News from Melissa

Hey all!

Melissa is doing great on her mission. Most of her letters to me are pretty short, but here's some great snippets from them.

To read more of Melissa's letters home, go here!

Querida Jessica,

July 31

I love the feeling you get when you walk into the Celestial room. I love the peace in the temple. I love the Spirit there. I feel the Spirit different in the temple than I do anywhere else. It feels like it's too big for me. Like I'm so full. I think of the Grinch and how his heart grew three sizes, and that's how it feels. It's amazing. I love that you get to serve other people. I love how you can always learn. I love the symbolism and the feeling of truth. I am so glad for temples and really sad that I haven't been in six weeks! I know, I'm doing other important stuff, and I got to go to the visitor's center, but it's not quite the same. I hope I get to go again when I'm in Vegas.

You feel so close to God in the temple. You get to experience, just a bit, what it's like to be in heaven. You feel so much love. It's so amazing!

I like to look back on my life and remember those experiences that strengthened my testimony. I feel extremely blessed because I don't think I leaned on Mom and Dad for too long. I found out for myself. Which is one reason I love this church so much. I could find out for myself! I didn't have to listen to everyone else's testimonies or just read the Bible or something like that. I could ask God for myself and find out that this church is true. I know that it is true. I know because I asked. I know because I have read the scriptures. I know because the Holy Ghost has told me, again and again, that it is true. I can't deny it. I am excited to have the opportunity to tell the people of Las Vegas that we have the truth. Not only that, but that they don't have to believe me. They can find out for themselves! Not by searching the internet, not by asking out people, but by asking the one who knows all things, but asking God. And if they ask God, with a sincere heart, truly wanting to know the truth, they will know. They will know that the Book of Mormon in the word of God, Joseph Smith was a prophet, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is God's true church once again restored to this earth. It's amazing. You can know this, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your being. I know it and I cannot deny it. I would rather deny gravity than to deny this church. I know that this church is true, better than I know that. It is true.

Aug 11

You know I've been thinking about the whole "real world" thing. We watched a devotional in the CCM, I think it was by Elder Holland, and he mentioned how people are always like, "when I get back to real life" and he's like "what's more real than missionary work?" That really stuck with me. What is more real than the gospel? What is more real than studying the gospel and preaching the gospel? That's what I got to do in the CCM, study and practice preaching. What could possibly be more real than that? Whether in the CCM or out of it, this is real stuff. This is the important stuff in life. But ya, I know what  you mean. It's kinda scary to talk to real investigators in Spanish and members who aren't my teachers. Scary. I only understand a tiny portion of what I hear and I usually am to frightened to respond. But, I'm working on it.

Aug 18

The thing I've learned this week is that teaching people the gospel takes time. It's hard for me to not get impatient. I meet a person who is interested, and I want to teach them every day. But they're busy. They don't yet fully realize how important this is, and they have work and other things that they have to schedule around. However, this is my life, all day, everyday, so it's hard because I feel like it's been forever since we've talked, and it's really only been like two days. Also, we talk to people who have talked to missionaries before, and sometimes they don't really remember it. It's like, these people are such a big part of the missionary's life, we keep track of them, we pray for them, all these things, but sometimes, they don't let the gospel into their life, so it doesn't change them. It could help them so much! But they don't let it, and that's sad.

Aug 25

What made me laugh the most . . . I don't know. My companion. Hermana D gets so worked up and excited about things. I feel like I almost am overly not excited just to balance it out. So she makes me laugh.

Sep 1

I had this thought the other day. We all know that the temple is the end goal, it's not baptism. And it just makes sense! Because if not, why are we baptized at 8? You are not accountable until then, so why be baptized the second you can, if you don't really have sin until then? It doesn't make sense. In theory, you would want to be baptized later in life, to get rid of your sins right before you die, right? But, that's not so! Baptism is only the gate to eternal life. The gate to other covenants. And through those other covenants and being obedient and enduring to the end, you become clean, not just once, but over and over and over again. Hence baptism at 8. We need a lot of time to accomplish that. It's amazing how everything fits together. It's not just one event, you need so much in order to live with God again!

(What was the saddest part of your week? The happiest?)

Sad stuff. Investigators standing us up on our appointments and not coming to church and not being able to contact them. I just want to save your soul! BE THERE!!!!! Especially when you have a member there. It's sad.

Happy stuff! AWESOME NEW INVESTIGATORS! I feel like they are golden. Like they're gonna be baptized. I can't wait to teach them.

