20. From Corn Fields to Mountains

     The process of writing this blog has allowed me the pleasure of understanding how I have changed  since I made the trek from Indiana to Utah.  I remember after three weeks of college, I said to a friend, "I don't think I'm the same person that I was three weeks ago."  I wonder if when I go home for Christmas if my family will even recognize me.
     I'm still Rachel; what would be considered the major components of my character are still the same:  I love to laugh, exercise, play the piano, and learn.  I love the gospel.  I am still determined, resilient, goofy, and hard-working.  My family still means the world to me.  On the other hand,  I have changed so much.  I have become a more agreeable person.  I feel that I have become a more kind, loving, understanding individual since I have had to learn to live on my own, a truly humbling experience.  I am different because my roommates have rubbed off on me.  I sometimes worry that I will go back to my family with a combination of my roommates' accents; a Chicagoan, Utah, southern accent might throw my family for a loop!  In all seriousness, though, I like to think that I am developing some of the positive qualities that my roommates have--because I am with them so often.  They are thoughtful, serviceable, funny, and goal-oriented.  More importantly, my commitment to the gospel has increased at what seems to be an exponential rate.  I have never read the scriptures on such a regular basis in my life.  I have been able to go to the temple more times this semester than I probably had in all years prior to that, mostly because of temple proximity.  I have become excited about genealogy and finding my ancestors.  I am forever changed.
     Although trekking from Indy to Provo was arguably the most difficult undertaking in my life, I have grown so much and experienced such a great joy.  I absolutely know that BYU is the place I most need to be right now in my life.