Amy goes to College

New BYU Coed on her way to New Student Orientation

Yes, Amy is now officially a BYU Coed. She and I went up August 29 and got her things unloaded and into her new apartment at Wyview Park, which is considered on-campus housing. As soon as we got everything packed and put away, Amy looked around and said, "Okay, I'm ready to go home now." I felt the same way...She has two roommates and is approximately a thirty minute walk from BYU. (She does have her car and a bus pass, however.) She is the "Mom" for her ward Family Home Evening group.


Amy and her roommate Kaylee, from Iowa.


Hitting the books together in their well-designed little room.


Aleks, an engineering student from Alaska, has the other bedroom in the apartment.

Leaving Amy at BYU brings back all my own feelings of "aloneness" as I attended BYU. I had a wonderful roommate from home, my mother and brothers drove me to BYU as part of a family vacation, and I had a wonderful ward and lots of friends on my floor in Deseret Towers. I had a full schedule, a part-time job, I was in Mask Club and involved in several regular service opportunities. I went to church, attended every devotional and forum, and loved my teachers. But I honestly never felt more alone and homesick than when I was at BYU (except maybe when I flew to Kansas City to visit my dad just before he died...) I stuck it out and graduated in three and a half years and had some great experiences, including a semester abroad in Spain. But it was a tough and lonely time. SO...it was very hard to leave Amy there. I know she will enjoy it and she has lots of family there...cousins that she loves and enjoys being with, my brother and his wife, Jeff's sister and her husband...I just feel for her during this adjustment period...She loves being with us so much and we love having her around...The first Saturday and Sunday without her this weekend seemed so strange. I keep finding myself looking for her and expecting her to walk in at any moment. I know she has to grow up and make her own life and I'm glad she is so responsible and capable. She really is a lovely young woman with so many opportunities and I'm happy she is on her way. I just wish she could do it all and still stay my "little girl." I love you, Amy.


Amy in front of the gorgeous flowers on the way to her apartment. We tried taking the bus to BYU and it only took 10 minutes to get to the Wilkinson Center, five minutes away from her first class. We got on the wrong bus going home, though. Instead of the seven minutes it should have taken to get back, we were headed for the University Mall fifteen minutes later! Luckily we got off in time and only had to walk about 3/4 of a mile (past these flowers) back to her apartment!