I actually shouldn't have come back after my mission, since my main purpose in Logan was done with. But yesterday I decided to go take pictures for memory sake before I actually moved. Anyways I had two realizations along the way while taking pictures. :)
So coming back to Logan was actually completely different then the first time I was in Logan. But for two different reasons...
1. Originally I came to Logan just to go to college and get a degree. In which case I didn't have a specific major in mind, but I did like the Family Life classes. So I ended up doing FCHD (Human Development) mainly because I liked the classes. So along the way before I actually graduated I did have a job with the major. But I didn't actually like the job unfortunately, although I had to stick with the major due to not having alot of semesters left. Anyways I did fulfill my main purpose in being in Logan the first time. Which was getting a Bachelors degree in Human Development, but it didn't lead to a job. Due to how I realized it wasn't my thing when I had that job before graduating.
So while taking pictures for memory sake I took a picture of the family life building since that is where I was at my first few years in Logan quite often. I actually am really glad I did the Human Development classes. Because they were really informative and I had to take some teaching classes. Which did help with things while I was on my mission, since all you do on a mission is teaching.
Well after my mission I became very into following the spirit. Which of course I did before, but it became alot more obvious after my mission. So when I came home alot of people tried to talk me into moving to Salt Lake then. Well strangely enough I had the huge impression to return to Logan, which I was okay with since I did like Logan. But my main reason for coming back to Logan was because I was going to do graduate school with Deaf Education. I didn't know much ASL then so I took ASL classes. (sign language) Anyways after 3 semesters I didn't have money for it and I wasn't fluent enough with ASL to continue. At least I didn't think so, in which case I knew the graduate program wasn't going to work. So I still love ASL and have practiced it on my own, by signing to songs and things like that.
Anyways it was interesting because I had a cousin who was working at DI and due to that we ran into someone I had previously known. (but forgotten) It was the hiring manager at DI and so we ran into him at Wal-Mart one day. Which oddly enough was a day that I was suppose to be out of town actually, but had come back a day or so early. But we ran into him and he recognized me from having worked at DI the few months before my mission. And so he actually suggested that I apply at DI again, although at that time I had a job with USU. But later when I needed a job I did go and talked to him at DI. In which case I ended up working there again and in fact helped like 2 or 3 friends get jobs there as well. (In which case DI had a huge influence on those particular people) But due to working at DI there came a time that I was offered an internship. So I don't even know how it happened at all, but when they asked me what job I was trying to get after DI it just randomly came to me to say the library. I mean libraries are cool and all, but I'd never been planning to work at a library after college. In fact family had suggested doing a library job, but I'd never taken it seriously. Anyways it randomly just came to me and I told DI that I wanted to work at a library. Due to that I ended up doing an internship at the Logan library. It was way rough because most people who did these internships got jobs at the location. But several of us at that time did our internships and then didn't actually get jobs at the location. I did find out that I could volunteer and they'd count that as library experience when I applied later. Well I was rather lamed out when I volunteered for a year after that and didn't get a job with them. But it was interesting because I did end up having the 'inspiration' to do Library Science grad school. So I applied for that and thanks to reference letters from the library staff I did get into the graduate program. Also thanks to the library staff I found out about schools I could apply at that would be really good schools.
So my first conclusion is that I came to Logan the first time to get a Bachelor's degree, which was good of course. But the second time of coming to Logan was alot more of an influence in my life. Due to returning to Logan I didn't just get a Bachelor's degree, but I found the job I really wanted and that is what pointed me in the direction of Library Science graduate school. In all reality if I hadn't of done library internships and volunteering I might not have gotten into graduate school as easily. And the truth is that I might not have decided to do graduate school if I hadn't of been involved with the Logan City library. Because I didn't want to have to take the GRE test to get into graduate school, but due to volunteering I found out from another volunteer that she was in graduate school doing Library Science. (but she didn't do the GRE) So returning to Logan most definately has been life changing and even though I have worked at not the best jobs in the last 3 years I don't regret coming back.
2. When I lived in Logan the first time I just came because I knew people who lived in Logan. Which was fine, but alot of the friends I made the first time were usually connected with the people I previously had known. So I really only made a few friends who I still associate with now from then who weren't somehow connected to people I'd previously known. The two particular girls I'm thinking of right now are ones I met my second to last year and then the last year we were roommates. Sadly they both moved away from Logan for graduate school while I was on my mission.
Anyways when I came back to Logan I have made quite a few influencial friends that I wouldn't have met if I hadn't of been here this time. The ward I have been in for the last 2+ years has helped alot with that as well. It's kind of funny but we all live on this one little block and somehow this one block constitutes a ward a whole ward. So by coming to Logan the 2nd time it really helped prove that I can live somewhere without having friends there before. A good example has been this summer has been a little rough, since everyone in my apartment is super busy. So we aren't connected very well, but it really hasn't mattered. Because I have so many friends on the block that I'm really not alone at all. So if anything I'm glad I came back because I've been in the best ward in Logan literally. (actually if you met someone in the 38th ward they'd argue that though) :)
The first time in Logan I never had any connection with the Amphithreate really. But our ward has had great connections at the Amphithreate in the summer. Which is because we do ward prayers at the Amphithreate. So this spot on campus won't be forgotten, of course it is all because of being in Logan the 2nd time.
It's been really nice being in this particular ward, because I've had alot of music major students in my ward. So there never is a dull moment in our ward when it comes to musical numbers and such. Along with that I've had alot of these same ward friends do their final recitals at the performance hall. Several of these people are on missions, but quite a few are still around. But I have been to several piano recitals and vocal recitals. Which has been super great, because in my return to Logan I've been trying to be better about using my music talents. I'm most definately not as good at music as alot of these friends are. But they've improved in the last 3 years I'd say anyways. :)
It suddenly got dark really fast, but I'd say the same thing about the fine arts building as well. It's been great for being unified with these music friends I wouldn't have found if I'd gone straight to Salt Lake a few years ago. :)
So anyways that's the moral of the story on why I came back to Logan 2 different times. Although I could totally be like my original Logan friends and be somewhere else with a much better job. But in the end I'd have less friends and probably be working at a job I didn't even really like either.