I'm a Graduate! Now and Then.

Then - 2003

Finally. 7 years ago I began my studies at Brigham Young University (BYU). After many LONG days and hundred of hours of class, homework, exams, tests and hard work I am officially a gradate! I now have a piece of paper with my name on it that says I stuck it out. I made it. I held on for dear life on the Roller Coster of a lifetime (some days it felt like a Roller Coaster from hell).

I celebrated this wonderful time with extended family (my family wasn't able to make it out to Utah from South Africa) and friends. The Cox family threw me a party on Thursday evening after Commencement and pictures.

On on Friday I was lucky to have a great friend, Ashley take pictures of my in my Cap and Gown before my college Convocation. It was all a very surreal experience and now that it's over, I wonder if there could have been something a little more memorable and life altering take place... being knighted by the Queen may have helped.


I guess I thought I'd feel different, but I feel about as different as I do on a birthday - not much. What this does do is put a new perspective to the phrase "It's the journey not the destination that matters." And yet, we place SO much importance on the destination that it is almost impossible to not wait in anticipation for the coveted day of graduation (or any other big day). And now 3 months since the day that I officially became Jacqueline du Plessis, holder of a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, I wonder how different I am to the girl who came to the United States in 2004 with bright eyes and dreams and expectations.

Now - 2011

PS: I was interviewed by a reporter from Deseret News and guess what, my name turned up on the font lead page of the Newspaper. I have a couple friends message and text me about it. Here is the full article: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700170163/2342-earn-degrees-during-BYU-summer-commencement.html

HEADLINER

I was so excited the last few weeks in preparing for my first show as headliner. It was a great experience and I got some great feedback. I love to perform and had some great musicians with me. Thanks to all who showed up and supported me in this endeavor.

There will be MANY more shows and songs to come in the future.

Thoughts on kindness and the RUDE ELEVATOR GIRL

Maybe I am too sensitive and think about things way too much... However, just a moment ago something happened that really irked me!

I was in the JFSB on Brigham Young University campus. I had about 1 minute to get to my class on the 4th floor. My work is right by an elevator and stairwell on the 1st floor. I quickly pressed the UP button and waited a few seconds, when a another girl ran up and stretched in front of me to push the DOWN arrow and I was thinking "Are you kidding me? It's just ONE level down." So as we were getting on the elevator I asked this girl "Are you going to wait for me to go up 3 floors to go down 1?" The girl was quick also to stretch so she could quickly push "B" and emphatically claim: "It will go down first!" It ok me by surprise, and I kinda just shook my head and looked away in fear or turning into Bon Qui Qui (see video in the post before this) and resisting the temptation to shout - RUDE! SECURITY! I WILL CUT YOU!

I was really annoyed when she was right and the elevator went DOWN (she must have experience in doing this). To add to my frustration, the elevator returned to the 1st floor and "cancelled" my original request to go UP to the 4th floor. Maybe she had never heard the phrase, "First-come, first-served?"

Now, perhaps I am making this small thing into something bigger than it needs to be, but I think it triggered my growing belief that many people today have no idea, or do not care about displaying manners or kindness and rather are increasing in selfishness.

Did rude-elevator-girl portray manners or kindness? We both had somewhere to be, and while I felt justified in using the elevator to go up 3 floors, she must have felt justified in going down one floor. Her smirk and a non-care pushing-in-front and cutting-line attitude was frustrating. She did say "have a good day" as she got off the elevator, this however felt empty and insincere when empty compared to her actions.

So, after this event, and the subsequent pondering and venting on my blog, I am forced to look at myself. Have I ever done something like this? Something rude and lacking manners? Probably, although no specific event comes to mind right now. But, I am convinced to pay more attention to my actions and catch myself if I am behaving like rude-elevator-girl.

In conclusion, I challenge myself, and all who read this, to not only recognize selfish or rude behavior, but to finds ways to MORE kinder, generous and selfless. For those of you who haven't heard of the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation check out there website here!

O Spirit, All Embracing

I went to BYU University Chorale Spring recital on June 13th at the Provo Tabernacle. The last song was "O Spirit, All Embracing" by Gustav Holst. The audiance was invited to sing the third verse. It was amazing and I wanted to share the words, music here and a video from YouTube.

3. "Come, passion's power holy, thy insight here impart, and give they servants lowly and understanding heart to know thy care more clearly when faith and love are tried, to seek thee more sincerely when false ideals have died: for visions we implore thee, for wisdoms pure delight: in prayer we come before thee to wati upon thy light."