Social Support and Drug Dealers

I have been thinking about my support network a lot lately.  Maybe it's because I will be leaving it soon.  Or maybe it's because in the last few weeks I have and a tremendous amount of love shown to me, I don't know.  In the last few weeks I have been so lucky!

Last week I got to present my research at the National Conference of Undergraduate Research.  Don't get too excited...it was at Weber State this year.  I also got to see two of my dear friends present there's as well.  We car pooled up and back and it was wonderful.  We talked and laughed and discussed the networks of interpersonal relationships that it takes to be a successful drug dealer...you know, every day stuff like that.  Needless to say, I have some amazing friends in Kiana and Kris.  I also got to spend some time with my BFF Andrea, who had some very exciting, life changing news to share with me.  We have been through so much together, and I am so excited to share this next phase of life with her!  At the same time, I know that it's going to bring change.  But we have one of those unique friendships where distance doesn't matter; we can not see each other for weeks and as soon as we get together it's like no time has passed.

Since it was general conference last week and we didn't have church, my sweet little Primary (aka sunday school) girls brought me and my mom banana bread and hugs. These girls and their parents are so dear to me.  I am going to miss the tons, and it makes me kind of sad to think that I will not be here for all of the changes and exciting events in their lives.

Then yesterday I presented my research again at the Undergraduate Research Symposium, put on by the university of utah.  I had so many friends stop by just to see me.  I even had one of my friends from work who drove all the way up, even though she's not a student.  My mom, brother, and sister-in-law and I got to spend the day together.  My mom got to meet pretty much my entire 'academic family'.  We saw Beverly (who got me hooked on human development), Cecilia (who has helped me define and refine my interests), and Stacia (who has offered me so much support and kindness).  My family also got to meet a lot of my fellow research assistants that I have spent so much time with over the last 2 years.  I talked to one of my favorite aunts (who is actually more like my sister) later and she apologized for not making it out to see me ...Ok, this woman has 5 young boys who are out of school for the week and she is worried that she didn't make it to my dinky presentation?  Oh and she has come to see the same thing once already.  How amazing is she?

All these people made time for me this week.  And I am grateful.