Friday, October 22, 2010

Quick Update

I'd like to give a bit of an update with what I've been up to without getting too personal about my downs. Since I don't have much time to update my blog often, I didn't realize that I hadn't shared much about my educational plans, but some of my blogger friends have asked me about it. I am back in school and if I'm not doing something with my children, I'm studying most of the time. I attended BYU right out of high school thinking I'd go to medical school and be a doctor. But plans changed. I got married my sophomore year and wasn't sure what to do with school. I chose a major, continued in school, finished up my coursework for a degree in Spanish. I had my first baby at the end of all of my classes and just went to school for another semester after he was born. But as I was finishing up, I felt that I shouldn't graduate even though I was done. My thinking was that there wasn't much I could do with a degree in Spanish (I know I should have thought of that before) and I really wanted to do something in science, but in the future because I felt I was supposed to be at home with my children.


So years went by while I dedicated my time to my family and church. I went back occasionally, taking a class or two a semester of biology classes. Now my situation is different and thankfully my children are older and all in school and I am back in school full-time. I was accepted back to BYU so I wanted to switch my major to molecular biology, but I found out I have too many credits there to switch majors according to their policy. I could have gone to University of Utah but it’s far away and it would take time away from being with and helping my children so I chose to go to Utah Valley University. They don’t have a molecular biology degree so my major is biotechnology (biology with extra laboratory hours and required lab internships). When I’m finished I can either get a job doing research in a lab or I’d love to be able to go to gradate school (someday at least)—either a master’s to be a genetic counselor or a PhD in molecular biology. Or maybe even medical school once my children are older and out of the house, which will be in the blink of an eye, unfortunately. Maybe a pediatric neurologist. Yep, science geek!


But for now, I need to get through my classes one semester at a time! And since I didn’t graduate all those years ago, I can apply for federal financial aid and scholarships, that you aren’t eligible for if you have a bachelor’s degree already. I register for the next semester’s classes on Monday. I’ll be taking (among others) physics and microbiology. Even though I will enjoy microbiology more than physics, I’m more afraid of the microbiology class. Yesterday I overheard two people talking about microbiology and one of them took 3 hours to take the midterm and the other person took 4 ½ hours. Crazy! Who has that much time to take one test???

This week I got to finally meet Ann Marie from An Old Fashioned Girl . We’ve been blogger friends for a while and it was so nice of her to let me go visit her in her home. She is a beautiful person on the inside and the outside and so generous too!
She let me choose a gift and then gave me two. See these two pretty glass pieces?
Love ‘em! I can't get enough serving stuff. And even more, I enjoyed the time getting to know her in person.  I know that she is one of my friends who Heavenly Father put in my path as a blessing.

I was grateful for a very quick trip down to Bryce Canyon with my children during our fall break (we all had the same days off). It was our first time there and it’s so very pretty. I enjoyed every minute with my children there. And we had a fun visit with our friends, the Teran family, in St. George while we were down that way. But I’m a bad friend and didn’t take a single photo of our visit with them! I never do that. I did, however, take 350 photos at Bryce. I won't subject you to that many, although if you're my Facebook friend, you've already seen that I posted tons there.  

My only other news is that I made the difficult decision to leave the Spanish ward I’ve been in for 5 years and go to the English ward where I live, where I used to attend when I lived in this house before. Sunday was our first time back. It was nice to see quite a few familiar faces of wonderful people, but it’s not an easy change. I love many people in our Spanish ward.


Many people have asked about how my children are doing. Without getting personal, they are doing well. They are all doing great at school and spending as much time outside with friends as possible before it gets too cold. (It’s supposed to snow next week so that might not be much longer.)

So that’s us now. I really hope you are doing well and hope I can find time to visit all my blogger friends’ blogs soon! But I have a test on Monday to study for so I can’t today. Soon.

11 comments:

  1. Valerie,
    I admire you so much! You're a great Mom and one smart cookie! Love your pics of Bryce Canyon! You're right about Ann Marie. She is a sweetheart!
    Take care. Good luck with your test on Monday.

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  2. I am glad you were able to take a much needed break with your cute kids! you all deserve it! i pray that the Lord will bless you in all your pursuits! I love you and pray for you often!

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  3. Hi Valerie!
    That was agreat update! You are so smart, I am jealous! (not really, just happy for you : ) I am going to be friends with a doctor, that is awesome! I looked at all your utah bryce canyon pics and loved them! Im sorry i havent called you yet but i am going to!!! I love ya, youre so sweet and smiling and such a great mom.
    xoxoxo
    melanie

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  4. It's great you updated everyone on your family and educational plans! I am happy you have been able to pursue a science degree. You are very smart and will be able to go far. I love the example you have set in pressing forward with steadfast faith in Christ. I love you.
    Mom

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  5. YIKES! Seeing my face on the Reader was unexpected! hahahahaha... wish there would have been someone here to take one of both of us!

    It was fun to read your blog before.. but now it's even BETTER since we are friends IRL! :)

    Thank YOU:
    for saying such nice things about me...
    for driving up to spend some time with me..
    for bringing me such awesome treats!

    Love you Valerie!
    Good things/blessings await you!

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  6. Valerie - I just have to say that you are SO awesome!! SO smart! And SUCH a great mom!! I hope I get to meet you someday!! I love that you are a science geek and that you are plunging in head first and going back to school - Life is just going to get better for you and your sweet children!!
    I am so glad you got to meet Ann - she is such a sweetheart, you can't help but love her!! REally nice picture of her too :-D
    The get-away with your children looks fab.
    Hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

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  7. Thanks for the very nice comments, all my friends and family. And Melanie, don't count on me being a doctor any time soon! By the time the kids are out of the house and I can convince a school to take me, I'd still have to go through school and residency. I think I might be too old by then. My youngest, Sabrina, always tells me how sad it is that I'll be dead before her children are born since I'm so old.
    :(

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  8. Great post, Valerie, definitely answered some questions I had, like what you're studying in school and WHERE--my husband teaches at UVU! I'll email you. We NEED to meet.

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  9. Hi, Valerie! I'm glad to read that you are doing well...hanging in there and moving on! That's wonderful that you are going back to school but science? Only thing worse is math...LOL. I kid. Best of luck to you!
    ~ingrid

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  10. I hadn't looked at your blog in a while. I'm glad you're going back to school. I started back at college this semester to pursue my dream of being a high school Spanish teacher. I went to Ricks for 3 semesters back in the 90s & to Southern Virginia College for a semester after my mission in the late 90s, but then I stopped when we got married in 1999. We never really thought I'd go back, but things just fell into place this summer & I decided kind of at the last minute to go back. It's been rough so far, mainly because of my financial aid being delayed, but my classes are going well & I know I'm doing what I should be doing for myself & for our family. I'm starting out brand new as a freshman again b/c I felt that was the best option for me since I've forgotten all I did before & since not much would transfer anyway. Therefore, it'll take me 4-5 more years to be done, but I know it'll be worth it in the end. I have a new blog I started for my college adventures if you want to check it out. http://www.odysseyofamomscholar.net/

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  11. Looks like you are going to be busy! Can't believe your classes! HARD!!!! I went to school for the first time when my 5th child was 6 weeks old. I can't believe I did it, but I loved going to school and learning.

    You are in my prayers.

    Looks like your getaway was wonderful. Your kids are so cute.

    I got to meet AnnMarie last month. She's the sweetest person ever!

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