July journal update

Still want to get this week's post in before the night was over, so it'll be a quick update on life, followed by some thoughts I've had lately on social media.

For the last couple weeks, we've been lucky to have my sister Katie and her family in town visiting from Hawaii. Her husband is in the Navy, so having enough time off to make a trip out here worthwhile is somewhat rare. But he was able to stay for a full week, and the rest of them will be with us for a few more. We had some family pictures taken that should be finished soon, so I'll post some once I have access to them.

Yesterday, being Independence Day here in the States, we all went up to my brother's house in Salt Lake and had a great little barbecue, followed by some fireworks. I've always enjoyed fireworks shows, and by far the best one I've been to is the Stadium of Fire in Provo. They hold it at the BYU football stadium, and they often have a famous musical performer/group performing shortly before they set it all off. This year they had Journey, and in years past they've had acts like Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, and the Beach Boys (who were there the year I saw it). While there have been people claiming that there are bigger shows, and I'm sure there are, the fact that it was a concert as well made it a pretty great experience. And they sounded great, even for it being their 50th anniversary tour!

I haven't been able to use my Fitbit for the last few weeks because I lost the charger for it in the deep recesses of my room. (It's actually pretty clean, I just have no idea where it could be...) But another plus of my sister visiting is that she's got a charger for hers that works for mine as well. The model I use was actually recalled a while back because a few people got rashes, but since I never had a problem with it I never bothered to replace it. I've got a new charger on its way from Amazon already, but in the meantime I can get back on track by using the one she brought. I made it down to about 232 pounds, and I'd love to get below 200 before the end of the year.

K, so maybe this will be longer than I planned on it being. Oh well, I'm on a roll.

I've just been thinking a bit about what kinds of social media I've been using. My main ones, in the order of frequency used, are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and to a much lesser extent Blogger. YouTube is technically a form of social media as well, though much different than any of the ones I've mentioned. And I used to have Snapchat, but I got rid of the app a while ago because 1) it took forever to do anything with it on my phone (although it's a four-year-old phone, and it's been a while since I updated the iOS on it) and 2) I just never really enjoyed communicating through it. It's a novel idea, certainly, but often times if I was ever sent videos they'd go too fast to really get a good feel of what they were. And picture messages a lot of times were without much context, which I guess is fine for people who are used to messaging that way, but I just never really got into it too much.

After the Supreme Court decision a little over a week ago (and I'm not going to get political on this post, don't worry), it was incredibly interesting to see how much people showed their feelings over it. And I say interesting in an honest sense, not just as a passive adjective to move this paragraph along. While I don't ever plan on studying psychology as a career or anything, some concepts of psychology have held my curiosity every so often. And I can't say that it's "research" by any means, but what is so interesting to me is to see how vocal some people get behind the shield of the internet. A lot more people feel open to share what they feel, what they think, what they believe, because they're not afraid of being harassed "publicly" about it. At least, most people I know feel free to openly express themselves – many celebrities still need to be careful of any backlash, much like Jim Carrey on Twitter recently stating his opinion on vaccinations. (For the record, he is pro-vaccination, but "anti-neurotoxin", as he stated in a few later tweets.)

I don't post as much on my Facebook as much as I used to some years ago. And on Twitter, I mostly just have it to follow other accounts, big names, some organizations, etc. Occasionally I'll retweet a funny comment or share a post, and every so often I'll post my own status, tweet something, put up a picture on Instagram and have it post to my other accounts, but that's about it. I like writing here because it's hard to get misinterpreted about what I mean for whatever I say. I can be as lengthy or brief as I want, and since I share these posts on Facebook where there's the highest chance for people to see it, anyone who really wants to know what's going on, how I'm feeling, "what's on my mind?" as Facebook is currently asking in its status box – anyone can come see any of that whenever they'd like. And on top of all that, I feel like writing is becoming a lost art form; sure, we're still taught how to write and type and communicate properly, but with texting and tweeting and messaging all being the dominant ways we communicate, doing stuff like this just isn't really seen all that much anymore. Vlogging has been popular, though I think a lot of people got into it to try to make money off of YouTube. That's all well and good, though I hope they realize how much work it takes to actually make a successful living off of online videos. And that you need a somewhat exciting or enticing personality to pull it off – you can't just sit yourself in front of a camera, talk into it for five to ten minutes in a monotone voice, put it online, and expect people to love it immediately. Building up a fan base takes time, skill, and dedication for it. Internet fame can happen overnight, but lasting internet fame requires work.

Maybe that's why people feel the need to be so brazen on social media every so often. Maybe they're hoping to make the controversial status that will be seen across the country, or make the trending hashtag that everyone will use for a few days, or put up the picture that gets them thousands of followers. Or they could just troll everyone they talk to for the sole purpose of annoying them. Again, they have the shield of a computer screen and who knows what actual distance they have between the person they're insulting. Alfred from The Dark Knight said it best: they can't be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.

I don't know if I'd ever like to be "internet famous". It'd be nice, but there's a lot of unseen drama that can go with it. But if it ever were to happen, I do want to be transparent about what I put up, what I represent, and what I come across as to everyone who sees what I do.

#LoveWins doesn't mean I hate you

Friday was interesting.

June 26, 2015, marks what will probably be viewed as a significant day in US history. The Supreme Court ruled, after much deliberation, that marriage can be between two people, regardless of whatever gender either one is. The official statement from the Court can be seen here, though it is quite lengthy.

The last time I wrote about a topic like this happens to be exactly two years ago, when Proposition 8 was overturned in California. And when I posted the link to that post on Facebook, it was met with a lot of negative feedback from some of my old high school friends. I don't know if the algorithms that Facebook uses today will cause them to see this post as well, since even before I shared that post we were no longer "friends" on Facebook, so we'll just have to see what happens.

This picture pretty much sums up what it's been like to get online in the last two days:

And yes, I know this has been shared by George Takei, who is openly gay.

One of the things that I've seen amongst all the posts saying that people are so happy for this decision, all the newly rainbow-fied profile pictures, etc., is this: #LoveWins. It's been used all over, from companies who previously had never expressed any political statements whatsoever to the White House Twitter showing the building being lit up in rainbow colors. And that hashtag has been included pretty much everywhere.

So if this was a win for "love", then that has to mean that someone lost, right? Well, what's the opposite of love? Hate? And if I'm against gay marriage, then that means I'm on the losing side – the side of hate – right? Correct me if I'm wrong or going too fast down a slippery slope here.
In my last post about this, I felt like I was pretty clear about what I believed a marriage should be: a privilege, not a right, between a man and a woman. And my belief that it should be between a man and woman is religiously based. When I shared that previous post on Facebook, while most of the comments were respectful, it did hurt to be told "shame on you" or that I could "move to another planet". It felt like many of those who were slamming me didn't read through all of what I wrote, but rather just picked and chose what to criticize.

