We can make a difference!

We are talking about self-conception in my interpersonal relations class (COMM 150) at BYU-Idaho. A lot of what we've talked about has to do with how other people affect how we act and how we think about ourselves. I would like to take a look at how our opinions and how we treat others affects them.
Here is a relevant story from when I was in Jr. High:

There was a kid named John Priest in my grade. He seemed to be known as the stereotypical "white trash" kid in our grade. Most people treated him badly and spoke ill of him behind his back as well as to his face. I also at some point or another treated him badly and said negative things about him, instead of befriending him and building him up. The summer between 9th and 10th grade, he ended up committing suicide. I have always had that on my conscience that I could have made a difference by being his friend.

The moral of the story is deeper than you might expect. Number one is the obvious; that is that you need to be careful what you say about others and how you treat others. Also, you need to keep your eyes open for the odd man out, and be his friend; especially when no one else will. Third, and I think most relevant for me now, is to teach your children to befriend those in need.

I can't change what happened with John Priest, but I hope that I and my children might be the difference in someone's life, that we might unknowingly save someone's life by being his/her friend.

I love you, Julianne: Just for my wife

Dear sweety,
I miss you every day when you are gone, but it is the best feeling when you come home and we get to be together again. I wanted to make a special post on my blog that is dedicated to you...maybe I should make this a permanent side post, though. I just love you so much! Here's a video for memories' sake. Love you!
Love,
Jordi

It's Over!!! (I mean the semester)

Well, the semester is over, and somehow I survived 15 credits while working two part-time jobs. I only worked about 20 hours a week, but that is plenty to do. I also only had 9 credits at the beginning of the semester since two of my three-credit classes were second-block classes (New Testament and Political Science 110). I also took MS101 (leadership development) and MS104 (Ranger Challenge), COMM102 (Public Speaking), and Chinese 101. My two hardest classes were the second-block classes. I guess that probably partly had to do with me getting into a relationship, as well as increasing my credits by 66%, and still working two jobs. I loved this semester, though.

I am considering whether or not to change my major again. I began with computer science, but it wasn't quite the thing for me. This semester I changed to Political Science with a broadcasting minor, but after my political science class, I'm not quite sure if that's what I want to do either. I loved my military classes, so I've considered whether or not the military is an option for me. I also love Chinese like crazy, and I loved my Communications class, so I've considered changing my major to Broadcasting with a minor in Chinese (that idea actually sounds very appealing to me). I think I am going to follow James's advice (Crissa's husband) and take a careers exploration class next semester, just to see what I really would like to do, and see if I am going in the right direction.

I guess I should also mention that I talked to Brother Wahlquist yesterday about the seminary training program. He used to be over the program, so he knows a lot about it. All I have to do for that is take two classes during the two semesters of my junior year, then I would do part-time student teaching my senior year at a local seminary. That idea is also extremely appealing to me, so we'll see what happens with that.

Here's a video from my public speaking class, as well as one from my Chinese class. I would be willing to say that these were my two favorite classes this semester.

My New Blog

Dear friends and people,
I am Jordi Andrews (as most of you hopefully know...or if not, that's okay too). I was just going to look at my friend's blog, and discovered he hadn't published a lot new lately. I had the feeling that he may not feel like a lot of people look at it, so he doesn't want to spend a lot of time with it. I was inspired to make my own blog for people who may be interested in my life as well, and perhaps it is a good start for making a very broad personal history.

To explain the title of my blog: Many of my friends know that I love masks, mainly for the purpose of scaring people, but I also just have fun with them. It is kind of meant to be the opposite of the word mask, though, in that I have been given the advice to not put on a false front, so I hope that my blog will be a good representation of who I am: my dreams, my hopes, my joys, maybe some sadnesses (although I prefer to keep this blog upbeat), and what in the world I am doing with my life.

I was the Joker for Halloween, and it was great! (See my enjoyment of masks?)

I hope you all enjoy this, and find it useful and/or interesting. If you feel like I am not posting enough, or I am not posting things you would like to see, give me a prod and I will see what I can do make it better.

See you here,
-Jordi