11/09/2016

This is my new anthem after the mess that happened yesterday. I will use this to lift me up and remind me that we always rise up; we will always get back to where we need to be. This is just a bump in the road. This is just something that needed to happen. God never puts too much on you then you can handle or too much in your life that will break you. This won't break us. It will strengthen us. I will continue to believe that because I have no other choice. I have to continue to move forward no matter how many steps back this country took last night. It will be okay. I know it. Remember these lyrics and inspiring words when you feel like just giving up when it gets hard because it will. We are in for a long, hard, bumpy road. But we will get through it; we will prevail. Love always wins in the end.

Rise Up by Andra day

You're broken down and tired

Of living life on a merry-go-round

And you can't find the fighter

But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out

And move mountains

We gonna walk it out

And move mountains

And I'll rise up

I'll rise like the day

I'll rise up

I'll rise unafraid

I'll rise up

And I'll do it a thousand times again

And I'll rise up

High like the waves

I'll rise up

In spite of the ache

I'll rise up

And I'll do it a thousand times again

For you [4x]

10/02/2016

I cannot believe that today is my 28th birthday. I am amazed that I am only two years away from 30. I have mixed feelings about that. I love my birthday in every way and I am so happy to be growing up. I feel like a grown up now. I mean saying you're 28 has a way of making you feel that way. But I'm also not where I thought I'd be at this age and only being a couple of years from thirty. My twenties are almost over and I'm still living at home. I never thought I'd be that girl but I also never imagined I'd have a bum ankle so I guess you never know where life will take you.

9/11

Never Grow Up

I just heard this song for the first time. It was on an Instagram video for a four-year old's birthday and it just spoke to me. I mean this is how I feel right now as I navigate my life. It's amazing how I long for my childhood and when things were so much easier. I know no matter how much I tell my future kids not to grow up too fast and not to long for adulthood they will fall into the trap. They will grow up and realize that childhood was some of the best times in their lives. If I could go back, even for a day, I would because I had a great childhood with my brothers, sister, friends, and family. We had some great times that I'm really missing this summer as I struggle and deal with some issues. 

~Teralyn

Buxton Peak Who Is Ian Taylor

Who is Ian Taylor? Ian Taylor is the main character in Buxton Peak Book One: Who Is Ian Taylor? by Julie Spencer.

Buxton Peak Book One: Who Is Ian Taylor? is the beginning of a love story that forces Ian Taylor to let go of those who use him, embrace those who love him for who he truly is, and find strength in his music when everything around him falls apart.

Cleveland Cavaliers: NBA Champions

Today the Cleveland Cavaliers did what no team has ever been able to do: they came back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Golden State Warriors and win their first championship. When the clock hit zero the tears started. I was so emotional and happy for the team and Lebron James. I am a Lakers fan through and through but I have been a Lebron James fan for the past six years. I like what he stands for and the way he conducts himself so whatever team he ends up on I will root for. I can't believe they actually won. When they got into that hole I just about gave up on them. I did not watch Game 5 because I couldn't stand to see them play so horribly or lose the championship. I knew if they won that game they had a chance and I could continue to watch. I've only felt that way about the Lakers but the Cavs have made me a fan. I was a fan when they lost last year and I am a fan right now. If they never win another championship in my lifetime I'll still be a fan of the team and Lebron James. Today, June 19, 2016, the Cavs won their first NBA title and it feels good to say that they are champions. Today was a good day.

~Teralyn

Rihanna's Anti World Tour

One week ago on April 20, 2016, I woke up and looked at my phone. I had an email from Tidal. I read the first few lines and saw that I had won two tickets to Rihanna's Anti World Tour. Of course, I was beyond shocked. when I entered a few months earlier, I never imagined that I would win. A notification popped up when I opened the app so I entered. There was no harm in that. About a week before I got the email, I had resigned myself to not winning and not being able to go to the concert otherwise. I live in Utah where artist that I listen to and love do not normally come. So when I saw that Rihanna was coming here I really wanted to go. She is one of my favorite artist all time. I have been listening to her since she started making music eleven years ago. That email made my day. It made my week.

Cedar Fort Internship

Back in January, I got the email I agonized over for most of my Christmas break. In December I applied for an internship at Cedar Fort Publishing because I wanted to get some experience in a publishing house to help me decided what I want to do for the rest of my life. I'm debating against being a freelance editor or working in a more traditional setting such as a publishing house or for a company editing their material. I got the internship and over the past three months and I have been doing that. I've proofread pieces as well as copy edited and source checking. I worked a lot with acquisitions, reading manuscripts from the slush pile. I also got to go attend meetings which gave me insider insight into how the company treats their editors and what to expect working for the company.

Officially Done

I am officially done with school! I am a college graduate (again)! I do not have to deal with the stresses of school anymore. No more literary analysis and constantly wondering if I have a thesis. No more endless reading and homework assignments. But seriously it was great going back to school to get my English degree. I learned so much and have become a better writer and editor with what I've learned and the feedback I received from great professors. I met some amazing people and made some great friends this time around. I interacted with my classmates this time around and it really did make the college experience that much better. Having personal relationships with my professors also helped me succeed and do well this time around. 

I had a lot of support and I enjoyed my time in school but I am happy to be done and moving on to better things. I can now put all of my focus on writing and breaking into the publishing business. My time working on Essais has given me the confidence I need to go out there and try. I feel like I have the skills to do it and to succeed at it if I put my all into it. The future is bright. 

~Teralyn

Essais Launch Night

Last Thursday, we had our launch night party where we presented the published copy of the journal I've been working on all semester. It was a lot of work, very stressful at times. I lost a lot of sleep worrying about how it would turn out but the finished product makes it all worth it. It was a great experience but it was so stressful and crazy and everything. I spent so many hours in my faculty advisor's office going over things for the journal whether it was making selections for submissions or editing or whatever was necessary. As stressful as it was I wouldn’t trade it for anything. The experience I gained is invaluable and will help me so much going forward. I learned that I can lead; I can be in charge of something as big as a journal. I know what I am doing and it helped give me faith in myself. I wouldn't have been able to do this without Christa D. Albrecht, Lydia Renée Kerr, Deirdre Nickel, and Landon Roper and the rest of the editing staff as well as faculty in the English Department.

~Teralyn