Just like when Prop 8 was overturned, this vote among the Supreme Court Justices wasn't unanimous (both were a 5-4 split), and I feel like many of those who are rejoicing over the decision are either forgetting that fact or just don't acknowledge it. Here are some excerpts from the justices who dissented from the decision, and as an example here's a quote from Chief Justice John Roberts:

If you are one of the many people Americans – of whatever sexual orientation – who favor expanding same-sex marriage, by all means celebrate today's decision. Celebrate the achievement of a desired goal. Celebrate the opportunity for a new expression of commitment to a partner. Celebrate the availability of new benefits. But do not celebrate the Constitution. It had nothing to do with it.

The Constitution doesn't explicitly state anything about marriage. But it is the duty of the judicial branch of our government to interpret the law. Apparently the majority of the current Supreme Court feels that they have the need to add their own definition in of what marriage is.

Some friends of mine have already pointed out that since this ruling has happened, it could quite easily lead to other forms of marriage. I mean, since we're redefining what marriage is and has been for centuries (really millennia), why stop at just making it legal for two men or two women to get married? Why not shake things up a bit and make it so that a man and two women could all be married? Let's bring polygamy back into the picture! Or maybe three men, three women, two kids, and their dog could all be married together? It sounds outrageous now, but so did gay marriage to many, many people just a few decades ago.
My honest opinion on it? It's probably going to happen. Maybe not soon, but if we live in a world where 1) it's acceptable by many to change your gender or even race to whatever you want it to be simply because that's what you "identify as" (referring to Bruce, now Caitlyn, Jenner, and Rachel Dolezal, respectively) and 2) it's already legal to marry inanimate objects... well, it just doesn't seem too far off. A friend of mine posted that "if hearing 'I love you' were enough we would all buy a parrot and get it over and done with." Funny now, but one day it might actually be someone's solution to singleness.

I don't hate gay people. I don't hate that gay marriage is legal throughout the country. And it's not that I hate the fact that homosexuality is even a thing. What pains me is that it's something I don't believe to be right, and yet people who I care about can't fully receive blessings from God if they're not keeping His commandments. Is it easy to tell someone who deals with same-sex attraction to just not act on those feelings? Yeah, it's easy for me to say that, but certainly not easy for someone to hear it or follow it, especially if many of them don't know or believe there's a reason for them not to act on those feelings. I'll freely admit, I really don't know all that many people who identify as anything but straight. So I haven't yet had the chance to really empathize for those who struggle with this. But many of those who I do know and have talked to who are gay, bi, queer, pan, etc. – many of them don't believe in any kind of God in the traditional Christian sense: that He is our creator, that Jesus Christ is His son, etc. Someone from that Facebook thread flatly said "I don't believe in any higher power." That's frustrating for me to hear (in this case, read) when I know that God exists, I know I've been blessed by Him in my life. From another one of the dissenting Justices, Clarence Thomas:

When the Framers proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence that "all men are created equal" and "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights," they referred to a vision of mankind in which all humans are created in the image of God and therefore of inherent worth. That vision is the foundation upon which this nation was built.

Religion is what helped found this country. Even if you don't believe in the same things I do, or don't believe in anything, that fact is undeniable. And while this may be the new trend that's been set, it's strayed far from what We the People originally believed. From George Washington himself:

It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor. (source)

Just because it's what five out of nine people believe and have voted on, that doesn't necessarily make it right. Just because there are millions of people screaming that things should be a certain way doesn't mean that it really should be. Just because you don't believe the same things I do doesn't immediately mean either one of us is wrong. And just because I want to try to love you like a friend, like a brother or sister, that doesn't mean that I accept everything that you ever do.
Now please, please don't immediately interpret that as me hating you. Because that's not my intent at all. I don't mean to step on your happiness just as I'm sure you don't mean to step on mine. If it's something that truly does bring you joy, then there isn't much I can do about it, is there? But understand this: I have my beliefs, and I will not hesitate to share them, and share why I hold them.

I'd like to reemphasize what I wrote at the end of my other post about all this. I don't mean to come across as hating anyone for any reason, and I really don't feel like that I did in any part of this post. I apologize if previous words of mine have offended you, and yet I do hope that you can understand where I'm coming from. If you'd like to understand more of why I believe what I believe, I'm happy to point out places you can go.

• mormon.org and lds.org are the two main sites to learn about the doctrine of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who are often referred to as Mormons. mormonsandgays.org is another site from the Mormon church that specifically details what our intent is with those who deal with same-sex attraction and how we should interact with each other as part of the human family.
• A document called "The Family: A Proclamation to the World", which has been a long-standing resource for Mormons that explains why we value the traditional family so much. An article called "The Divine Institution of Marriage" explores that document in depth and relates it to many of the issues at hand, citing various sources (not just scriptures).
• A short video with transcript from Michael Otterson, a spokesman for the Mormon church, who stated that while we may not agree with everything that groups such as the Human Rights Campaign lobby for, we do believe and support their equal protections – "We join our voice with others in unreserved condemnation of acts of cruelty or attempts to belittle or mock any group or individual that is different – whether those differences arise from race, religion, mental challenges, social status, sexual orientation or for any other reason."
• A couple speeches from men who I sustain as living apostles. Every six months they, along with many other leaders of the Church, hold a conference available for everyone around the world to watch, hear, or read, and though these aren't the only opportunities to hear them speak, quite often they are the times where they talk about the most pressing topics that the world is dealing with. These two speeches that I've linked to talk a bit about why I feel it's important for me to stay firm to what I believe in, and they express it much better than I usually can.
• A few other perspectives on the whole debate.

I'm not going to rainbow-tint my profile picture on social media. I'm not going to try to tell my bishop to hold a wedding for some gay friends of mine, or write a letter to the leaders of the Church saying that the doctrine should change since that's what's legal in the country. (It's very clear that it won't change because of that.) But that doesn't mean I'll try to degrade or protest outside of a chapel where two men will be getting married, or that I'll insult you through the shield of the internet because I feel that you're wrong. I would much rather talk with you and maintain a friendship instead of spit venomous words at each other.

I don't support everything you do. But I am far, far from hating you.

California!

So a couple weeks ago I talked about going to California for a wedding. I'm finally getting around to posting about it. (If you miss even one week of doing this, it feels near impossible to get back on track and post again...) I'll kinda just talk about how the week went, then post a bunch of pics at the end.

