Greg Vernon

It’s time to step out of the desert…

... and into the sun.

Not that I would consider Rochester the sun, but, either way that's where I'm headed.  At the end of the semester I will no longer be attending Brigham Young University - Idaho.  Instead, at least for the time being, I will be attending Monroe Community College, majoring in Construction Technology (A.A.S.).

I'm more than happy for the change.  I don't think I'm going to like living at home - especially considering that I will most likely lose all the individual freedoms that most college kids enjoy, instead suffering constant "Do your homework!", "Study for your tests!", and lastly "Go on a DATE ALREADY!"

I think I'm ready to move on from this school though.  Honestly, I never wanted to go to BYUI.  The decision for me to enter this school above my first choice, Alfred State, was made by my parents.  Perhaps I should repeat that the decision to go BYUI was made by my parents. They made their decision based on two things: church and the overall cost of schooling.

The irony of the cost argument is that overall, BYUI is proving to be much more expensive:

1. Almost none of my credits will transfer.  Which means I will take an extra year getting my first degree, perhaps even longer.  If you're wondering why my classes won't transfer is due to BYUI's class requirements.
   For example, Right now I'm taking a class roughly the equivalent of Math B/Pre-Calc, a New York State high school level course which is a prerequisite for most programs in New York.  Furthermore, no religion classes will transfer, since, well, most schools don't have a religion program - and even more I doubt they offer classes on "Book of Mormon"
2. I've lost more or less lost all my friends at home and all my friends here have gone on their missions, so basically I've been alone essentially since I left high school, which I guess aside from the years of therapy this will require it wasn't that expensive, but still.  To think I more or less saw this coming :/

Oddly, the Church experience here hasn't been to "uplifting" either.  The only real difference between here and Alfred State is that in order to have, erm, "relations", with girls the guys have to find some other place besides their room.  And while the kids here ARE in their room, the nearly limitless amount of cussing makes this place seem "less than wholesome."

To me, the fact that I'm leaving now is really all that really matters.  The past two years have been really rough at this school, I'm ready for them to be over.  Honestly I can't wait, only a few more weeks away from my friends and once again being able to have a summer where I can do things that I really enjoy.

Yesterday, for the first time in my career here at BYUI I actually do anything I wanted, and that I wasn't limited by anything - only myself.  It was excilerating.  It was also the first time in a long time I felt my age.  Over the past few semesters I've honestly felt like I was going through a midlife crisis, Taylor can attest to that.  She said I sounded like I was 45, which is actually how old I felt and still do feel most of the time.

I think the whole concept of a mission has helped in my aging quite considerably.  At this point I don't know if going on one is really the right thing for me to do (really, I don't see a point in going for 3 weeks and then coming home).  So just as a request for people who may try to convince me to go LAY OFF!  I have more than 6 years to really decide when to go, so I'm in no hurry.