Pressing Forward

On May 23, 2012, I walked in the auditorium of the UCC Events Center of UVU with my fellow peers who were graduating from Timpview High School. I was one of them but a special one; I graduated with honors. It was a great blessing for me that I would succeed in all of my classes and earn my diploma but also earn the blessing of graduating with honors. When I was wearing my cap and gown, I realized two things: 1) I finally succeeded and graduated from high school, and 2) All things are possible with God.

I haven't shared this with a lot of people. When I was 5 years old, I was diagnosed with high functioning autism. It wasn't easy for my parents to raise a child with a learning disability but it wasn't easy for me to live with it either. I had a hard time understanding different things in school because there wasn't enough help for me; I had a hard time trying to make friends when other kids would make fun of me or exclude me like an outsider. 

When I was growing up, I thought I wasn't smart like my parents and my teachers. I also thought that I wasn't special or important to anyone, not even to my one true God. But with the encouragement and love of my family and teachers, I was able to overcome the limits. When I was 14, that's when my life changed a lot; I moved to California with Lexie and Grant and got a lot of help that I needed, not only in school, but also in life. When I moved to Utah with my parents, my life changed even more. I got better in school and more prepared for college life. One most important thing I learned in my life is that no matter how hard things get, what I do, or where I go, there will always be people who will be there for me and love me for who I am.

After graduating from Timpview High with Honors, I began my summer with the preparation for my next life in college. The new and upper-leveled school I will be attending is BYU-Idaho in Rexburg. I am the only child in my family who's attending a BYU school in Idaho.

Not only did I begin my 2012 summer with preparation for college, I also began it with a Senior party at the Provo Beach Resort, which I loved a lot. I partied a lot with friends from the Oak Hills 6th ward and Timpview, Lacy and Lydia. The partying lasted until I grew tired.

I spent the following week at EFY here in Provo, which turned out to be a BLAST!!! I was sad that it was my last year to come to EFY but I'm very grateful that I spent the time that I had before the last minute. On the second to last day of EFY,  I felt the Spirit touching my soul so strongly. And it was a confirmation that the Gospel is true and there is a loving Heavenly Father who watches out for every one of us always and is always pleased when we strive to do what's right.

In the middle of June, the Oak Hills stake had an overnight youth conference on a weekend. Our 2012 theme was "Arise & Shine Forth." The fun part of it was the talent show. What a GREAT way to let your light shine!

Other than that, my most favorite part of the youth conference was the time I had spent with my dear 6ers and my loving Savior. :)

My buddy Ryan Yanes came all the way from Cali to Utah for a visit. We sure had a lot of fun time with him here. He had great experiences during his first visit to Mormon Utah.

Enjoyed the Manti Temple Pageant!

Visited the Living Planet Aquarium where he got to see the otters...

Jellyfish...

Sharks...

Stingrays and many other different kinds of marine life!

I also took Ryan to the 4th of July parade where we saw many things that made our day special.

What also made it special was the trip to Temple Square and Ryan got to feel the Savior's love.

After we landed safely in Cali, I got the chance to finish my last year of Girls' Camp where I learned an important lesson: BE YOU

As we go through our everyday lives, there will be trials such as temptations, discouragement and doubts. But if you keep holding onto the Iron Rod and shoot the temptations out of your way, you will be free and rewarded with blessings.

During my time in Cali, Lexie, Grant, Ellie and I got to go Disneyland where we hadn't been to in 11 years. It was a great way to celebrate Ellie's 1st birthday! We were grateful to have the Hardisty family from Lexie's ward come and join us in the fun and celebration.

Before we went back to RP, we went to one more place to visit: the LA temple. It was a beautiful temple! It's the perfect place to be sealed to your spouse for time and eternity and make that covenant with the Lord.

Nina finally tied the strings with someone she loved. We welcomed Andrew Chaffin to the family and celebrated their wedding in Salt Lake and our home in Mexico. May they make each other happy for time and eternity!

On September 6th, my parents and I made the journey to Rexburg where I would start my new life. It was hard for me to say good-bye to my friends in Utah because during my stay, I had grown to love Utah but I was still willing to go to new places and try new things no matter how scary they seemed. I had a feeling that everything would turn out great in Idaho, especially at BYU-I.