Sep 15

We're going to start teaching an English class sometime soon. That'll be scary. Apparently I just have to talk to people in English, which sounds pretty easy. But we'll see. Hermana D and I were laughing at how everyone is going to end up having a southern accent because both Hermana D and Elder B have southern accents. All the people I teach will sound normal though!

(Who is the strangest person you've met?)

I talked to someone who was kind of green. That was weird.

Sep 29

You should send me food. If that's possible. I like food. But not as much as Hispanics. SO MUCH FOOD. The plate is like full, with the food just heaped up on it. And you have to eat it all so you don't offend anyone. I have no idea how to serve myself anymore. There is no way I am not going to gain weight. AAAAHHHHHHH. At least the food tastes good. But you get to a point where everything tastes bad once you've eaten too much.

I love the temple!!!!! I wish I could go all the time! But I gotta focus on the living right now, so later in my life I'll worry about the dead.

This week was pretty unexciting so I don't really have anything to say. 'Cept Jesus the Christ is boss. Is that disrespectful? I really love reading it. I am so close to finishing it. I just get sucked in and I don't want to stop. I highly recommend it for a little light reading. (Ha! Everyone knows that is not light reading.)

Nov 3

I love your costume and your decorations. They are fantastic. We actually had a mission party. We went to the mission office, ate food, watched skits about the worst first member present lesson, and watched 17 miracles. It was pretty fun. So no, I didn't really see any costumes. But I switched name tags with Hermana S for the party. People kept on giving us funny looks.

Mish is pretty good. Nothing terrible has happened yet. You know, nothing worse than the usual, people calling us fools, trying to tell us that we are solicitors, being rude. But I'm used to that now. It has given me a better perspective on people of other faiths. Like, how hypocritical I am. For example, people will tell us that we are wrong, and I'll think, but you know nothing about our religion. But, that's what I think about other people. So, I'm trying to fix that. I would love to learn about other religions, I just don't really have a means to at the moment. I think it's super interesting. Basically, I'm starting to see more and more what it's like to be on the other side of the missionary-normal person conversation. The more I talk to people as a missionary, the more I see what it's like from their point of view. Then, I try to stop being so stupid and judgmental. It's a process though.

Nov 10

There are rabbits everywhere here. I think of you when I see them. I really want to pick them up, but I'm pretty sure that's a really ​really bad idea. Even if I could catch them.

Love you!

Hermana Leete

The Worth of Souls: July 17, 2014

Jessica!

Exact obedience is hard. Really hard. I'm trying so hard but I fail all the time. But, I'm trying. I want to be obedient. Not just conveniently obedient, but exactly obedient. It is the only way I can be more Christlike, and that exactly what I want to be. 

I love what you said about that. I can't believe people think that this church is sexist. In no way do I feel like I am prevented from receiving blessings because I am a girl. It's ridiculous! The Elders are so nice, they always let you go first in line. Some people would think that is sexist in itself, but I think it shows respect. It is telling us that they respect us enough to put aside their own feelings of hunger so that we can satisfy our hunger. It's charity, it's love, it's respect. I have the opportunity here to have the priesthood authority to preach the gospel. It's amazing! I may not hold the priesthood, but I can still serve. I couldn't give my companion a blessing when she was sick, but they could. She, and I, could still be blessed by the priesthood without holding it. I don't think I can express my feelings well enough. Here, we work together. I, as a Sister Training Leader, work with the District and Zone Leaders to make sure the needs of the hermanas are met. We work together. That is how it is supposed to be. I don't need to do what they do to have worth. I don't need to be a man to have worth. That idea is ridiculous. We're not the same, and there is a reason for that. We can't have 7 billion architects in the world, it just doesn't make sense! I hope that people some day will be able to understand that. I know I have worth, I know you have worth. I don't think I am worth more than any man, nor is any man worth more than me. We are all children of God. We all have separate roles. These roles even change from sister to sister and brother to brother. It's ridiculous to  think one person is worth more than another, simple because of gender.

This is something that has slowly been working it's way into my heart over the past years. Everyone, and I mean EVERYone is worth more than anything in this world in the sight of God. It is only us who don't see it that way. It is us to say, "oh he's righteous he's worth more" or "she's so pretty so she's better". That's a lie. Let me say that again. THAT IS A LIE. Satan wants us to think that way. Satan wants us to judge and demean other people, other children of God. But we can't let him. We need to let everyone know that they have worth. We need to tell everyone their true identity. We are children of God! What greater knowledge can we have than that. He loves us, he has a plan for us so that we can live with him, and our families for eternity! What a blessing it is to learn more about this and to have the opportunity to share it with the world. To share it to people in their own tongue. What other church sends a bunch of 18 and 19 year-olds to learn a foreign language so that they can teach people the truth, in their own tongue. It's amazing. 

