So, college...

My life is turbulent. The best example of this is the fact that I haven't played a single video game in the last 4 weeks, also known as 'since the semester started.' My social life, for some reason, hasn't seemed to suffer as much, but it is no longer as spontaneous as it was my freshman year. As Spiderman was told, with great power comes great responsibility. It would seem I'm going through it backwards; I've got the responsibility down pat, but I'm still waiting on the power.
The nice thing is that my classes, each one on their own, are not overwhelming, and were I to focus on one in specific, I would more than excel in that class. However, all of them together present the perfect storm of homework so that I am just able to keep up. The first two weeks of the semester I kept having all these ideas of things to post to my blog, and I'm going to attempt to incorporate them in this post. Also, because my ideas are just boring text, I'm going to include random pictures from my life.
First of all, I have some pretty funny teachers. Some of the quotes from my teachers, which I have been collecting, are as follows:
From my discrete data structures class (a comp. sci. class), professor Giraud-Carrier:
“I’m French, so I’m crazy, obviously, but not dangerous.”
“I can debug your head”
(Talking about sound logical reasoning, even when it doesn't make contextual sense): "Then you fall off the edge of the world. That would be good."

From my computer systems class, professor Roper:
“I feel like a lone man in the garden sometimes during my office hours”

(on Friday's class) “It is date night, so brethren, do your priesthood duty, and come back safe.”

From my Economics principles class, professor Pope:

(In a thought experiment analyzing the scarcity of resources, specifically the air in our classroom were the room locked, and thinking about what would happen): “All the stuff that goes with trying to kill half the class”

(In discussing maximizing utility, drawing a curve to represent maximum utility and commenting on passing that point): “The other side of the mountain is stupid”

“I understand that you all think I’m an old codger” (self explanatory).

These are some of the things that bring enjoyment to my life.

I went to see Muse in Salt Lake last Thursday. It was that awesome.

Something else I've wanted to post here was a thought that I had running through my head at the beginning of the semester. I think many people know that BYU is a relatively cheap school. Last time I checked, tuition for a year of school (Fall and Winter semesters) is somewhere around $4,000. Compare that with Harvard's year tuition, which (last time I checked) is around 40,000. And that's saying something, especially considering the quality of BYU. So in my first week I was reflecting on it, and the reason that tuition is so low. Part of the reason is that BYU is a private institution, and thus is funded in part by its provider, which happens to be the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (after saying that name in Spanish for so long, the English variant seems so short). Tithing funds are used to keep this school up and running, and to make it so accessible to everyone who comes here. If you think of it in another way, every student here at BYU is on a scholarship. That scholarship is made up of tithing money paid by every faithful saint around the world. And that scholarship is dependent on each student's continued excellence, academically, spiritually, and preparing to lead the world. It is my desire to make this connection clear to many, especially of my peers here at BYU, because it is so easy for us to get caught up in our majors, our plans, our careers. The reason we're here in the first place is because of the faith and sacrifice of millions of members. That shouldn't be something we write off, something that's "just a church school." People from around the world are contributing to our education. Should we not return the favor, in some way? I can't say I know how I'm going to do that. Part of that responsibility I have carried out, as part of my missionary service in Argentina these last 2 years. But I should hope that the recognition of this fact is prevalent among the student body.

I love Provo as the sun sets.

The last thing I wanted to include in my blog (sorry, not very visual today. But I wanted to get these thoughts out) was a question, for people to comment on, either on my blog or my facebook. I've been pondering a question raised from my study of the scriptures. There's a phrase, oft-occurring, that says: "Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." See here, here, and here. My question, which is open ended, is, what does this mean to you? One would think that the Lord's paths are quite straight. We do read in Proverbs 3:5-6 that the Lord will direct our paths. So what could He mean, upon directing us to make His paths straight? I'd love to hear some of your perspectives on the matter.

The Greeks believed that Iris, the rainbow goddess, traveled along rainbows.
"I perceive that ye are in the paths of righteousness; I perceive that ye are in the path which leads to the kingdom of God; yea, I perceive that ye are making his paths straight."
What would the paths of the Lord look like, if they were manifested to us?

Thanks all for reading. I'm going to try to keep this up, at least on a weekly basis.

-Hakuna Matata.

Let's blow the dust off

So the last time I posted was in April of 2011. Long story short, I went on a mission. It was awesome. I went to Buenos Aires Argentina. Hit me up with questions for more details. I'll probably insert some along the way. I got back a month and a half ago. I start back at BYU tomorrow. I'm excited. And so, I decided to wipe the dust off this thing and get it up and running again.

Looking back at this blog in its first year of existence, it served kind of as an activity log. My thoughts are to change the feel of this blog, and let it be more of an output for ideas or thoughts that I have on my mind. Many of them will probably be scripture related, but I'm sure that as classes start I will be expanding my sphere of learning and will increase my range of topics. Basically this will be my collection of thoughts. I don't entertain any notions that this will have a huge following or anything. But it'll be cool to have a different way to get thoughts out of my head and out .. somewhere.

Let's just do a little "about me" to kick this thing off. My name is Jansen McQuivey, I'm a computer science major here at BYU, the proud stone cold sober school of all America (my motto: have your fun and remember it, too!).

I speak English and Spanish, and I'm currently learning Portuguese and Japanese. I like music, specifically piano and voice. I try hard to avoid the nerd stereotype, even though said stereotype finds expression in my very being. So I guess it's kind of a lost cause. Due to that fact, I generally like to think I'm cool, even when I'm probably more awkward than anything else. I love spending time with friends, especially when catching up on movies I haven't seen from the last two years. I love life, but more than anything I love my Savior. I know that there is more to this existence than simply living and dying. I am part of an eternal plan that my Father in Heaven put in place long ago. All He asks me to do is to believe in His Son and allow Him to change my life. Heaven is a real place. It is where God, and Jesus Christ, and all the saints who have gone before me, dwell. It is a real promise to us that we, too, might attain that glory. All I need to do is submit my will to the will of the Father, and allow Christ's atonement to change my life. He lives, having resurrected after suffering and dying for our sins. We have the scriptures before us to teach us of this plan. We have the priesthood authority upon the earth to carry out the necessary ordinances of that plan. We have the spirit to dwell within us and guide us in every moment, given that we maintain ourselves worthy. In short, God, our Father, loves us and wants us to return home to live with Him. What more worthy goal is there to strive for while in this life?

So here's to a bright future, and hopefully a steady blog posting frequency.
Cheers.
-Jansen.