So this wedding was for a couple good friends of mine, Chance Molen and Nicole Scheidt (well... now Nicole Molen). We all knew each other from the last ward we were in. Wednesday of the first week of June, I hopped in a car with some friends, Amy, Jess, and Jess' sister Kaci. We drove almost nonstop and ended up arriving in San Diego right around midnight local time. They all stayed at the Scheidt home, while I stayed with the Raymonds, some family friends that we've known since we lived in Illinois. Their nephew, Dave, who I also knew, was staying with them as well that week, so we ended up just hanging out that first full day I was there and having some fun at the beach. That's really something I've missed since moving away from California; I absolutely love the beach, even if all it is is just playing a bit in the water and laying on the sand. There's just something to me about staring out over the ocean and seeing for miles and miles... It's calming for me, enjoyable, and it's where I feel most at home.

Friday was a bit more hanging out, as well as helping set up for the wedding reception and seeing the temple at night. The San Diego temple is just beautiful, and easily one of my favorites I've ever been to. This is an article that talks a bit about the design of the temple and why it's so unique compared to many of the other temples built around the world. Saturday morning came along, and I was privileged to be present as Nicole and Chance were married for time and all eternity. They're really perfect for each other, and I feel blessed to have been part of the whole event. That evening was the reception, which they just had at an LDS chapel, and it was really well attended. Friends and family came from all over to support them, and many of those who couldn't make it all the way to California for the wedding came to an open house they had here in Utah just yesterday.

After all was said and done on Saturday, we packed back up and began the drive home on Sunday, getting back early that evening. The weather was just perfect the whole week as well, with it being in the high 60's/low 70's each day we were there. No rain clouds to speak of, and pictures when they came out of the temple turned out great. If living in southern California was affordable, and if given the chance I'd definitely live there again.

And now for the pictures! I'll admit that I'm not the best at taking pictures, so I apologize for the blurriness of some of these...

Just sitting on the beach

Lifeguard post at the beach. There were others that actually had guards, don't worry.

Kim Raymond and Dave Watson! Fun times with them

Me just in awe at the amazing Brazilian dinner that Darlene Raymond had made

Jack In The Box. They need more of these in Utah – I think they only have a couple down in St. George, and that's it.

Not a storm, just what they call the "marine layer" coming in

San Diego temple. And this is pretty much how the weather was all week.

Chance and Nicole coming out of the temple!

A little before the reception started

Congratulations to the Molens, a couple I'm proud to call my good friends.

More pictures are available at WedPics.com, where you can create your own wedding album and anyone can upload pictures or videos of their own. They've also got an app for smartphones, making it even easier for anyone to just upload on the fly. I hadn't seen it before, but for whenever I get to the point of marriage for myself, I definitely plan on using it.

That about sums up the trip! I'd love to go back soon and experience more of what California has to offer. I mean, I know I used to live there, but it's literally been years since that was the case.

Playlist: Road Trip

Something I like to do for fun every once in a while is to make playlists for different occasions. I did this pretty often for Divine Comedy, making a specific "setlist" for each show, but even before then I'd been making playlists as a way to pass the time. I figured I'd eventually need to use some of these playlists once in a while, and one opportunity is actually coming up this week. So, as a new kind of post I'll do every so often, I'll post a playlist of 20-30 songs specific to a kind of genre, occasion, or feeling. I'll do my best to post links for each one and explain my reasoning for some of my choices or what each playlist is meant to accomplish.

If you've already read the title, which I hope you have by now, this playlist is meant for road trips, or pretty much any opportunity you'd have to go for long stretches of time cooped up in one place. So these songs are meant to be fun; they help pass the time by distracting you from the tediousness of the road, and in many cases they're already well-known and everyone in the car can sing along. (And it doesn't have to be great singing - again, it's just meant to be a good time.)

• Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen I don't think any road trip music would be complete without this one, so I just got it out of the way to begin with. It's a classic, and for good reason.
• It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) - R.E.M. While not everyone may be able to sing along with the lyrics, it's still a fun one to jam out to.
• Albuquerque - Weird Al Yankovic A lot of the songs I put on here kind of tell their own stories on here, and the story that "Albuquerque" tells is quite entertaining.
• The Impresario - Jake Kaufman and Tommy Pedrini This is probably one of the first ones on here that not as many people will know about. The song is taken from a scene in the game Final Fantasy III (or Final Fantasy VI, depending on how technical you want to get – but I digress). The scene itself is an opera, where one of the characters you play as goes undercover as one of the performers, but ends up being kidnapped. This song is basically a rock opera version of what the game's opera is meant to be, and in a lot of ways similar to Bohemian Rhapsody's conveyance of a story. Think Romeo and Juliet, and it'll make a lot of sense.
• On Top of the World - Imagine Dragons Fun to sing along at the chorus, and the music video for this actually has some friends of mine in it!
• Shut Up And Dance - Walk the Moon This is a catchy one that's come out fairly recently. Easy to sing along with the whole time, and the version I linked to is actually a compilation of dance scenes from various films.
• I Want You Back - Jackson 5 I could put probably any song from the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack here, and it'd be an acceptable choice.
• Don't Stop Me Now - Queen Just fun the whole way through.
• Get Lucky - Daft Punk While most of Daft Punk's songs aren't in quite the same style, the top single they released from their most recent album still holds up. Also, there's a cover by George Barnett that takes away the techno feel and puts a bit more funk in it.
• Our Own House - MisterWives I first heard this song (and this artist) from a beer commercial. While I don't drink alcohol myself, the song caught my attention, and I've actually enjoyed a lot of the songs from MisterWives since discovering them.
• Super Rad - The Aquabats A classic ska anthem, this one I listened to quite often back in the day to pump me up and get me energized.
• Hopeless Wanderer - Mumford and Sons This is more for a singalong – if you've got a large group of people in the car with you, the harmonizing can be incredible.
• Carry On Wayward Son - Kansas Making sure there's a healthy balance of classic rock in here, this song (having been the theme song for the show Supernatural) should be pretty recognizable and enjoyable.
• I'm Alive (Life Sounds Like) - Michael Franti & Spearhead Another underrated song, I heard this one in a commercial for a video game (Rayman Legends) and was immediately hooked. It's just happy all the way through, and great for maintaining high spirits.
• Daylight - Matt and Kim Good for just jamming out for a few minutes, even if you don't know all the words.
• Love and Memories - O.A.R. I like singing along with this one, personally, and from what I remember when it came out it was pretty big. Don't know how many people will still remember the lyrics, but they're not hard to learn.
• Don't Stop Believing - Journey THIS one, however, everybody should know and sing along with. Or at least try to sing along with. It's guaranteed to be heard at any karaoke night, so why not include it here?
• Just Give Me a Reason - P!nk feat. Nate Ruess I think this song is actually quite overplayed on the radio these days, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. And if you've got a mix of guys and girls in the car, it makes a fun duet.
• Beat It - Michael Jackson I included this one 1) for the singing aspect and 2) the dancing aspect. I'd kinda like to see someone try to pull off some of the moves from the music video while in the car.
• Tribute - Tenacious D Probably their most famous song, as it gives you a feel for pretty much any other of theirs.
• Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi Another classic rock choice, where everyone can join in on the chorus.
• Freebird - Lynrd Skynyrd I have fond memories of playing this on Guitar Hero 2, going through the whole nine minutes and feeling so accomplished after getting through the second half of this song. Sure, it's not a sing-a-long like the rest of these, but if you wanna rock out, this'll do the job.

