I Shouldn't Have Come Back

As many of you may have noticed, you did not notice me at school most of last week. Particularly Monday through Wednesday. No, I was not sick. No, I was not hurt. No, I was not on a school trip. I was in heaven.

Heaven is a place unlike any you have ever seen before. It is green with luscious trees, shrubbery, and brush, and yet it has a desert like quality to many parts of it. You can walk around barefoot in the soft sand that makes trails with just enough room for a few people to fit side by side. To the left and to the right are great big walls of rock that extend hundreds of feet high so you can only see the sky above you. There is a river running through it with glorious green blue water that runs down through several ginormous waterfalls. There are small hills and valleys everywhere. In heaven, you sleep in tents or if you prefer you can sleep under the numerous twinkling stars that shine so bright you almost can't believe it. There are picnic tables for you to enjoy and eat on. Many people occupy heaven, nonetheless there are many places to go for peace and quiet.

Leaving heaven was definitely the saddest thing that I have had to do in my life. It was bitter sweet when I knew I had to come back to reality. The hike out was long, but bearable. 

You might be wondering how I got to heaven in the first place. It's quite simple actually. I hiked there.  And any of you can go to heaven whenever you want. Now if you read closely, I'll tell you how to get to heaven. 

First what you have to do if pack for however many days you want to spend in heaven. Pack your clothes, food, toiletries, and sleeping necessities. Make sure not to pack to heavy, because you have to hike in and out with it. Next, you need a car. Fill up your gas tank and drive about four hours. You will pass Flagstaff and Seligman. When you arrive to your destination you will be at the top of the Grand Canyon. The very same place that Paul Bunyan created when he drug his axe. The next step it the hardest. You must hike down the Grand Canyon for nine miles until you run into a village. This village is inhabited by the Yavapai tribe. Kindly pay them the fee to enter heaven, and continue hiking for another two miles. Once your hike is over you have reached heaven. However, to most it is known as Havasupai.

No, Havasupai isn't actually heaven. You aren't dead and you can't see the dead there. God does not physically walk there and you cannot see him with your physical eyes there. Havasupai is simply a place in the Grand Canyon, but I would imagine that it's just like heaven.
So remember these simple steps and you too can get to heaven. I should have never come back to the real world. It's not as fun or enjoyable as heaven, but it was necessary for me to come back. I still have lots of work to do.

Mary Poppins

My heart pounded and my limbs began to shake as I stood behind the heavy red curtain. My ears zoned out all the talking and clamor around me. I covered the microphone on my face with my fingertips making sure that not a single soul could hear me. I began gliding up and down the musical scale and buzzing my lips. I had already warmed up, but I wanted to make sure that it was sufficient, and I was getting anxious so it took my mind off of what I was about to do. The music began to play. I took a deep breath and put one foot in front of the other. A light turned on directly to the spot where I was heading. I wasn't Levi anymore, I was Bert. I stood in the spotlight and began to tell my story.

By far one of the most amazing experiences that I have ever lived through and experienced first hand is this exhilarating musical – Mary Poppins.

Being Bert was more than I could have asked for. Playing this role has been my first real experience as an actor. I’ve done other musicals before, but never have I worked so hard and given my all, with the hope of sharing a story to my fullest. It's always nerve-racking, but when prepared, stepping on stage and performing can be magical. 

I wanted to be the best Bert I could be. Part of my competition was with a school I have never met. A school from Massachusetts was also doing the same musical, and I didn’t want their Bert to be better than me. Although he might have been, the competition sure motivated me to do my best.

I learned so much from this experience. I learned how to be a better actor, how to handle stress better, and most importantly, how to enjoy every moment of it! From finding costumes to building sets to telling a story, Mary Poppins was full of life lessons that I will never forget. 

We had so many stunning actors and actresses, a great pit orchestra, and a wonderful group of volunteers helping to make the magic. It's as if the entire world stopped to help us. 

I loved dancing, singing, acting, and overall performing. I wish that everyone could experience the same love I have for these hobbies, and hopefully everyone who watched did. I will never forget this life changing experience.

Big Dreams

I want to perform on Broadway. All that I've ever wanted to do with my life is something with music. I love the performing arts. In fact, I love the arts, in general. 

Oftentimes I think of the stage as my home. I love to sit in an auditorium all alone and wander around the house, the stage, and the catwalk. There's a sense of peace that I find when I enter that building that I just can't explain. I could sit there and gaze and dream for hours on end.

I used to tell people that I wanted to go into the music world, but all that anyone seems to ever want to tell me is how hard it is to get there. I don't think people realize how discouraging that is. So I stopped telling people. People always seem to say that if that's what I want to do that I should do it, but that I should have a backup plan, thinking that they are encouraging me. But the truth is, I know that I should have a backup plan, in fact, I currently have several. And to me, when that's all someone says, they're saying that I can't do it, that I'm not talented enough. It's another way of crushing someone's hopes and dreams without being mean and upfront.

