EFY

Before I can adequately delve into how good fall semester has already been for me, I think it's necessary to pay tribute to what has been the absolute best summer of my life (yadda yadda I know Summer ended a month ago... whoops). I'll dish out credit where credits due and give homage to the 237 kids who taught me about what it means to be happy, how to be strong, and that sometimes it's okay to spend two months acting like an immature teenager (which was fairly easy for me because I think that's what I was already doing hah). EFY was a life-changing experience. It stretched me in ways I didn't anticipate. I was always tired, often sick, and had a few days were I just didn't want to be the bright and bubbly counselor I expected myself to be. Those were the days I learned the most. Each week was a new group of youth that I loved being with, and each week was finished with heartfelt hugs and newfound testimonies. Though I feel a little silly being SO gung-ho about the EFY program, I refuse to undermine how much I love it. I love it because of what it did for me, the people it introduced me to, the friends I made, and for the way it strengthened my testimony of this gospel.

So here's one big mazel tov to the eight weeks I spent laughing, crying, screaming, yelling, cheering, DANCING, walking (don't get me started on how much I walked), not sleeping, and being so extremely happy. Happier than I ever have been. 

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

And NOW, here's to life post EFY. Thus meaning: school, work, friends (new and old), dating, BYU games, internships, and still not sleeping. 

-Rachel