Set...

So this will be my last post in the USA! I am so excited, nervous, speechless, stunned, every emotion that could be associated with this opportunity of a lifetime! I just might pee my pants! A big huge thank you goes out to every person who has helped me to prepare for this! If it wasn't for my big community of supportive family and friends I would not be leaving on this plane tomorrow.

So I guess I should tell you how this opportunity came to pass. 

In August 2011, my best friend Mikelle and I applied to go on the same study abroad to London. I was accepted at the time into the program but I ended up not going because I really did not feel good about it. The next semester Mikelle left me and I started the Therapeutic Recreation program at BYU. That semester I made some of the best friends I could ever have and will have for the rest of my life. I was so jealous that Mikelle was living it up but I know where I needed to be that semester. That semester was when I decided to officially switch my major and I don't know if that would have happened unless I had been at BYU that semester. 

During the summer of 2012, I decided to go on a mission for the LDS church. Three months later I was in the MTC preparing to teach the people of Kennewick, Washington about the gospel. I entered the MTC on November 14 and before the year was out, was back at home due to health reasons. My time in the mission field was short lived but I know that my Heavenly Father accepted my service and is grateful for the work I did. After I came home I immediately returned to school and tried to focus on that. This is where my testimony of what my major can do comes from. If it wasn't for my classes these past semesters I would not be where I am today. I have had a hard time being home from my mission because I never really had a clear answer as to why I am supposed to be home. Maybe someday I will know but I do know that I need to have the faith that Heavenly Father's plan is better than my own. 

Fast forward to this past semester (Fall 2013). I was walking on campus and passed a poster for the London study abroad. I saw that I only had a week to apply and I decided, "what the heck? let's just see what happens". So I applied and the next week I was in an interview with the directors of the program. I remember having a good conversation with them and thinking the whole time that it was going well. At the end of the interview, they asked me if I had any questions and I asked "When will I know if I have been accepted into the program?" They told me that the deadline had been extended and that I was accepted into the program right then! It was crazy! They said my grades were good, I have a good personality, and I am a good leader because of my mission experience. So basically, they just threw me all these compliments and then said, "hey, you're going to London!" 

I was so excited walking out of that room, I am pretty sure anyone who saw me thought I had to pee. But, I got out of the building and called my mom only to start screaming into the phone and have her tell me to calm down cause she couldn't understand me. When I was finally able to speak coherently, I remember saying to my mom, "I know that you aren't going to like this but I need you to just be excited right now. You can freak out later." It was pretty funny. I love my mom and I know how hard that phone call was for her but she did a pretty good job at being excited. I would definitely nominate her for an Emmy or something. 

After that phone call, I got everything ready and have been preparing for the past 3 months! I am so excited about this opportunity and I know that this is exactly where my Heavenly Father wants me this semester. Sorry, this ended up being a semi-sappy post but do I care? no. I am going to London in 12 hours!

Cheers!
Morgan