The only thing they had to add to their statement to encourage me was, "You can do it” and to believe the words they were saying. My parents are the exception to this. I've hinted at them that I wanted to do something with music and they said exactly that with the added " you can do it". They always tell me that I can do anything I want to because I'm talented enough. That right there motivates me to push harder.

Ever since I was little, all I can remember ever wanting to be was a singer. Every car trip home from the valley consisted of me belting out my favorite Beatles songs. The older I got, the more I learned about other areas of the performing arts. In preschool I began to draw. My brothers taught me how to draw animals and people. In kindergarten I gained an interest for musical instruments. I was in music class with Mr. Goodman. We walked in the classroom to an arrayment of musical instruments lined up across the floor. From flutes to tuba's everything you could imagine lay right in front of me. I began learning the piano in 1st grade. Also in elementary school, I gained an interest for acting through the Missoula's Children Theater. My first audition was terribly discouraging however because my twin brother made it and I did not. I was a shy little tyke. During auditions I stood in fear of the adults and other children watching me. I looked around at what seemed to me was hundreds of kids standing in the same line I was. I stood silently, dreading the moment when the people in charge would come up to me and make me say my name or make me sing a song with a group of other children, sticking their ear close to me so they could listen to my voice. Only with encouragement from my parents I was able to audition again the next year and make it into the production. When I was entering middle school, I gained an interest for dancing, although too shy to ever act on it until freshman year of high school.

Even with all my years of putting these skills into practice I still lack confidence. In the beginning stages of practicing for our Mary Poppins Musical I was too afraid to act in front of Mrs. Caffey and Mr. Gardner, fearing they would judge me. So I hid behind my book until I became more comfortable with them and with my role. But looking back, I know that I always had it in me. Yes, I needed instruction and teaching from them, but I'm not as bad as I thought I was. The only reason I know this is because of the many compliments I have received from people on how good of a job I did in the musical. Someone even suggested that I could get a full-ride scholarship because of it, however I highly doubt that. 

I want to perform on Broadway. Not because I want fame and glory. I simply want to share stories and change people's lives. I want the thrill of performing on stage to be an active part of my life.

I love music. I love the performing arts. If I still want to perform on Broadway later in life, then I will! I want to write so much more, but I just can't write now (see what I did there). But I will achieve my potential. Whatever I choose to do with my life, I will be successful, you can be certain of that.

I Hope They Call Me On A Mission

Most people have to plans to go to college or the military right after graduation. Not me, today I finally submitted my missionary application form for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Many people call us Mormons. In two weeks or so I will have my mission call to wherever the Lord calls me! I may be called to go to another state here in America or to a foreign country.

Since January this year I have be n filling out my missionary recommendation form. I was required to fill out many papers concerning my health and background. I also had to get checkups from my physician and from my dentist to make sure I'm in good health. I waited two weeks for the doctors forms to get back to me. I've had to meet with my church leaders multiple times to make sure that I am prepared and worthy to go.

Ever since I was a little kid in primary class I have been wanting to serve a mission. In fact, I don't remember a time in my life when I didn't want to. I have been waiting for 18 years for this opportunity and now it is finally here! I am excited beyond compare! 

When I was younger the age requirement to be a missionary was 19 years old for males and 21 years old for females. As a freshmen in high school the age requirement was lowered to 18 years old for males and 19 years old for females. These are the minimum ages. When I heard this I was so excited. Everyone in my religion was excited! 

For the next 2 years I will be teaching people about my faith and trying to help them live happier lives. I will have lots of opportunities to do service for people. My purpose as a missionary is to invite everyone to come unto Christ and be perfected through Him. After I share my message, the people I teach will have the opportunity to see what we "Mormons" are about, and then decide if they want any part of it or not. 

The lifestyle of a missionary is very different from how most people live. I will have to wake up at 6:30 every morning and go to bed at 10:30 every night. There are no naps and no staying up late. It's a very strict lifestyle. In the mornings I have an hour to exercise, an hour to study the scriptures alone, and an hour to study the scriptures with my companion. And that brings me to another point, I will have to be with another male at all times. I can never be alone completely. I must be within sight and sound of the companion that I will have. I will not be able to go on dates or hangout with friends. I will not be able to listen to my regular music. Sounds restricting huh? But all of these rules are to help me focus on the work that I am going to do and to help me do my best. So once I get in the habit of doing all of those things, it will be easy. 

There is a primary song in my church That goes like this, "I hope they call me on a mission, when I have grown a foot or two. To preach and teach and serve as missionaries do." I'm finally reaching my goal and I can't wait to go to a foreign land and serve my God! It's not a sacrifice, it's an exchange for something better!