Time To Become An Active Citizen

Yep, that's a picture of Paul Ryan, folks.

I recently met a girl who told me that she was so excited to turn eighteen. And it wasn't because she would finally be "free from parental rule" or "be able to buy tobacco" (okay, so I've never met anyone who actually counted down the days until they could legally purchase the keys to lung cancer, but I digress...)

No, this girl told me she was excited to turn eighteen so she could vote. To vote. I was not that good of a person when I turned eighteen! These are the kinds of amazing people I had the opportunity to meet and talk to at a fundraiser to support the Romney/Ryan campaign.

Now, to make everything clear: I have, up until this week, paid very little attention to the claims made by both presidential candidates, because my mindset has been that politics make grown men catty and that my vote doesn't make a difference.

So then why did I go to a Romney fundraiser? Because if I went, I would be able to see Paul Ryan in person. And since I'm a human being, I really just wanted to be able to say that I saw someone famous. Kind of like when I went to that devotional featuring Condoleezza Rice freshman year. I knew nothing about the Bush administration, but I figured it'd be a good experience (also she was famous). That's what college is for, right? We study and pick the brains of scientists, lawyers, teachers, politicians and make our own conclusions based off of what we study. We come here to learn, so might as well take every opportunity we can to do as such (and see famous people).

You should have seen me when I saw Tom Cruise at Disney World. I was totally starstruck.

ANYWAY, my friend Judy from California just started school here, and she posted on Facebook that Paul Ryan was coming, and that people should go with her. So I thought, why not? Friends from home + cheap price for students + once in a lifetime opportunity = a perfect way to spend a Wednesday night.

And a perfect way to see famous people. Clearly I don't have the heart of a die-hard political activist just yet.

Luckily I ran into Brittany, a girl from my new ward who quickly showed me the error of my ways, and that politics are important and interesting and cool to get involved with. (And yes, she is the one who was excited to vote when she turned eighteen. She is awesome.)

So while we waited those couple of hours for Paul Ryan to come out and speak, all of us college kids sat and discussed politics and government and I learned a lot about the upcoming election. I just loved hearing what everyone had to say and to teach me. Really, it was an amazing experience.

Finally, it was time for the speeches. Josh Romney came out to as the "opening act" for Paul Ryan. He shared how his dad taught him about the founding fathers growing up, and other facts about what it was like growing up with Mitt Romney as a father. But my favorite thing he said was that Mitt makes a point to surround himself with people who are smarter than he is. This way, he learns more, AND builds the best camaraderie of the brightest people to achieve the best results in whatever goal he's working towards. I love that philosophy, and I'm definitely going to make a personal goal to integrate that philosophy into my own life. Everyone has something that they can teach us.

Then came Paul Ryan. I honestly really liked a lot of the things he had to say. He talked about how it was good that Mitt Romney was a successful business man, and I agree with that. Since when was America about putting down other people's successes? It's called the American dream. He also talked about how providing job opportunities and economic growth was a key part of what they would work to achieve if elected, and that it was important to them that college students would be able to actually obtain jobs that they were educated for coming out of college. I really, really like that. 

Oh, and I got to shake his hand. I wish I had photographic proof, but the situation was kind of like what you would see on tv at a red carpet event. Even though we were in a big old conference room, there was a barrier in front of where he stood to speak and that we mosh-pitted behind. And when he was done, he walked by the barrier to shake people's hands where he could. I just kind of reached out my hand because it goes back to the famous thing. I mean if he gets elected, I shook hands with the vice president. If not, it's still cool. :)

However, I still don't know who I'll vote for. This event inspired me to be a more active, educated citizen, and inspired me to go out and do my own research to determine my vote. I am excited!

And side note: I really could get used to going to these fancy political shindigs. I mean, for students we were able to go for $20, but most of the people there paid $1000 to go. So yeah, the atmosphere was very classy. The event was catered, they had a full-service bar, and even the water was served in wine glasses. I felt like a fish out of water, but it was so nice! I'm really glad I had the opportunity to go.

