I spent Thanksgiving at my aunt's house in Spanish Fork. Besides the most delicious turkey, potatoes, stuffing, yams, cranberries, creamy orange salad, and pie, the highlight of the day was the bingo ball tournament. It's also called senior golf--where you throw two golf balls on a string at some rebar posts and try and get them to stay for points. Everyone played, and when you weren't playing we sat happily on the deck cheering on the players. I actually make it to the semifinals, but that was the extent of my dingo ballness. My uncle, the one throwing below, won the whole thing. You know, it doesn't really matter so much what you do when you're with family--just being with them is the best part.

Come to Zion, Come to Zion

For me, there are few things more enjoyable than camping and hiking--exploring the great outdoors. Camping and hiking with friends, then, is just off the chart fun! The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, 8 of us zipped on down to Zion's National Park to hike Angel's Landing. It was such a blast, I absolutely loved it.

Cold cereal in cups for breakfast

I think we sang every Disney song and every song from a musical that exists. We were quite the traveling singers--other hikers even started making requests!

Winding up Walters Wiggles

The Final Ascent

All of us at the top of Angel's Landing

NODAC 2009

You know you have a cool job when they pay you to go to a conference at the Disneyland Resort. The first week in November the staff in Office of First-Year Experience and I traveled to Anaheim to attend the National Orientation Directors Association Conference. It was pretty neat. We got to attend various different sessions hearing from other orientation directors about new student orientation on their campuses. We had been invited to share about our peer mentor training in a poster session (basically a grown-up's science fair). My supervisor and I worked hard to make the poster engaging and professional.

I've been to one other conference for work before, and one of the most fun things is getting to eat out. We have a fixed per diem and so we go out to eat every night--this is pretty out of the ordinary for someone who's only eaten out at at 6 restaurants in his life, 4 of which are Wendy's. We ate at ESPN Zone, Rainforest Cafe, and IHOP. Eggnog pancakes are to die for!

But of course, the best part was Disneyland! This was my second time ever going (the first time being when I was 18). As I recounted my previous experience to Bryce, it soon became apparent that I did not fully experience Disneyland on my first time. When my family went, Thunder Mountain Railroad, Space Mountain, and the Matterhorn were all closed. So I experienced those rides for the first time. Heather, the Assistant Dean in our office, had never been to Disneyland, so it was great showing her around for the first time. She got soaked at Splash Mountain! We were laughing so hard.

Even after experiencing all of the other rides, I think Indiana Jones is still my favorite. Yeah, Disneyland!

Teach for America 2010 Corps

I made it! I'm in! I'm accepted into Teach for America! I've been accepted to teach elementary school in Las Vegas Valley! How 'bout that?!?!

Las Vegas was my second choice, and I'm ecstatic about it. It's closer to home, and also close to the southern Utah that I love. There's a strong LDS single population, and it's definitely not too cold! Elementary school was my least preferred choice, so that surprised me, but the more I think about it, the more I think I could love it--I mean, I'd get to teach all the subjects instead of just one!

This was great news, and I feel privileged to be accepted into this prestigious organization, and excited about what it could mean for me.

Here were some of my communications from yesterday. Yippee!

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Dear Drake,

I am pleased to extend you an offer to join the Teach For America 2010 corps! This offer to join Teach For America reflects your outstanding accomplishments, leadership potential, and commitment to expanding educational opportunities for children in low-income communities.

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Congratulations! We are pleased to invite you to join the 2010 Teach For America corps and are excited to assign you to teach elementary school (K through 5) in the Las Vegas Valley .

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I just wanted to reach out today and say CONGRATULATIONS on being accepted into Teach For America!!!! In our most competitive year to date, you are among a very select group of people we're extending offers to this year to become a part of our 2010 corps. I am so excited for you!

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