I hope school is going well for you. I hope you know that you are loved and that you have great worth, to God, to this world, and to those around you. You can do great things with your life.

I love you,

Hermana Leete

How Women are Viewed

Sister Leete!

I'm glad everything is going well in the MTC and that you are enjoying learning Spanish! I especially liked what you said about exact obedience. I was at a Relief Society fireside this week and one of the members of my stake presidency said that too often we want to obey the Lord, but we want to do it our way. I know I'm guilty of this, but that's not really obedience is it? Obedience is much more about humility and putting aside what we want for what God knows is better for us. And that's the truly great thing about it, what God says is best for us truly is because He loves us and knows more than us. That makes Him brilliant at giving guidance and direction.

One thing that has been on my mind a lot lately is how the world views women versus how the church views women. So much of the world right now is pushing women to be seen for only their beauty and how they can please men, or is on the other side of the spectrum saying that the only way to have equality is for women to be exactly like men. Either way, the world places a woman's worth in what men think of her. Currently, my biggest issue with it is how women are portrayed in the media. Even in books with a female protagonist, so many play out the same story line. A young women feels worthless even though there is something special about her (such as magic powers, super strength, having cancer, or having blood that smells really good to vampires). Then a boy comes along that falls in love with her - specifically because of a physical feature, which one varies between books - and throughout their journey teaches her to love herself. And him. The writing style varies, the genre varies, the other themes explored varies, but this doesn't. I'm sick of these girls having to wait around for a man to tell her that she has worth.

That's not how it is in the church. The other day I had a bit of an epiphany. The world tells us we are only worth something when we are with a man, but the church tells us that we can be exalted with one. Nowhere in church doctrine are women belittled or put below men. Everywhere we are valued, loved, and respected. We are children of God, just as much as men are. We are given leadership roles in the church and encouraged to teach, expound, and serve. You right now are serving as a representative for the church and of Jesus Christ and will be doing His work in bringing others to the truth. Women are beloved daughters of God and important members of the church. Even if we don't hold offices in the priesthood, we are still blessed by its power just as much as men, and act under with its authority when we serve in callings. (For more information about the priesthood see this talk from General Conference). More than that, God allows men and women to progress further together when sealed in eternal marriage in the temple. Though men and women are different, God gives both an equal opportunity to progress together.

So there's some thoughts that have been bouncing around my head for a while. I've been wanting to talk to someone about it. What do you think about this?

Love you! Have a great week!

Jessica

Week 2: July 10, 2014

Hey Jessica,

I feel like I just told everything to Mom, so I won't give you the day by day play of my week and talk to you about other stuff. That's more fun anyway, right?

I've learned that my Spanish sucks. I got to talk to a member from here this week. We had a hard time communicating. Ya. That was a blow to my ego. Which was good. It's better to get that now rather than the second I get into the mission field.

I'm finding it kind of hard to be exactly obedient. It's not like I'm rebellious or anything, it's just that sometimes I want to study in my own way, but they tell me to learn these things this way, or whatever. But I'm working hard on changing that. I want to be exactly obedient; I don't know everything and the Lord does, and if he inspired people to have us study in a certain way, I need to study that way. Sometimes it's hard, but I'm working on it.

I'm so glad you are enjoying school again. One funny thing, Hermana J (my companion) is a Recreational Therapy major at BYU, she's one semester away from graduating, so she takes a lot of psychology classes. It's cool to be paired with her, we know and are interested in a lot of the same stuff. I can't wait until I can go back and learn more! However, now is the time for learning Spanish, and how to use a Spanish keyboard, and how to teach the gospel (knowing the stuff is not quite enough), and  how to talk to people, and how to get along with people, and so many other social skills which I do not possess. It's just different. A good different, but different.

It's amazing to see everyone progress in their Spanish. A lot of these missionaries never spoke a lick of Spanish before they came here, and now, after two weeks, they are bearing their testimonies and teaching lessons in Spanish. No, their Spanish is not perfect, for some people, not even close, but they can still do it. It's really amazing. Everyday I am astounded by what everyone can do. I hope they notice it too.