Movie soundtracks, especially Disney songs, are quite acceptable as well. If you have any suggestions, please leave them in the comments, and feel free to include links or say why you think they're great for a road trip!

Memorial Day

Saved this post for today instead of Sunday because, well... see the title.
Not too much to say in this week's post, but I did want to share this:

I feel like this pretty accurately portrays the toll taken in any given war. While the recent slew of Marvel movies have been amazing and quite enjoyable, this is a side they don't really cover all that much: the actual number of men and women who give their lives, and even those whose lives are innocently taken from them, in order for one side to claim victory. Captain America here, having now been through literal World Wars and fought on the front lines of battle, knows exactly what each fight means and how it affects everyone involved.

I'm not in the military. I never have been, and never plan to. But I do understand the sacrifice that many have made for this country, and I am grateful for it, so that I can enjoy the rights and freedoms I have. I do have a brother-in-law currently serving in the Navy, and I'm grateful for the service he provides as well. And while we're not in the best situation politically speaking, it's not nearly the size of a World War we're fighting, so I'm grateful for the time I live in where I can say that for the most part, I have enjoyed peace.

Credit goes to Dan Hipp for the image, and my friend Ryan Stevens for finding it in the first place.

May journal update

*If you're wondering why there was no post last week, it was Mother's Day, so I was spending the entire day with family. That, and I put up two posts the week before, so as far as a count for the year I'm still on track with one a week.*

Man I'm tired... But for good reason.

I got to play some laser tag with these awesome guys last night, mostly in celebration of a wedding for the two on the far right, Nicole Scheidt and Chance Molen. They're getting married in a few weeks down in San Diego, and I've been asked to be a groomsman for it. Pretty much everyone here knows them from the ward we were all in together (not quite at the same time, but mostly all together) and I'm super excited for them to finally tie the knot. And getting to take a trip to California will be pretty enjoyable as well, so hopefully while I'm down there I'll be able to do a bunch of fun stuff. A vacation feels pretty warranted at this point...

I'm still working at Deseret Book and PetSmart, and both are getting me at least 20 hours every week. So it's like working full-time, though I usually get a few more from Deseret Book. I switched from doing just receiving to housekeeping and maintenance, with receiving after I get regular chores done. This week required me to fix a toilet in the men's bathroom, as the lever inside the tank ended up breaking. I gotta say, I kinda felt like Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor from Home Improvement. It wasn't a huge repair by any means, but it just felt... I dunno, manly. *insert manly grunt here*

I'm writing this as my parents are talking with my niece over FaceTime. It's just hilarious because she's trying to get them to see the end part of National Treasure (or "Natural Treasure" as she's been calling it) even though they've seen it multiple times. She, and my sister's family, will get to come visit us in about a month, and seeing as how they're living in Hawaii it'll be a real treat to see them again.

I have some pretty stinkin' adorable nieces and nephews.

I may end up finding something besides PetSmart in the next month or two. I like it, but between that and Deseret Book I much prefer DB. I could see myself staying there and possibly making a career out of that much more than PetSmart, but as both are just part-time jobs at the moment we'll see what happens.

That's about it for now. Again, I'll be heading down to SoCal early next month and will probably be taking a TON of pictures, so I'll make sure to post them once I'm home. There may not be a post that week as I'll be driving home on that Sunday, but if that's the case I'll make up for it afterwards.

Plight of the Provo Bachelor: Notes from John Bytheway

So last week I was able to go see a fireside from someone I've always considered to be a great speaker, John Bytheway. (And for those who have never heard of him before, yes, "By the way" is actually his last name.) For as long as I can remember he's been a motivational speaker of sorts in the church, having given multiple talks and firesides, taught at EFY, written many uplifting books alone and with others, and one of his most noticeable traits is that he's just funny. He connects well with audiences because he knows how to make them feel comfortable and happy to be there. This fireside he gave was at a building called the Alpine Tabernacle, and there were at least 700 young single adults in attendance (young single adults meaning within the age range of 18 to 30). No one there, from what I noticed, ever fell asleep, walked out early, carried on their own conversations, anything you might usually see in a group of that size.

Being the audience of young single adults that he was talking to (and if you've noticed the title of this post), you can probably guess what his subject matter was: dating, marriage, and love in a gospel setting. But again, it was all enjoyable; many times when this subject comes up, a groan, audible or not, passes through the crowd. Brother Bytheway made it so enthralling that the majority of people I saw were actually taking notes (another less common occurrence for these kinds of things).

And I happened to be one of the ones taking notes. I'm going to post most of them here, with the hope that 1) anyone reading this can make sense of them, and 2) they uplift others in the same way the fireside uplifted me. I have yet to read it, but it felt like most of the talk was taken from a book he wrote called What I Wish I'd Known When I Was Single. And, by the way, he didn't get married until he was 33 years old. So there's still definitely hope!

I've never really transcribed anything before for a blog, so what I think I'll do is just copy what I wrote down here, then if anyone wants me to expound then I can .

