight. 

Since then I have been faced on multiple occasion with people doubting my ability, judging me from first appearance and size. I struggled trying to understand why people thought I wouldn’t do well or succeed. From that point on I worked hard to prove them wrong, that I was capable of doing hard things. Yet, even when I was first auditioning, I never would have guessed I would one day play first snare drum and be leader of the entire high school marching band.

#19 Evaluative Conclusion

It is the end of my first semester of my freshman year at BYU. Nothing has gone to plan to say the least. I've struggled more than I ever have and realized so much about myself I needed to confront. I know my trials and struggles were necessary for me to grown and improve. Whenever I felt I had reached my lowest point I found myself going to my Heavenly Father. Much of this semester was a humbling experience as I experienced a new level of agency while attending college was also followed with a new level of consequences. I hope to take what I learned from all my classes, especially this one, and use it to my advantage to do better as I continue my studies at BYU. Thank you so much for the opportunity to learn, struggle and grow.

#18 Research Topic

While thinking of what topic to research, I decided to focus on the ancestry on my mother's side. My mother is from Honduras while my father is from Wyoming. Coming from a multicultural home I chose a topic that I felt I could sympathize with: What is causing the large scale of immigration from latin american countries and what effect is it having on the United States? Here is the outline I used for my research paper.

Outline

Introduction: Write the personal story of my mother immigrating to the United States. Why did she move? What was she leaving behind? What they are leaving behind- family, friends, nice neighbors, home, whole church. Homesickness- cried for a whole year to do missing her country, family, friends, home. Explain it from my perspective. After a year of being in the United States she found friends in church

Background: Write about the history of Honduras. The problems the country has been facing over the years. How have drug cartels, smugglers, human trafficking, and gang violence been a problem? The effects? (most dangerous city in the world) How has it lead to more immigration? The Process. Difficulties people have in immigrating to the United States. The process it takes to get here. The desire for the American Dream. Looking for work and a better life. Adapting- hardships, discrimination, ghettos

Effects of Immigration on the US: How do people feel about immigration. Different opinions from different viewpoints. Take from past essay- current events sociology paper. Benefits vs. problems/positives vs. negatives. 

Future Change: How we have to adapt for the future Do we need to change our viewpoints of immigration and be more accepting? Do we need to help fix the problem from the source? Should we be more strict with our immigration policies?

#17 Stake Conference

Sunday Morning Session:

This session of stake conference was one of the best I've ever attended. I was struggling through many trials and needed to here the talks given. The focus was on personal spiritual growth. Through the atonement we can heal what is broken, lives, hearts, and dreams. We first must come to our Heavenly Father through prayer. When we pray we should be sharing our full range of emotions, thoughts, and feelings. It is a real conversation between yourself and God, not one-sided. As He helps us grow and change we can only experience personal growth through experiences and trials. 

The speaker posed an interesting question. 

What is the difference between weakness and bad choices? 

• Bad choices are easy to change
• We are blessed with another source of change: Weakness
• Weakness doesn't yield to new information- we know it's wrong but still don't stop- it brings us grief
• We all have weaknesses
• They have a purpose
• That purpose is the atonement

The Lord has said He gives unto men weakness that they may be humble. Weaknesses are a gift with a purpose. If we humble ourselves before God and have faith in Him with complete reliance, our relationship with Him will grow and strengthen. 

So how do we deal with weakness?

1. Recognize that it will take time to change.
2. Do the opposite of what we are inclined to do
3. Weakness is about ability not motivation
4. Follow every prompting

We cannot overcome weakness by simply trying harder. We need our Savior. He will help us reorder our lives. We become distracted because we put those distractions in arms length. Instead we should put positive people in our lives and push negative people out. We must change the environment we are in if it is causing us to submit to weakness.

#16 David or David?

Donatello’s vs. Michelangelo’s David:

After reading about and viewing both artists depiction of David I have decided I prefer Michelangelo’s the most. His sculpture is preferable as it portrays David more as I would envision him. He is strong and youthful with the stone and sling in hand. In comparison, Donatello’s sculpture is more gruesome as it includes the head of Goliath, and is less impressive as far as the boy’s body goes. It is strange to me to see him in the nude, yet still be wearing a hat and boots.

In terms of how each reflects the Biblical story, Donatello’s David includes both the stone in the sling along with the head of goliath at his feet. This gives a short summary of the story through the art piece of before and after David defeats Goliath. During the time period this was created, the David was made in a style of power and force. It was also common at the time to portray heroes in the nude. Yet like the book says, “Donatello’s figures may be harsh, to the point of being disturbing, projecting greater drama and emotionalism than ever before seen in Italian sculpture.”