In order to save me time, here is an excerpt from my letter to Mom:

"Fourth of July was definitely a highlight. I swear, I have never seen so many people wearing red, white, and blue as I did that day. It was ridiculous. The kitchen staff was so nice too! For lunch we had BBQ sandwiches, corn on the cob, apple pie, and french fries! One hermana wanted to sing the national anthem, so they let her. We all sang along. I was really touched at the effort that they went to to make us feel at home. They even put red, white, and blue table clothes on all the tables! It was pretty amazing."

Anyway, I'm not sure what else to say. I hope all is well.

Love you!

Hermana Leete

**To see more of Melissa's letters click on the link in the side bar to Called to Serve: Las Vegas Nevada.**

In the MTC

Melissa flew to the Mexico MTC on June 25, and today was her first p-day, which means e-mails!

Hey Jessica!

The flight was pretty boring. I mostly just slept. On both of them. But it was fun being in the Phoenix airport because there were a ton of missionaries on the same flight! We all kind of sat next to each other and talked about where we were from and where we are going. It was really cool. I can't really describe it. It's really amazing the sisterhood/brotherhood that you feel here.

My companion is Hermana J. She is amazing! I love her and the two sisters I share a room with, Hermana C and Hermana M. They are amazing! We are all going to the Nevada, Las Vegas mission together, except for Hermana M who is going to New Jersey. I'll miss her when we leave. The Elderes in my district are awesome! Like seriously, I couldn't have asked for a better district. We like to do stuff together, we work well together, we have fun together. It's just amazing. The best part is when we are learning Spanish. We have people who didn't know any Spanish when they came in and people who took four years of Spanish before they came. We all help each other learn. It's also so amazing to see how fast everyone improves. Hermana J didn't know any Spanish when she came here a week ago (she took six years of German though) but last night, when we were teaching our investigator, she spoke nearly completely in Spanish! It wasn't very complicated, or totally correct Spanish, but it was Spanish. I'm so proud of how far she has come in such a short amount of time.

Love you! I would write more but I have to make sure I write to Mom and Dad too.

Hermana Leete

To see more of Hermana Leete's e-mails, our mom is posting her letters home here.

Goodbye Melissa!

Melissa,

Spending the weekend at home was great. It was wonderful to get the whole family together again. We didn't do much, but just spending time together was all I wanted. I love how we watched the Lego movie (twice!) and then continued to quote it the rest of the time. EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!

I can’t believe you’re going on a mission tomorrow! I already miss you so much, and I just barely said goodbye! I am so proud of you for deciding to serve a mission. You are going to be a fantastic missionary!

Two reasons you’re going to be a great missionary:

1. You love Jesus Christ – There’s no better reason to serve and there’s no way to be a better missionary than loving the Lord, His gospel, and His church. Whenever you teach, your love and testimony will shine through, and that will make you an effective missionary.

2. You know how to work hard – You've always been one to go the extra mile and to try new things. Like violin! The only reason you had to start and keep practicing was because you wanted to learn. You can motivate yourself like no one else, and that will keep you working hard your whole mission.

 I love you so much Melissa, have a wonderful time and work hard! I can't wait to hear from you.

-Jessica

Note: While Melissa is on a mission, I will continue to write her and post it here. Her replies will also be posted here.

Counting Down the Days

Hey Jessica!

Two weeks.

14 Days.

That's all I have left.

In a good way of course. I don't mean the kind of "that's all I have left" like all your friends have died and all you have left is a guinea pig and you are afraid it too will die. I mean the "I only have to wait 14 more days," "that's all I have left."

Needless to say, I've been pretty busy. Actually, that's kind of a lie. I have moments where I'm really really busy and I have moments where I read all day or watch Kim Possible. I really have no excuse for taking so long to post.

If you were wondering about clothing, I have:

• 5 bike-rideable skirts
• 2 thrown-in-if-you-have-room skirts
• 11 blouses
• 1 cardigan
• 3 pairs of shoes (one black heel, one black and one brown nice walking shoe)
• 1 cute raincoat
• 1 dress (that's coming in the mail, I really hope it fits)

As glad as I am to have so many skirts, I'm thinking my skirt-blouse ratio is a little off. But I don't know. Mostly I am just tired of shopping. Maybe when you come home we can go, one last time.

Do you want to know what else I've been doing?

THIS!