• Alma 52: why would you ever, ever leave your stronghold? It's never a good idea, even for a minute.
• King David stepped out of his stronghold and ended up having all his problems with Bathsheba
• James E. Faust, Nov. '97 Ensign – saw men fall, web of stupidity - all of us must constantly guard against Satan
• Get your act together, then build the forts and swords
• President Uchtdorf's "Stop it!"
• As a bishop, his ward chooses a specific theme each year. One year it was "Onward and upward together". The next was "What is your next step?"
• Article that he wrote from the New Era: "I Have No Friends"
• Don't focus on the things you can't control
• Marriage is pretty much the only commandment you can't keep yourself
• Liberty Jail – there wasn't even a bathroom for them
• D&C 123:17 – let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power
• If you don't feel like you're going anywhere, get a plan, get a course; get multiple plans and keep moving forward
• What I Wish I'd Known When I Was Single
• Boyd K. Packer talked about the DTR – have some patience
• 1982, Bruce C. Hafen, "The Gospel and Romantic Love" – don't date someone you know you'd never marry
• You can hurt them a little or hurt them a lot in a DTR. Don't postpone the inevitable; if it's a rejection, it'll be either cutting their leg clean off or doing it an inch at a time.
• Patience and honesty
• Don't get your dating advice from unofficial Church musicals
• Bruce R. McConkie – I never asked the Lord who to marry, I asked the Lord to confirm it
• Boyd K. Packer, "Eternal Love" – no belief in "soul mates"
• "Faith Precedes the Miracle" – Spencer W. Kimball
• The Lord loves you too much to let your life be too easy
• Take it a day at a time
• Sometimes going back to "just friends" is impossible
• The wrong one is the right one to lead you to the best one
• Make a chart with two columns, on the left make a list of what others think of you and on the right make a list of what God thinks of you. Which do you believe is correct?
• "What more can He say than to you He hath said?"
• Express affection carefully – approaching the law of chastity with honesty
• Is it possible to lie with our actions?
• Another New Era article he wrote: "What Do Kisses Mean?"
• Always be emotionally honest about expressions of affection
• Worldly idea of "friends with benefits" is wrong; the "non-committal make out" is a lie
• Thomas S. Monson, Nov. '90 Ensign – take care not to make women weep, for God counts their tears
• What is "falling in love"?
• "In love" is an irrational state – it's odd that people seek out temporary insanity like that
• David O. McKay – Gospel Ideals – If you meet a girl who inspires you to do your best...
• Ezra Taft Benson – a good yardstick – do you think your noblest thoughts around them? Do they make you want to be better?
• Marry someone you respect and admire
• We get why it's so important, but why is it so urgent?
• It avoids risks of temptation, promotes family growth, it's an ordinance, our biological clocks are ticking, our choices of potential spouses narrow out as we get older, and it's just a better way to live
• Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball – marriage is a greater ecstasy than the human mind can conceive
• Mark E. Peterson – take as few problems to the altar as you can
• Marriage is not a place to change someone else
• The key to spiritual guidance is worthiness
• Play what you can play, sing at the top of your lungs
• Karen Lynn Davidson – "I have yet to see marriage by itself turn an unhappy person into a happy one"
• 1 Nephi 4:6 – "And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do."
• D&C 111:11 – I will order all things for your good
• March '89 Ensign, Cormack – marriage is likely to come naturally – live life fully
• March 2, 1997, Jeffrey R. Holland – "let not your heart be troubled" is a commandment
• Neal A. Maxwell – '85 conference talk – in the pattern He has planned
• "I would if I could" – wanting and doing all you can is of inestimable value
• Come up to higher ground and let the Lord help you

I'm sure a lot of these notes can apply to those already in relationships or even those already married, but again I just wanted to share them because they were uplifting to me. And the video below is one of the talks he gave at an Education Week at BYU in 2003, entitled "Especially for Young Single Adults: Who, When, and Why We Marry". I'm going to watch it later when I get the chance, as it's about an hour long, but if it's anything like his other talks it'll be just as entertaining.

To all my friends out there who are single, enjoy!

Some random thoughts while sick

These musings today may just come because of the fact that my head's in a little bit different of a place right now; I've been sick/suffering from allergies since last night, and it feels like I just haven't felt like... my usual self today. But what I'm writing tonight is hopefully going to be uplifting, not only for me, but for anyone who ends up reading this.


There are some things that I absolutely love about the gospel, and one of them is that, if we mess up, we always have the chance to try again. And again. And again. And again, and again, and again until we eventually, hopefully, get it right. I know that my life right now isn't near where I thought it'd be a few years ago. By the time I turned 25 I thought I'd already be done with school; I thought I'd have a job in a field that I'm actually interested in making into a career; I thought I would be married, or at the very least in a relationship heading in that direction. A lot of the things that I thought I'd have achieved by now I haven't reached mostly due to the fact that I have messed up. There were some things that were out of my control, yes, but a lot of it is my own fault – procrastination, miscommunication, just bad choices, etc. And while it's not the end of the world, it's not been the best of times for me. Compared with most friends who are my age I have a lot of catching up to do with life.

Today especially was simply not the best of days for me. I left my first job a little early and had someone cover for my other job because I'm feeling sick (and strangely sore in my back – I say strangely because I have no idea what would have caused it to be sore the way it is). I've been worrying about bills and loans to pay off, trying to make some concrete plans for my future, and it's difficult to predict a timeline where I'm financially comfortable. Certain memories from my past still haunt me, still bother me more than they should. A lot of the social events that I have planned over the next couple months are weddings of other friends, which, while I'm incredibly happy for my friends for taking that step forward, reminds me of my own singleness and how far I am from a relationship of my own.

One of the nice things about my life lately, and one of the other things that I love about the gospel, is that I've had a lot more time to visit the temple. And with the temple comes not only the opportunity to serve, but to leave behind, for a little while, all the stresses and cares of the world. It's a place while I can always find peace and relaxation. And I don't mean to say that it's me trying to escape from my problems; it's been more that I've been able to take a break and refocus on what matters most. Regardless of what I end up doing there, just being there gets me to feel better. It helps me feel solitude when the thoughts in my head are rushing around and bringing me down.

I don't know if I've ever talked about the background I've been using for this blog. I found it a long, long time ago, back when I first made the blog (so a few years ago?) and I chose it for a very specific reason. It's not because it's "artsy", or "stylish". (I mean, it kinda is, but it's not the point.) If you notice, it's a mostly white background, but there are a lot of black splotches at the top that fade as you go down the page. I chose the background because I felt like it accurately portrays how I try to write these posts: while I may start off with some scatterbrained thoughts and topics, and it all just seems like a big mess, as you go farther down along the post things start to clear up a bit and make more sense. It's cleaner, and more enjoyable. And by the end, well, the messy, erratic nature that it may have had in the beginning is barely noticeable, and what you're left with is the post in the middle that you've finished reading, which would be the point I'm trying to get at for that post.

Going to the temple has the same effect for me. Many a day has come where my thoughts, which in the ideal situation would be under control and sensical, just bombard me with things that I either don't want to think about or just have a hard time managing at all. And it's hard for me! I hate it! A lot of the time I want to shut down and be completely unproductive, maybe watch a movie, play some video game that really doesn't matter in the long run, because then my mind gets to avoid all the issues. But if I manage to make the choice – because it isn't always an easy choice – to go to this place of refuge, turn myself off from the outside world physically for a couple hours, then spiritually I can concentrate. I can sort out those things in my head that are bugging me, make plans that are necessary, forget about and erase those unnecessary thoughts that are only there to bring me down. While the issues are still there, after a while in the temple they're much more manageable.

I will always be grateful for temples and the peace they bring to me. Because a lot of the time... I need it. And I get it.

No post this week

I went to a fireside with John Bytheway tonight, and it gave me a lot to write about. So I'll start working on a Plight of the Provo Bachelor post tomorrow, and should have it done by next Sunday. It'll be a bit lighter-spirited than most posts in that series, as most of the commentary will be based on his talk.

Writer's block and a workaround

SCRAPPED IDEA


I'd had an idea for a new kind of daily blog, and actually tried it for a few days, but ended up scrapping the idea.

If you see this post and are curious, I can tell you about it. It may still happen in the future in some form, just not for now.