 On the other hand, Michelangelo’s David simply has the sling in one hand and the stone in the other. This portrays a scene of before the action, before David goes to fight, creating a more dramatic and suspenseful feel to the art. This David stands in the famous pose, ready for action yet still looking at ease. He is portrayed at this time as youthful through his large head and hands.

Both sculptures created pieces that would be viewed as strong and inspiring, telling of a young man who despite all odds was able to defeat the giant Goliath. These pieces are both great portrayals of their time periods and can teach us a lot. The religious influence is apparent as David’s strength and success came from the help and his trust in God.

#15 What is Art?

I would consider anything that is an outward expression of some kind to be art. Art, music, dance, writings, and more are ways people and cultures express themselves personally and as a whole. It could be displaying their feelings or ideas in ways that sometimes words cant. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the same can be said towards art. My personal criteria for art would be if it creates feelings of emotion, is passionate, and makes you think outside of your usual mindset.

This is an artistic photo of a dancer, but it is also so much more than that. What you see here is a photo that carries so much meaning and emotion. Dancing is an art all of its own. It is a way to express to the world through physical body what words can not describe. There is beauty not only in the dancer’s moves, but in the human body itself, and how one can use themselves as a form of art and communication. When I see this photo I think freedom. All emotions can be displayed through dance, but they all focus on the same idea of letting those feelings be free. So much passion and creativity is evident when watching a performance. What is so unique about the art in dance is that the canvas moves and is constantly changing. Just as a painting can depict a scene or picture, dancing can tell a story. Probably one of the greatest things about the art of dance is that everyone can do it. It doesn’t matter if you’re a professional or not. If you are feeling stressed, angry, sad, or are filled with happiness you can let it all out and show the world through your dancing. When you put your feelings into the dance, the audience or viewers can sense that. Choreographers can display their art in different ways. Some dance is graceful and soft, while others can be very intense and forceful. Some dances are better performed solo and others with a partner or many dancers. You have to think outside of your mindset to try and understand the emotion of the piece and what story is trying to be shared. Once you understand and truly feel what is being portrayed your emotions will be mirrored causing some to fear, cry, laugh, or smile.

#14 Hastening the Work

As I've been considering going on a mission I've wondered how we can hasten the work of the Lord. What does it mean to hasten? To haste means to accelerate, step up, or urge. The Prophet has told us that we must accelerate in our missionary work, step up and take lead to find and bring others to the gospel, and to urge others to do the same...through example. We must haste.

When it comes to introducing others to the gospel, it can be a very daunting task. What we say or do can make the difference in whether or not we succeed in bringing someone to the gospel and bringing them to the path that will lead them to Eternal happiness. Our goal is then, to teach non members by working with the missionaries in our ward, and also working to have your own personal missionary experiences.

So what can we do to be better missionaries?

Brother R. Val Johnson tells of one ward in British Columbia, Canada that learned from the successes of one particular member missionary, Sister Ma. This sister has been inviting people to the lords house for 10 years and more than 20 of those who she has brought to the gospel have accepted it. 2 sisters who had recently moved to this same ward, tried to adopt the same approach as Sister Ma. These sisters had talked to hundreds, perhaps thousands of acquaintances and strangers about the gospel. Whenever they meet someone, they always begin with, “Do you go to church in the area? We go to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Have you heard of it?”

One experience these sisters had started when one sister told the other to go say hi to a man because he looked like a former member of their branch that they knew. The sister went and walked right up to the man, only to realize that she had never seen this man in her life, and that the other sister was only teasing her. It was too late for her to turn back now and after an awkward moment, the sister looked at the man and said “You look like a friend I once knew. He was member of my church. Have you ever heard of the Mormon Church? As it turns out the man used to be a member and they began having a discussion about faith to which the sister then invited him to church. The man responded, “you know, I just got out of the hospital, and here you are, this angel, inviting be back to church.” If this sister hadn't opened her mouth, she would never had know this man had been in the hospital and needed to reconnect with the church.

This experience makes me think of the second verse in the hymn “I’ll Go Where You Want Me To Go” which reads 

2. Perhaps today there are loving words

Which Jesus would have me speak;

There may be now in the paths of sin

Some wand'rer whom I should seek.

O Savior, if thou wilt be my guide,

Tho dark and rugged the way,

My voice shall echo the message sweet:

I'll say what you want me to say.

Elder Neil L. Anderson said, “We are all in this together. With fellow ward members and missionaries, we plan and pray and help one another. Please keep the full-time missionaries in your thoughts and prayers. Trust them with your family and friends. The Lord trusts them and has called them to teach and bless those who seek Him.”