I lived off-campus my freshman year, instead of the dorms, to save money. Because my parents and I were only vaguely familiar with the area, we didn't choose the most suitable place for an 18-year-old. I lived in a very old house with 7 other girls. Most of them were quite a bit older than me. My room-roommate was a very disturbed, mentally unstable person. I didn't have a car, so I had to rely on the kindness and mercy of others to go grocery shopping. And I walked everywhere else. I walked to school, I walked to church (which was usually some random building on campus), and I walked to work. There are very limited opportunities for employment in Provo, so I started working at a telemarketing place near my house (and did so on-and-off until I met my husband there). Luckily, I earned scholarships, and I had saved some money. So my parents only had to help with some of my expenses. The nice thing about BYU is that it is subsidized a great deal by tithing from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. So I got an awesome education for an awesome price.
As I said before, I went home during the following summer. I got a job as a cashier at Wal-Mart.
I moved into another very old house with my sister Sharley the following year, just a bit closer to campus. It was a dump. During our time there, the roof collapsed over the lean-to laundry room, and the house started on fire just as my roommate was returning from Christmas vacation. Luckily (?), the damage was minimal, and we were able to continue living there. That year, I also joined the BYU Concert Choir. We went on tour through the northwestern states in early spring; it was the only tour we ever attempted during my time there.
That summer, I moved in with my grandma for a few weeks until I could find an apartment. I found one a little closer to campus, hoping that I might be able to stay during the Fall semester. It didn't work out, so I was on the hunt for another apartment again. I found something just south of campus (even closer than before) in which I could have a private room at a great price. I think I would have been happy with that apartment for a long time, if I hadn't gotten married. I was able to sell my contract to my sister Sharley the next semester.
When you apply for BYU, and each year thereafter, you have to sign a contract (also endorsed by an ecclesiastical leader) that you will keep and have kept the BYU Honor Code. Some highlights of this code are strict curfews, complete honesty, no alcohol or drugs, and no premarital sex. Actually, for most people (including me), it didn't feel restrictive since we already obeyed these laws.
Although my mother had taught me a great deal about cooking and cleaning, and even though I was a really good student, it took time learning how to take care of and motivate myself. Each year, I spent more and more time at school studying (since I learned that studying at home was less effective). And each year I put a little more effort into feeding myself properly.
Once I got married, my eyes were opened to a whole different side of BYU, namely the athletic side. I started visiting buildings I didn't even know existed before. And I continued to walk everywhere. I have never been athletic myself, but I'm pretty sure I was in the best shape of my life while I was at BYU because I was walking so much!
Once we were married, Bryan and I were on our own financially (and rightly so!). We each had decent scholarships, we were able to get Pell grants, we had jobs during the summer, and we eventually had to get student loans to cover our living expenses. How in the world did we survive? Only the Lord knows.
I'm sure I could go on forever about my experience at college, but I will be satisfied with the highlights. I kept a pretty good journal during that time, so my children will be able to read more details if they wish.
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