25

Not much to write this week. It's been busy, and while I had my birthday on Tuesday I didn't have too much of an opportunity to celebrate until this weekend. We, as a family, went to a BYU Ballroom Dancers performance yesterday (which I'll post a link to later if I find one), and today we had a great dinner together. And one of the presents I got was a collector's set of the Harry Potter books, with the spines of each one forming part of Hogwarts:

I'm tempted to read the entire series again, but at the same time this is something I want to keep in really good condition... We'll see what happens.

Also, a while back I found a site that compares your age to different statistics. You can put in your birthday and it gives all sorts of facts about how old you are compared to certain celebrities or random facts. So while I'm not going to write much myself, there's a good amount to find on that site. (And the site is http://you.regettingold.com if you're curious, with this link being specifically for my birthday.)

Some tender mercies

Just going to give a few little updates here because... I got a new journal! And I spent a good part of today writing my first entry in it. (Almost called it a "post" – any time I write in there, it's an "entry", and here will be a "post".)

This was originally my grandmother's on my mom's side, but she never got around to using it. So my mom gave it to me to use, and I love it!

I think I'm going to spend more efforts putting personal thoughts and feelings there from now on, but I'll still be updating this on a regular basis. (Or I'll actually get started on the movie reviews on my other blog, which at tho point is just sitting untouched...)

I did want to share a great experience I had this week here, though. Working at Deseret Book, I have the opportunity to talk to lots of people, some from places around the world, and I get particularly excited talking with someone from Brazil. This week I didn't just meet any Brazilians, though – I met a couple who was visiting the husband's cousin who lives here in the states, and they're originally from Novo Hamburgo, a city I passed through towards the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011 during my mission. Talking some more, I found out that the husband is actually from the ward that I served in, though he wasn't there while I was. I do know his family, though, so I got to reminisce a bit about the time I spent there. When I asked about a young man who was baptized while I was serving there, Elvis, Bryan (the aforementioned husband) told me that he was on his mission!! I checked out his Facebook and sure enough he's serving in the Brasilia mission and should be hitting his one-year mark pretty soon.

Elvis' baptism. Sorry for the lower quality, for some reason I can't find digital copies of pictures from when I served there...

Despite being a somewhat crazy week as far as work goes (both jobs seemed to have a much higher amount of customers than normal), this definitely was a highlight and kept me going through each day.

I didn't get to see the sessions of General Conference yesterday, but I heard some of the first one while working at Deseret Book and saw both of the ones from today. And for those who may have missed any sessions of it, it looks like you can already watch them online here. All of the talks, along with full transcripts, should be up within a few days, but I can already guarantee that one of my favorites was from Elder Holland (who I mentioned in my last post). It's so great to be able to hear the words of living prophets, who can give us just the right words in our times of need, and that it's available at our fingertips. I'm glad that I got to see a part of the conference today, and I'll be watching the rest of it this week as soon as I have the chance.

And again, I'm super grateful to have found out about Elvis. The phrase "tender mercy" has stuck out with me ever since I first seriously started studying the scriptures; it's a phrase found at the end of the first chapter of the Book of Mormon:

"But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance."

I always like to think of a "tender mercy" as a special type of blessing; it's not one you're necessarily expecting, but it definitely brings you an amount of joy in a personal, special way. I've already had a few happen throughout my life, and this mercy is one more that will stick out for as long as I live.

What I Know

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with what Mormons do on Sundays, we usually go to church for a three hours, with different things happening every hour. One of those hours is one we call sacrament meeting, where we reenact the sacrament that Jesus implemented toward the end of His mortal ministry, and then we hear from a couple speakers chosen from the congregation (chosen with a couple weeks' notice) to speak about different aspects of our beliefs. However, on the first Sunday of the month, we have something called a testimony meeting where anyone who feels prompted to can go up to the stand and bear their testimony. And sometimes, like today, we actually have it at the end of the month, because next month's first Sunday will be when General Conference happens – and I'll write about General Conference later on in this post.

I'm usually one to sit back and let others have the opportunity to bear their testimony, especially when sometimes there are just so many people doing so that they go over the allotted time. (And that's fine, there's really no harm done when that happens.) But I don't want it ever though that I don't have a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Because I do.

I know that this is, in fact, the true Church of Jesus Christ. It was restored through a man named Joseph Smith and officially organized on April 6, 1830. As proof of this, we have something called The Book of Mormon, so named after the man who compiled all of the writings in it a few hundred years after Christ's ministry. It serves as a testimony of the divinity of Christ, as well as a history of people who lived here in the Americas over the course of about a thousand years. It isn't to replace the Bible in any way; it actually also testifies of the Bible and works to confirm the teachings found within. It contains an invitation for all to read it and ask Heavenly Father, what we ofter refer to God as, if the book is indeed true, and for those asking with real intent, He will make it known to them that it is.

I know that God lives, and that He loves me. When I was 15, I went to a youth program run by the church called Especially For Youth (which I'm sure I've talked about a couple times on here). Being a church camp, one of the main objectives is to help strengthen our faith and beliefs in the gospel, and the session director there challenged all of us to say a specific prayer that night before we went to bed. The prayer was to ask God, directly, if He loved us. We could use our own words to ask the question, but the objective was to have a sure knowledge that He does indeed love us. So I figured there wouldn't be any harm done. Even having grown up as a Mormon all my life and being used to saying prayers, this time was incredibly different. As I asked God if He loved me, I felt an immediate response: "Marshall, of course I love you." It was as if I heard the words spoken by someone in the room – it wasn't just a thought in my head. I knew that He answered me, proving to me that He is real.

I know that Jesus Christ lives, and His sacrifice through the Atonement brings me more peace and comfort than anything else in this world ever has. He went through everything that I've ever had to deal with and much more, suffered through it all so that I don't have to bear my burdens alone. His teachings can help anyone to live a fuller, happier life. For two years straight I had the privilege of teaching others more about Him and His love for each of us, and would happily do so again. I've seen His gospel change people's lives for the better. I know that it's good and true.

And besides me knowing that it's true, for me it just all makes sense. Here's an example:

#nofilter

This was a picture I took one week when I was working as a counselor for EFY last summer. There were a few minutes when it was raining but the sun was shining quite clearly, and the size of the drops of rain made it look like diamonds were falling all around us. I snapped this shortly after the rain stopped, just in awe of how beautiful the sky looked. I certainly don't believe that we could have moments of beauty like that just by chance. Any multicolored sunset, to me, is a moment for God to just have some fun and paint the sky for a while. The fact that there are over 7 billion people living on this earth in harmony with nature, and that we've advanced so much even in the last few hundred years – that's not just a coincidence. We create, we innovate, we design, we serve, we communicate, we act outside of instinct, we do as we want to. We can even take a look at other planets and see that there really aren't many other places that this could have happened, if at all, so why would this one be so perfect for us if there wasn't at least some kind of being watching over all and guiding its creation? And as far as religion goes, there's plenty of evidence showing that the church that Jesus organized lost its apostles, the heads of the church, without passing along the authority to keep it going. So there needed to be a restoration at some point, which is what Joseph Smith was chosen to do. Receiving a vision of God and Jesus Christ, and after that visits from many other messengers sent to him, he was told to find a set of gold plates containing what is now known as The Book of Mormon. He translated them and, like I said above, found that it testifies of the Bible.

