Secrets Part I

For my Photography Final I had to take 10 pictures of whatever I wanted. We could choose anything- so I chose to take pictures of peoples secrets (see my essay below for a more detailed explination)! All of these secrets have some bit of truth in them.

"Can You Keep A Secret?"

"...There is one person who knows all your secrets... your deepest, darkest, most dreadful secrets of which no one else is the world knows... and yet in the end, that one person does not think any less of you, even when the rest of the world does." I think that I have been that "one person" referred to in the quote. Everyone has their own secrets; they make up who they are. Secrets can be scary; they make you vulnerable, especially once they are shared. I am the oldest of three girls, I have spent my college years in a sorority, and since I was 19 I have lived in a house full of girls. It is needless to say that I too have my own secrets, but I have also been told a lot of secrets. Some of the secrets I have heard are funny, some are sad, and others (in my opinion) never needed to be shared with me.

I have heard everything ranging from being interested in a roommates boyfriend, stealing for peoples birthday gifts, to admiting to reading ex-boyfriends email accounts. I think revealing secrets are a part of the healing process, and I am glad that people feel that I can be trusted with their secrets.

The secrets I took pictures of are all secrets that I have been told, and feel comfortable sharing. Some make me smile, and others make me want to hug the holder of the secret. You may be wondering whose secrets these are; are they my sisters, roommates, random girl I met on the airplane, friends, or even mine? I guess whose secrets these are, is my secret.

Here are the 10 secrets...

Secrets Part II

Secrets Part III

This was one of the most speculated secrets in my class!

Special thanks to Kady, Shar, Elisa, Ricki, Tess, and my mom and others for posing with secrets, and helping me brainstorm different secrets!

Tell me what to do. Please.

When I was young(er) (I know, I know I am still young) people never hesitated to give me adivce, or give me direction, or really just flat out tell me what to do. I think I was pretty open minded about what people told me what to do, as I recall I even did what they told me to do (My parents might have other memories)! I thought that I did not need their advice, direction, etc. because I was 18. I was about to graduate from high school- I obviously knew everything there was to know.

Let me be the first to admit. I would love someone to tell me what to do now! Nobody feels the need to give me much direction anymore in regards to my future! I know that I have the tools to make my own decisions and choices but sometimes I wish I were a teenager when adults never hesitated to tell you what to do.

Facebook did not become popular until I started college- so there are no real pictures of me from HS on facebook, or on my computer... but this will do!

1 Week From Today

Guess what, Mom and Dad?? You come to Cedar City to see me graduate 1 week from today!! I am pretty excited. I have some plans that include: Maggie Moos Ice Cream, Sonic, okay so mostly places I want you to take me to eat. See you soon.Sometimes I look back at pictures and remember the day I took that picture I thought I looked soo good. Then you look at the picture today and kind of cringe. My bangs. What is going on? I even remember doing my hair that morning- and thinking "I look good". Thankfully in the last 4 years along with my college education I have also learned to better do my hair.

My Self Portrait

For my photography class we were given the assignment to take a self-portrait. My teacher asked the class who enjoyed this assignment- only 1 person. I really do not mind taking pictures of myself- apparently this is not the norm. Of course- I am the girl who has been posing for the camera since I was 2. We had to write a paragraph or two explaining the meaning behind our self-portrait.

Here was mine:

I am graduating in exactly 29 days. (Now 10 days) I have been looking forward to this day forever. I am excited to see what the future brings my way. While I am looking forward to graduating and am excited for the future, I am also really scared. I try not to admit to being scared, but it’s hard to always be optimistic and peppy about the future! I have my future mapped out, and on the outside most people think I have my life put together, and for the most part I do, but some days I want to turn back time.

I want to turn back time and sit with my teddy bear and be completely worry free. Since that is impossible, I have to move forward; I will trade in my jeans and hoodies for pencil skirts and high heels. My polka-dotted backpack will be replaced with a briefcase, and I will close the door to my childhood and walk forward down a brand new path.

This self-portrait is representative of me closing the door to the past and walking towards new opportunities. I am still worried about the future, but I am moving forward. The teddy bear represents my past and the brief case represents my growing up.

Randoms from Formal

I love getting dressed up. I love it. I love taking pictures, and I love Alpha Phi. Our Red Rose Formal was last night, and it was so much fun. It is hard to believe this was one of my very last Alpha Phi events...

In case you are sitting there wondering, " I wonder what Alicia's shoes looked like, or I wonder what the back of her head looked like, or I wonder what the decorations on the floor looked like..." Good News- I took pictures for you.

We are just random.

My gold shoes!

My Star

My hair

Family at Formal

The Forget-Me-Not-Family (some of us)

My Big Shar

My Little

Both of my littles

My little Kady

One of the things I am going to miss about college is my family in Alpha Phi. It is such a great support system. I know that they will be there for me even when I move out and I hope that they know that I will be there for them too. Love and aoe.

Say "I Love Alpha Phi"

We love pictures in Alpha Phi. You should see 60 of us take a group picture. Even though I did take a bunch there were a bunch of people I did not take pictures with! Everyone looked absolutely gorgeous.

Cousins

I was able to go to my cousin Zach's Baptism on Saturday morning. I was glad that I was able to attend! It was a Stake Baptism- I have never seen so many kids get bapitzed at the same baptism! It was neat.

This is a really awkward looking picutre- but at least it got taken!

This is Easter Afternoon- it was fun to spend time with these cousins too! We watched Bed Time Stories and Marley and Me. Both were cute- and I cried during Marley and Me. Two tears. It was weird because 1. I am not a big fan of animals and 2. I am not a big crier during movies (With the exception of Tarzan). We talked, ate, and laughed! It was a good time.

Family and friends Friday!

I have been blessed to have been able to see my family multiple times this semester! Everyone is always so willing to meet up with me, let me stay at their house, cook for me, talk to me, etc. On Friday I was able to meet up with Elisa, Miriam and Bub and Darin at Trolley Square. I had never been there before so it was cool. I want to live there once their condos are done! and I have a job. Thanks again for the delicious lunch and chocolate!

Miss Miriam and I were almost twins with our nautical tops!

I met some of my Alpha Phi friends at University Mall later in the afternoon. This was my second mall of the day- I only bought 2 pairs of shoes. They are so stinkin' cute. I also tried on these sun glasses at Heritage 1981- such a fun store. A more SoHo inspired Forever 21- which would make sense because they are part of the Forever 21 family. Anyways...

Here we are at the mall

I was also able to meet up and stay with my friend Tessa (my roommate from my 1st year at SUU)! It was soo fun to spend time with her and her fun roommates. I had not seen her since November so it was great to catch up. We saw the movie Duplicity- wait for it to come out on video.

It's What I've Always Wanted

I am honestly pretty easy to please- at least I think so!

My darling roommate/friend surprised me with a cupcake from Maggie Moo's. It was delightful!

Conference Weekend

I love conference! Two of my roommates and I were able to go up to the cabin- it was fun to get away!

Please note: eating frozen popsicles in front of the fireplace!

Completed.

I have a problem of starting projects to give as gifts and not finishing them. (Remember the A-Z scrapbook?!) I had the bomb.com idea of making Emily a scrapbook for her 13th Birthday with advice for surviving being a teenager. I started it winter break of 2007, giving myself 1 month to complete. I should know better. I would start it and then stop, start, stop, etc. Until now. I sat down and finished it! I could not be happier with it! It has a a collage of Em, a letter to her from me, quotes, advice from people who love her-{friends, and family}, quotes, advice from me, collage of Em and me, and also a collage of our family! I love you Em.