I am the oldest of four kids. I have a brother that is 3 and a half years younger than me and two sisters ages 16 and 15. Throughout my teen years, I became accustomed to a busy lifestyle. I babysat a lot, competed on my high school swim team, and played viola in the orchestra. High school was not my favorite time in life, but I would go back to my time on the swim team. My favorite stroke was breaststroke, and I also swam the 50- and 100-meter freestyle. After I broke my foot in my junior year, I used crutches to get around, and my coach had me swim with just my upper body. I placed a pull buoy between my legs and dragged myself across the water with my arms. It was hard, but it greatly improved my upper body technique.

At first, I had no interest in attending UVU because everyone from high school was going there, so I wanted to be different. I didn’t have anything against UVU. I just felt like it was the popular thing, and I’m usually not a trend follower. Growing up, we would get off at University Parkway to visit my grandparents in Provo, and I remember always looking over at UVSC. When I was a junior in high school, one of the times on the way to my grandparents’ house, I looked over at UVSC and heard a voice tell me that I would go there for college. At first, I was upset because I didn’t want to follow the trend. However, now I am grateful that I did because UVU helped me grow, and it is where I met my husband, Jordan.

During my first semester at UVU in 2009, I met Jordan through a mutual friend, who was my boyfriend at the time. Jordan left to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I broke up with my boyfriend. I dated someone while he was gone. That first semester was hard for me. I took orchestra, math, and music essentials. I picked the classes that I thought I'd like, but I did not have any motivation. By the end of the semester, I ran out of savings, and I decided to take some time off.

Jordan ended up coming home from his mission four months early after being diagnosed with celiac disease. He was really sick. If he had stayed out, it would have gotten worse. Even though he didn't want to come home early, the timing was perfect. We soon became a couple. Jordan continued with his studies and encouraged me to pursue something that I might enjoy. I decided to become a pharmacy technician. That process proved to be difficult as well. I failed the national exam three times. I was in the three-strikes-you’re-out mentality, and I took a step back.

From there, I went back to UVU for another semester in 2011 and bombed my classes again. Between the two semesters that I had completed, I had a 1.9 GPA. I was so disappointed because I knew that school was important, but I did not have the drive to keep going.

Everything turned around for me when I discovered the pharmacy technician class at MTECH. In taking their course, I witnessed a night and day difference. I took classes five days a week for three hours, and I had enough time to study. I took the national exam for the fourth time, and I finally passed!

I am not saying that it has been easy. On an average day, I wake up with my son between 5 and 7 a.m., we spend 30 minutes together, and I start getting ready at about 7 a.m. I go to work at around 8:30 a.m. and come home between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. I spend time with Eli until he goes to bed, and then I study until midnight. Jordan has a reversed schedule, so he goes to work when I start studying at night.

The only way that I have been able to do this is by taking online classes. These classes have been so flexible with my schedule, and I have still received a high-quality education.

Eli is 19 months old, which is such a fun age. It is a time full of firsts. First words, first steps, and he is learning what he likes and does not like. It is hard not to be home with him, but I finally have a reason to stay motivated and graduate from college. Jordan and Eli give me the strength to keep going with my classes. Since starting again in fall 2018, my GPA has gone from a 1.9 to a 3.7, and I have been on the dean’s list every semester.

I am now serving on the NSLS executive board and as a member of the L.E.A.D. program. Through these programs, I am gaining a passion for leadership. My mentors are helping me gain more self-confidence and envision myself in leadership roles. I am also a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the Society for Collegiate Leadership and Achievement, and the Golden Key International Honor Society.

I will be graduating in a couple of semesters with a major in emergency services administration with an emphasis in leadership and a global intercultural distinction.

After graduating, I hope to get more experience in leadership roles, and I may further my education with a master’s degree.