There's a talk (what we usually call sermons) given by one of the apostles we have today, called Safety for the Soul. It was given by Jeffrey R. Holland, and you can read or watch the whole talk here. This is just part of it from the end, talking about the Book of Mormon:

I ask that my testimony of the Book of Mormon and all that it implies, given today under my own oath and office, be recorded by men on earth and angels in heaven. I hope I have a few years left in my “last days,” but whether I do or do not, I want it absolutely clear when I stand before the judgment bar of God that I declared to the world, in the most straightforward language I could summon, that the Book of Mormon is true, that it came forth the way Joseph said it came forth and was given to bring happiness and hope to the faithful in the travail of the latter days. My witness echoes that of Nephi, who wrote part of the book in his “last days”:

“Hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, … and they teach all men that they should do good. And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day.”

Brothers and sisters, God always provides safety for the soul, and with the Book of Mormon, He has again done that in our time. Remember this declaration by Jesus Himself: “Whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived” —and in the last days neither your heart nor your faith will fail you.

He'll be one of the speakers this week at the General Conference I mentioned at the beginning of this post, along with many other men and women who will only share messages to uplift and help others come closer to Christ. It's free to watch, and will be available by going to conference.lds.org, or you can find it on certain television and radio stations across the country. There's another apostle named M. Russell Ballard, who wrote a short book called Our Search For Happiness. It's a great read, and directed mostly at those who are unfamiliar with the Mormon church. If you're reading this, and you're interested in a copy of that book, or a copy of The Book of Mormon, I would be more than happy to send it/them to you myself. The conference will happen over the course of Saturday and Sunday, and if you miss a broadcast don't fret – they're usually put online shortly after each session.

There are a lot of things I don't know in this life. There are many things I'd like to know. What I do know is this: the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has helped me to be a much happier person than I could ever be without it. I know that it's true. And I love that I know.

March Madness... sure!

Short post tonight, because to be perfectly honest I know very little when it comes to the world of sports. But, since it is March, and I'm actually participating a bit, I thought I'd just make a quick note on the apparent "March Madness" going on. Seriously, outside of knowing the basic rules for each game, this is how I feel understanding most sports:

My family's doing a little bracket competition this year, and since the main team I root for (BYU) didn't make it into the top 64, I'm not going to be too torn up as to who actually wins the final, whenever that happens. Here's a link to the bracket I'm currently using (for whoever is curious), and somehow it's doing pretty well, though I admit that I pretty much just followed the numbers and picked who was the higher rank for most of the match ups.

I also just want to take a second and voice how bizarre I think it is how we as a nation (and many other countries, for that matter) put so much attention on some of these sports. We have the biggest game of football of the year called the Super Bowl and is easily the most televised event of the year, with some companies paying millions just to air for less than a minute. This entire month is devoted to college basketball, and even if you're not a huge fan there's a good chance you hear about who's beating who, whose brackets are still doing well, upsets, etc. Baseball has the "World Series", despite only including American teams in the competition. (Although the title may come from being named after a newspaper, as its Wikipedia article states.) There are these big, gigantic productions for these and many other sports that, a month or two after they're over, we barely even remember because of how focused we are on the next one.

Is it bad that we pay so much attention to these sports and devote so much time to each one, to the randoms, to the players, supporting them wherever they go and however they do and in some cases even idolizing them? Not completely, no. Sports are great, healthy, friendly competition is good for the soul, for those playing it they get the feeling of accomplishment for going so far and feel even more accomplished if they win. And it's a form of entertainment. (A lot cleaner than many forms of entertainment out there these days, too.) But it really doesn't just stay that friendly and clean; we hear all the time about players who end up taking steroids or other drugs to cheat, we see the bad calls that all the referees make, we create rivalries that end up making some people despise others simply because of who they support. It's not everyone, obviously, but it's enough to notice that it's a problem.

I dunno, this is just a bit of a rant tonight. Again, I'm not too torn up about who's actually going to win because that's not where my priorities lie. Doesn't mean I want to bring down anyone else's fun, so if you're still focused on having your bracket make it to the top then I wish you the best of luck. (Because sometimes that's really what it ends up being for us – as we've seen with all the upsets this first week, numbers don't always mean everything.) Enjoy the madness!

Get it? Because he's the "Mad" Hatter?       ...anyone?

What career should you REALLY have?

Yesterday, after a good conversation with my dad, I went online to try to take some career aptitude tests. I think I may have taken one when I was younger, in either late middle school or early high school, but even if I did I don't remember what the results were or even if I'd still have them. So Google was my guide to try to find a good test or two.

Just the idea of taking one reminded me of an old episode of Hey Arnold! when all the kids take a career test. The story followed Helga and Harold who were convinced that the results they got (international businessman and woodsperson, respectively) were the results they had to follow throughout their life from that point forward. For Helga, it was a bit heartbreaking (obviously with a test telling you that you would only amount to be a good woodsperson, it can be devastating to a 4th grader). Harold, on the other hand, ended up making a total change from what he'd been known for in most episodes of the show; instead of being a bit of an idiot and bully, he actually started learning and wanting to be that genius that the test told him he could be.

The episode resolved when it was revealed that their test results were accidentally switched, and the joke for Harold's real results was that he answered every question as "take a hike in the woods". But Mr. Simmons reassured him that despite what a test like that could say, Harold could do anything he actually wanted to do because he was applying himself and wanting to reach a goal he'd never thought of before.

Here's the test that I took, literally one of the first things that came up after searching for "career aptitude test". There were some others I found and took, but they required a payment to actually receive all the results.

http://www.yourfreecareertest.com

And here are the results I got for it:

INTEREST LEVEL: 75%

Career Category: Visual And Performing Arts Careers

Recommended Student Classes:

Writing, public speaking, and art courses are important. Start creating a portfolio or your performances and work.

Example Careers:

Art Therapist, Art Director, Art, Drama, or Music Teacher, Fine Artists (various), Digital Artist (various), Museum Technician and Conservationist, Commercial and Industrial Designer, Model/Actor, Makeup Artist or Cosmetologist (hair stylist), Stage Design and Manager, Broadcast/Audio Engineer, Fashion Designer, Interior Designer, Musician/Music Producer, Video Game Designer.