Me and Judy!

Since I've been 20...

...life has been the FUNNEST!

To kick it all off, first my Disney roommates threw me the best birthday ever.

I spent some time in my beautiful SoCal with my beautiful family, and got to witness my beautiful sister turn 14 (yikes).

And with August comes the annual Bissonette "help-the-parents-in-the-classroom" week. 

This book for first-graders cracked me up. I never got to find out whether Glen was a flop or not. 

Then I road tripped up North and got to visit with my favorite Utah cousin and her ADORABLE kids, where my little stud of a cousin scored a goal in his first soccer game.

After that, I moved into my lovely new apartment that I have yet to decorate...

Oh, and look what I discovered when basics-shopping at Wal-Mart. Eek. Why, world, why?

Soon after, I started school, where I learned a years' worth of high school Spanish, and realized that movies sometimes are like real life (hint, think TRON).

I probably should have taken pictures of me inhaling my first Slab Pizza with my Disney friends, figuring out my major, or what my face looked like after seeing Paranorman, but I've been having too much fun. :)

Disney World

 So, I did the Disney College Program in Orlando, and I haven't posted a single picture. So here's a post to change all that.

After kicking off the summer by dyeing my hair red (by accident), I flew out to Orlando where I met these cool kids (say hello to Lindsey and Miranda) and got an official Disney name tag.

After Traditions (orientation), we got our special employee pass to get into the parks (FOR FREE!) and wasted no time in heading over to Magic Kingdom for our first park visit. The lovely little lady with the Mickey Mouse shirt in the picture below is another cool kid I met out there. Introducing...Nicole!

It was weird for me to actually stop and take pictures with the characters. Totally took them for granted while practically growing up at Disneyland.

Anyway, I didn't really like being a redhead and just wanted my old hair back, but the only way to even slightly get that red dye out was to bleach the heck out of it (my poor hair). Also, I'm really vain, and maybe I'll stop talking about how much I dyed mi pelo this summer. 

Well okay, I spent a week with a pink streak because I felt like I looked super cool. Okay, sorry. Done with the hair talk. 

My roommates and I would cause havoc and mayhem at the Disney parks and college program shindigs. 

I loved Animal Kingdom! We got to be so close to the animals!

Hm, weird, but she's about the same height as my friend Nicole. What a weird coincidence. ;) 

Miranda looking quite stylish in a Goofy/Mickey hat. 

Soon we had to spread our mischief to Universal!









But it wasn't all fun and games! I worked at Blizzard Beach in Food and Beverage, where I had to wear a costume with alligators on it. The people I worked with, however, were fantastic.





After a couple months of getting well acquainted with all of the parks, I was able to share Orlando with my family! They had a lot of fun, and they all loved Epcot, just like me! It's like we're related or something.









A week after my family left, I awaited the dreaded day of turning 20. I thought it was going to be just like any other day, but instead, I woke up to this:





Abbie hung streamers from my door when I was asleep and made a big "20" on the wall! She also made some delicious cupcakes, but we saved them for the end of the day so that everyone could share them. After the cupcakes were baked, me, Abbie, and Lindsey headed over to Earl of Sandwich, where they treated me to lunch and a smoothie. It was so nice! 


After that, Lindsey had to head over to work, and Abbie and I headed over to Magic Kingdom. It was so much fun, and we caught the best Wishes! show we had ever seen. :)


We headed home after the fireworks, and the apartment munched on cupcakes. Right after we almost burned the apartment down with sparklers Abbie had left over from her family's visit during Fourth of July, haha. :)

Finally, it was time to graduate the College Program. We each got honorary Mickey caps with graduation tassels on them. And free food. :P

This was our way of saying, "Peace out, Disney!"

So yeah, summer was kind of fun. :)