A letter

Dear Mindy of January 2011,
Wow. You are in for quite a lot of change.
It's so weird to think of where I was at this time last year. Where you are at.
Well, you worried about a lot of things this time last year. Mostly your preceptorship.
Don't.
Sure, you don't get the time or location you really wanted. But it turns out perfect for you. Your nurse is amazing; someone you can really emulate, you have great learning experiences, and you really miss it when it is over. You get so excited to be a nurse.
School, on the other hand, is quite long and pointless at times. It's hard. You know that. Between the sleep deprivation and the pointless assignments and projects, you are so ready to graduate. But enjoy every moment. Love your classmates. You'll miss them when you don't get to talk to them everyday. Love the time you get with Cyann and Annalie, even when it's time doing pointless projects.
Start researching for your news hour presentation a few weeks early. You don't want to get a B+. That will be the difference between a 3.9 and 4.0 GPA.
Have fun with your amazing roommates. (How did you get so lucky??) Play, laugh, go on adventures, make time to cuddle. Give Brittni all the money you have so she doesn't have to get a second job.
You are so happy for the first months of 2011. Happiest time you can remember in a long time. You even dye your hair every other second. (Don't try the blonde. It really is terrible...)
Graduation really comes. It seems like something so distant but it comes quickly. Have fun. Take a million photos. Thank your family for coming. And Dan. It really means so much. Thank Sarah for the present she gets you. (You're going to LOVE it!!)
After graduation comes some hard and sad times. Devastating and life altering times. Don't even think about them now. I don't even want to mention it. But remember to hold close to the friends you have. Don't shut them out. Don't destroy any part of your friendships. You need them. And you'll sabotage any friendships you hope to make if you forget how important it is to just BE a good friend.
Don't stress too much about the NCLEX or finding a job. Stress a little; it helps you study and apply for jobs. But not so much that you're depressed. Not so much that you cry and yell at everyone and freak out about the future.
Study hard. Get a blessing from dad before your test. It really calms you. And it isn't too bad. (You.... Pass!) But even though I told you that, Study!!
Enjoy summer in Cedar. It is so beautiful and wonderful. You have fun camping adventures, boating excursions, and you even get a bit tan! :)
Go to the beach. I went as a desperate escape from life and a reminder that there is world beyond Utah. But YOU should go to have fun with your best friends. Go to party at Sea World and to get sand up in all your crevices. Haha... Oh man, we're funny.
Find ways to be happy even when you don't feel like it. Play video games and board games with Lily. Make delicious dinners at Cyann's. Play with Brittni every night (since she can because you gave her all your money). Have an amazing Christmas in July! Best day ever!
Apply for jobs. Everywhere and anywhere. Take time every day to search. Take Tylenol BEFORE you start looking. (Job searching headaches are terrible.)
You will finally get a job. Maybe not as soon as you wanted to, but pretty quickly when compared with other places. Training isn't fun. But listen.
Tell your manager than you CAN'T train on August 11th or 12th. So you can can go to Quin's wedding, Kris's wedding, and meet your new nephew. She'll be okay without you for those two days. Save yourself the tears. (Sorry to give away specifics, but this is important.)
You will love your job. At first you think it's the death of you and that you should just quit because it's making you miserable. But it really is a great fit for you. And one day, when you talk to your nursing friends, you will be the only one who really loves their job! How lucky!
Love your new apartment and ward. You love it so much at first, but keep loving it. Try really hard to talk to everyone and remember their names! You suck at the name thing. But don't let it intimidate you into never learning. Visit teach. Go to activities when you can.
Visit Brittni. And Annalie. Call Cyann every week. Sometimes you forget, but get with it!! Visit Lynsie and Chelsey. Have a Halloween party. Dress up.
Start listening to Christmas music in October. You never get sick of it this year, for some reason. Have a great holiday season. Try to be happy. Things are looking up for us.
Don't trade so many shifts that you work 6 days in a row the week of Christmas. You may be thinking,'"duh!!" but don't do it.
Let the sad things of 2011 go. Don't let them ruin any second of 2012. They're done. They are memories now. In the past.
Remember the happy times. Look forward to happy times.
Hope this helps,
Mindy of January 2012