INTEREST LEVEL: 58%

Career Category: Education And Training Careers

Recommended Student Classes:

Take courses in the particular subject you would like to teach. Public speaking and writing courses will be useful. Also, emerging technology is valued in education, so take some computer courses.

Example Careers:

Elementary, middle, high school, and college teachers, Vocational Education Teachers, Administration (Principal/Superintendent), Guidance Counselor/Academic Advisor, Librarian, Tutor/Teacher's Aid, Literacy Development, Staff Development, Curriculum Developer, Instructional Designer.

INTEREST LEVEL: 50%

Career Category: Business, Management, And Administration Careers

Recommended Student Classes:

Communication courses that develop your writing and public speaking skills are beneficial. Math and accounting classes will also be necessary. Take any business, law, or computer courses, your school may offer.

Example Careers:

Market Research Analyst, Accountant, Marketing / Advertising, Logistics (Inventory and Process), Administrative Assistant, Entrepreneur (Business Owners), Financial Analyst, Human Resources, Sales Agent, Management / Supervisors (various), Corporate Executive, Project Manager, Insurance Agent, Real Estate, Travel Agent.

INTEREST LEVEL: 42%

Career Category: Culinary Careers

Recommended Student Classes:

You want to be proficient in math and have a basic understanding of business.

Example Careers:

Restaurant Owner / Manager, Caterer, Pastry Chef (Baker), Sommelier (Wine Expert), Personal or Restaurant Chef, Nutritionist, Restaurant Supervisors / Managers (various).

INTEREST LEVEL: 42%

Career Category: Wellness And Athletics Careers

Recommended Student Classes:

Courses related to nutrition, health education, physical education, human biology, and psychology are helpful.

Example Careers:

Coach and Talent Scout, Athletic Trainer, Athlete, Fitness and Wellness Trainer, Umpire, Referee, and Other Sports Official, Recreation and Fitness Teacher, Sports Medicine Physician, Nutritionist or Dietitian, Physical Therapist, Massage Therapist, Recreational Worker.

INTEREST LEVEL: 33%

Career Category: Technology Careers

Recommended Student Classes:

Take as much math as possible and any computer programming or computer science courses available. Chemistry and physics will help as well. Writing and public speaking are also highly valued.

Example Careers:

Software Developer, Information Technology Project Manager, Network and Security, Computer Programmer (various), Digital Media (various), Engineer (various), Informatics (science of information), Computer Forensics, Cryptanalyst, Robotics, Biofuels / Biodiesel Technology, Instructional Designer.

INTEREST LEVEL: 33%

Career Category: Language And Communications Careers

Recommended Student Classes:

Writing, public speaking, computer classes, and courses in the humanities are valued. Psychology and sociology will be beneficial.

Example Careers:

English, Foreign Language, and Literature Teacher, Author, Technical Writer and Editor, Interpreter/Translator, Journalist/Reporter, Public Relations, Marketing and Advertising, Social Media Expert, Research Specialist.

INTEREST LEVEL: 17%

Career Category: Social Sciences Careers

Recommended Student Classes:

Psychology, sociology, and human relations are beneficial courses to take for a career in the social sciences.

Example Careers:

Social Science Teacher (various), Social Science Research Assistant, Social Worker (various), Psychologist or Counselor (various), Social and Community Service Managers, Sociologist, International Relations, Political Scientist, Politician, Advocate/Lobbyist.

INTEREST LEVEL: 17%

Career Category: Math And Engineering Careers

Recommended Student Classes:

Rigorous math, science, and computer courses are the most valued.

Example Careers:

Actuary, Engineer (various), Computer Programmer, Math Teacher (various), Mathematician, Finance, Economist, Statisticians, Physicists, Architect, Accountant, Financial Analyst.

INTEREST LEVEL: 17%

Career Category: Health Science Careers

Recommended Student Classes:

Human anatomy, biology, chemistry, and physics courses are highly beneficial. Many health programs require writing samples and placement tests. English, math, and writing courses will help significantly when trying to obtain admission into health related programs.

Example Careers:

Sonographer (Ultrasound), Nurse, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Registered Nurse (RN), Radiographer (X-Ray Technician), Surgical Technologist or Surgical First Assistant, Dental Assistant/Dental Hygienist, Physical Therapist/Assistant, Occupational Therapist/Assistant, Speech Therapist/Assistant, Physician (Doctor)/Surgeon (various), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic, Medical Assistant (various), Medical Office/Record Assistant (transcriptionist), Clinical Laboratory Technologist, Medical and Health Service Manager (various), Veterinarian or Veterinarian Assistant.

INTEREST LEVEL: 0%

Career Category: Natural Sciences Careers

Recommended Student Classes:

Rigorous science courses are the most valued.

Example Careers:

Zoologist, Biologist (various), Environmental Scientist, Anthropologist, Conservationist (various), Anthropologist, Archaeologist, Chemist, Agriculturalist, Science Teacher (various), Research Scientist, Astronomer, Geologist, Horticulturalist. Also review the Health Science Careers.

INTEREST LEVEL: 0%

Career Category: Law, Public Safety, Corrections, And Security Careers

Recommended Student Classes:

Knowing a commonly used second langauge, public speaking, and writing skills are useful.

Example Careers:

Paralegal, Forensics (Crime Scene Investigation), Law Enforcement, Correctional Officers, Firefighters, Lawyer, Judge, Security Guard, Wildlife Officer.

SUB INTERESTS

INTEREST LEVEL: 100%

Sub Interest: Computers

Example Careers:

Network and Security, Computer Programmer (various), Digital Media (various), Computer Forensics, Cryptanalyst, Robotics, Computer Support Specialist, Computer Hardware Engineer, Game Design and Development.

INTEREST LEVEL: 67%

Sub Interest: Helping People

Example Careers:

Social Worker (various), Therapist (various), Various Medical Positions, Rehabilitation Counselor, Teacher, Spiritual Leader, Firefighter, Law Enforcement.

INTEREST LEVEL: 67%

Sub Interest: Fixing And Building

Example Careers:

Construction (various), Mechanic (various), Structural Iron and Steel Worker, Carpentry or Wood Working, Upholsterer, Electrician, Equipment Install and Repair, Plumber, Production Worker.

INTEREST LEVEL: 33%

Sub Interest: Outdoors And/Or Physical

Example Careers:

Farm, Crop, Nursery, or Greenhouse Worker, Forest and Conservation Worker, Logging Worker, Animal Trainer, Police Officer, Firefighter, Military Personnel, Environmental Scientist, Archeologist, Surveyor, Landscape Architect.

I went through and highlighted the career choices that actually sound interesting to me, if you're curious at all about my thoughts on it. It was a fun little exercise to go through, and like in the episode, while this doesn't necessarily tell me exactly what I should do with my life, it does open up opportunities that I hadn't thought about before.