It is finally done. It's taken me a while, yes I know, but it is done! I hope you enjoy the fruits of my last finals week in Hawaii. Yes, you read right. Kelsy and I filmed this during finals week. It was quite the task. You have no idea. It even has multiple guest stars! Of course you know none of them, but oh well! You know what's even better? Everyone who is in the video knew they were being filmed at the time! That lowers my creeper status done to zero.

Anyway, if you post quickly, then I can reply one last time before I go and you will have to post for me. 

See ya!

Melissa

Since You've Been Gone....

Melissa!

It was amazing having you to visit! I'm glad I got to introduce you to a lot of my friends and celebrate my birthday. It was the best birthday I've had in a while. :)

So since you've been gone, it's just been life getting back to normal. Homework, work, a math test - but besides those oh so fun happenings, here's the highlights of the week:

First, having the 10th Doctor watch over my living room. He's still here in all his cardboard cut-out glory and it's great. He's had a number of hats, including a paper birthday hat and a flower crown, and he's successfully freaked out a couple of guests as they walked in the door.

Second, starting on my scarf. The yarn Sunny sent is beautiful and I'm a bit over a foot into it. It'll be great when it's done!

Third, delicious stir-fry with broccoli, carrots, and bell peppers with some onions and garlic to season and pineapple as a sweet treat. The colors were beautiful all together, but more importantly it tasted amazing. I'm very proud of myself.

So there's my life, how's yours?

 - Jessica

P.S. Also this is a highlight.

10 Things That Make You Wonderful or Why I Wish I Was You

Hey Jessica!

I am done with school until 2016. Woah. That's weird to think about. But, I've decided this post isn't going to be about me—no, it's going to be about you.

Congratulations! Your finals should end today! You made it! You are so close to being done with this stage of your schooling, I’m so proud of you. Because of this I'm going to tell you some awesome things about yourself (just in case you've forgotten). Here they are: 10 Things That Make You Wonderful or Why I Wish I Was You

1. You sew, crochet, and knit. That's pretty impressive. And you don't just follow patterns, you make stuff up too! Like the sleeve for my computer. You can sew some amazing dresses, and don't get me started on your quilt. It's amazing! You put so much hard work and perfectionism into these projects that is incredible, and it shows in the finished projects.
2. You are super smart. I don't think I need to tell you that you are the smartest one in our family. It's pretty obvious. You get the best grades because you are the hardest worker even though out of all of us you probably are studying the hardest subject. Go you!
3. You can cook. And bake. If you don’t count brownies, these are two skills of which I lack. And two skills of which people (especially of the male variety) love. You make some of the best things I have ever had. You also get excited about making things—that makes making things even more fun! (Might I add that you look super cute in your apron, the apron that you made.)
4. You are amazing at the piano. It cannot be denied, you are the most musical person in our family. You are the only one to pick up piano again, and the only one to play so many instruments. Oh, and don’t forget you have an amazing voice. Like, come on, Concert Choir, Cantores . . . leave some skill for the rest of us! Don’t forget you are awesome at saxophone too! You and the quartet gave me an appreciation for that instrument.
5. Clothes. You wear super cute stuff. ‘Nough said.
6. You have perfect teeth. The rest of us had to go through years of braces to sort of get teeth like yours. Lucky you.
7. You can take pictures like this and still look great.

   

   The turtle is not the only cute thing in this photo

8. You are great at strategy games. At least better than I am. And you are great at card games. The rest of us can’t keep up.
9. You look great in scarves. I’m a little jealous. Only a little, I swear!
10. You are beautiful. Don't go shaking your head at the screen. Don't do it. For once, let yourself believe you are beautiful, because it is the truth. You have a symmetrical face with these gorgeous eyes staring out at the rest of us. (If you think that me saying that you have a symmetrical face is a little cold, it’s really not. It’s scientific. That’s what makes people attractive.) Don’t get me started on your hair! I am soooooooooo jealous of your hair. It is a gorgeous brown, and is curly. I love the curls you have. So many people spend forever curling their hair everyday so that it will look like that. You also have long, curly, dark eyelashes. The rest of the world wishes that they had your eyelashes. I could go on, but we don’t want you getting too big of an ego.

I thought this was appropriate

Now, don’t get discouraged, there are more reasons why you are wonderful, but to state them all would take the rest of my life. These are just a few. I thought they might be able to recharge you for the next semester. I love you Jessica, keep being awesome.

Love,

Melissa

The Little Things

Melissa,

So this month has been crazy and I'm very sorry it's taken this long to get a post up. But despite all the crazy that's been going on there's always been the little things that keep me going.

