We are so spread out, but I want to share my excitement for life with you, and encourage you from afar. So, I'm writing y'all because I love y'all so much :)
My junior year of college has been full of adventures thus far. I absolutely love my classes! In my physiology lab this past week I got to take a blood sample from myself, mix it in hypertonic, isotonic (.9%), and hypotonic solutions of NaCl, and look at it under a microscope! In my microbiology class I got the opportunity to swab a non-living surface (fomite) of my choice (I picked the garbage disposal--bad choice--after just one day of growing on the growth agar in the petri dish it smelled so bad I decided to look at someone else's bacterial growths to spare the class of the stench). It was still super cool to create a plate by heat-fixing bacteria & staining one with safarin and the other with crystal violet to look at bacterial structures under a microscope.
I have come to a greater understanding of the importance of exercise for our well being--I'm officially addicted to physical exercise now. I'm going to run a 5k for extra credit in my physiology class! Seth has agreed to teach me some routines at the BYU gym tomorrow, he's so awesome :)
In my physics class, I have an awesome study group--we are going to watch Inception together and see the physics principles illustrated (or incorrectly portrayed). And we are going to make A's on the midterm this week (crossing fingers).
In my biology class, I have been able to learn some American Sign Language from a fellow student that has a cochlear implant. I feel extremely blessed to have the opportunity to get to know a deaf person a little better.
The more and more I learn about the life sciences, the more and more I am reminded that there is a divine creator. Scientists get a bad rep for being atheists. My professor was telling us that most of the renowned life scientists he talks to are Christians.
The other night I was hanging out with a good friend and we discussed a recent discovery he found on the BYU homepage that identified malfunctioning ion channels disrupting important protein signaling as the cause for birth defects like FAS and cleft palates. The disruptions that are negative for important cells could be used to help cure cancer by messing up cancerous cells' signaling. Cool, huh?
I am also involved in BYU/SA, which is a volunteer based student service association that is kind of similar to the student government in other colleges. I really enjoy that, and I'm learning a lot from that leadership position. It is not as official as it sounds, but it is so awesome to give back to the school. Seth is super cool yet again, he is also volunteering in the same area as I am, and is amazing at reaching out to the students!
This past Tuesday, the BYU devotional was uplifting, encouraging, and inspiring (I highly recommend watching it http://speeches.byu.edu/?
My testimony of the peace and strength the temple gives has also been strengthened tremendously. This past Tuesday I went there to ponder over some things in my life and to find balance. Before that time of introspection I was exhausted and stressed much of the time (16 credits is a lot. I usually leave home around 7 in the morning for class and don't end class until after 5,6, or 7). Now I have been able to find the strength and stamina I need to keep going forward in faith.
Earlier today I met with my bishop and started the process of getting my mission papers ready! Annnnnd, I got a calling as a primary teacher for the 5 year olds, I'm very excited!! Our ward just split--before we split, the primary consisted of about 225 kids!!
I have been learning how to be a better servant leader this semester. I keep finding myself in leadership positions. I'm trying to be a leader like King Benjamin, he's a fabulous role model for leading through service.
I have also been humbled. I have learned an important lesson concerning Integrity of Heart. I cannot afford to "check my religion at the door" when life gets hard; when I feel overwhelmed, find myself in hard situations, fatigued, angry, defensive, fearful, or anything of that nature.
I have also been reminded that while we cannot solve everything, we can do something. Each and everyone of you have so many gifts that you can share and are sharing with this world. Thank you. This world needs your light desperately. Do not let yourself be discouraged.
I love you all so very much, and pray for you every night,
Your Rachel
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.
--Philo
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