I miss you BYU-Idaho.

So it has been close to three months since I graduated from BYU-Idaho. And it seems as though it has been forever. Probably because I miss it. I was thinking how I miss it when we would say prayers before we began class. I remember if there was a particular difficult subject or test that day, a prayer would be absolutely necessary. Sometimes in classes, we discussed gospel principles and related them to scholarly topics. It was really nice to be allowed to discuss religion in our academic studies. It put a new perspective on things.

I was very grateful that teachers taught and led by example. I found it especially useful when professors would describe a personal and religious example to illustrate a concept. It showed me they had a great deal of humility and faith even though many of them had doctorate degrees. They were full of knowledge, but were willing to allow the spirit to teach them too.

I am also very touched when at the end of the semester, one of the very last things they share is their testimony. I remember the very last class at BYU-Idaho, my communications professor told us that he had a firm testimony in the gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was short and sweet, but it was nonetheless effective.

For the last four years, I had my life planned out. I had a schedule. I knew I had to learn this and that by a specific time. And now life is wide open. This is scary! I also like to plan and be in control of what is going to happen, but when I don't know what I am going to do or where I am going to be, the feeling is rather overwhelming. This uncertainty makes me appreciate the good times at BYU-Idaho.

I know a lot of people are excited to graduate from BYU-I. They want to rush out of Rexburg as fast as possible. They don't like all the rules like the dress code and curfew. Or the small town atmosphere. They complain. I just want to say that I enjoyed my time there. Now I know it is time to move on, but I am thankful I had the chance to spend four years there. And I am grateful for the members that sacrifice their time and money to make it possible for us to attend this institution.