First, hobbies that keep me sane. I've been going to social dance club every week and since it's in the evening, it forces me to stay on campus all day and get homework done! But more importantly, it gives me a chance to forget all the math and just waltz across the dance floor.

Second, delicious food. Lately I've been experimenting with making my own bread! It's a lot of fun, and it tastes much better than the over processed preservative filled bread they sell in the store. It also makes delicious sandwiches to take to campus!

Third, helping others. Service always makes life better, and since I'm in the math building all day, there's always someone around who needs help with math. Plus, other people's homework is much more fun!

And last and most important, all my wonderful friends that make the long days in the math building fun and my roommates that make my apartment a great place to be. They keep me smiling all day and stop me from being too stressed about the piles of homework looming over my shoulder waiting to be done.

So there's the little things that keep me going. How's your life in Hawaii going?

Jessica

Life in the Library

Hey Jessica,

I've been spending a lot of time in the library lately. A lot of time. Like, more time than in my hale. I have found that there are some pros and cons to homeworking in the library.

Pros:

• There are comfy couches in the library (and comfy armchairs)
• It gives you a new place to study so that you are not always in your dorm
• There's good wifi
• Air conditioning!
• It's quiet here
• I feel all studenty and productive here
• If you are doing research and need a book, you don't have to make a trip to the library--you're already there!
• You always know what holiday is coming up because of the decorations
• When you leave you can tell yourself (in a British accent) "Melissa has left the library. Melissa has been saved."

Cons:

• Because of the comfortable couches and chairs in the library, there are often people sleeping there
• When the wifi is down, there is nothing you can do about it
• The fire in the fireplace is fake
• In the evenings it can get kinda busy and people get talkative, and it's annoying 
• It feels like I don't have a life. (Which I don't, but it's not like I want to feel that way)
• There is no way to escape Valentine's Day--the decorations are everywhere
• When you leave and the sun is down, you feel like you lost your whole day. And to homework, which is worse

I see this guy in the library a lot. He's usually sleeping. On the couch too. Come on dude! Maybe I wanted to sit there! (mmppphhhmmmmmm . . .) He probably lives off campus and doesn't want to trek home and back again between classes or whatever. So I shouldn't judge. But I do. I'm a terrible person.

My social life has disappeared (what was left of it anyway). I haven't gone to Country Swing in two weeks! (Which is a big deal considering it has only been going for three.) I don't hang out with anyone! I haven't gone to the beach! It's a tragedy!

On another note. Kelsy and I have been working on our version of "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" which is "Do You Want to go Surfing?" However, I've been using Garage Band. Big mistake. It keeps on ruining my sound files. I have no idea why. I've recorded that stupid song (completely, with multiple takes) twice. I kinda want to give up on it, but at the same time I want to prove to Garage Band that I'm superior, but I also want to do it on another program that won't destroy my work. Basically, I'm stuck. I don't quite know what to do. I don't have a sound editing program and I don't want to have to purchase one. So you'll have to wait for Kelsy and my next big musical production. But it'll be awesome. And hilarious.

Since I feel like I'm just rambling at this point,

See ya later! Have fun mathing.

Melissa

Why Applied Mathematicians Make the Best Brownies

Melissa,

So this semester I am taking a mathematical biology class. (Yes, I can hear the people shuddering in the distance) But I really like it! It's basically an overview of how math is being used to model things in biology. We started with just a basic model for population and will get into more complicated things as the semester goes on. Some things are really cool, some things are a little ridiculous. The other day we talked about how to model love affairs and a couple's feelings for each other based on how strongly they keep their own feelings and how they react to the other's. There was some really interesting outcomes just based on the parameters you picked! The math behind it is really interesting.

Anyway, the reason this deserves it's own blog post is that it's made me realize something. I really like modelling things from real life. I like seeing the math behind how nature works and being able to predict the future from finding patterns. So while I still don't know what field I want to study or what career I want, I now have a clue about where to go, and that's exciting!

- Jessica

P.S. The title came from an actual scientific article I was looking at for class. They were modelling how heat is distributed in the oven to determine the best shaped pan to use for brownies. It reminded me of you! Round pans distribute the heat most evenly, but it wastes room in the oven. They decided on rectangular pans with rounded corners.

P.P.S. Here's a song that I heard three days ago and it has been in my head ever since. I like it, it just needs to get out of my head. It's "The Walker" by Fits and the Tantrums