One day in class, Brother Clarke had us write about what we would do for a job if we didn't have to worry about money. He said we could get at least $1 million a year. I can't imagine a world like that, but it did make me think about what I want to do with my life. So many of my decisions are based on my finances and the economy. My parents are always counseling me to be practical and economical. Especially with the bad economy, scarce jobs, and the U.S. government getting into so much debt the future can seem a scary place. But if I could put that all aside there are many things I would like to do.
If money wasn't an object in my career I probably would do something similar to what I do now. Right now I teach private violin lessons and coach at a community youth orchestra. I love helping kids learn to love music and become artist. I also enjoy improving policies and procedures for our orchestra as the business manager.
Besides continuing to do some degree of work that I already do I would fulfill my dream to be in a professional music group. I wouldn't want to be a big music star and have to deal with paparazzi, but I'd rather play my violin in a professional symphony, on a movie soundtrack, or in a country music band. I wouldn't want to go solo because I enjoy playing music more in a group with my family and friends. I've always wanted to be in the Orchestra at Temple Square (which I'm planning to do sometime during my lifetime) and go tour the world. Another fun idea would to put together a family ensemble with my siblings, cousins, uncles, and aunts that play instruments and perform do local shows for fun. That would be fun, but it would only be possible if we didn't have to worry about money. Musicians don't get paid very much unless their at the very top of the charts, which takes incredible amounts of talent, training, and luck. I hope I will have some opportunities to fulfill my musical dreams- you never know- maybe next week I'll get offered a big record deal and be on the radio! :)
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Going shopping...
This weekend Brother Clarke, my MCom professor, assigned another random blog project. I was supposed to go shopping in nice clothes and in shabby clothes and see how I was treated by store employees. So I brought my friends Jamie and Katie along with me and we headed to the University mall Saturday night.
I let Jamie and Katie decide what stores I should go to and they picked Allyssa's Bridal. So dressed in my cutoff sweats, a wrinkled t-shirt, and my hair falling out I marched into the store and told them I was looking for a wedding dress. They asked me when I got engaged- a question I didn't anticipate- so I told them I was 'unofficially engaged' and was just looking for the style of dress I wanted. :) The girl was nice and gave me two magazines to look at and their website. She wasn't able to help me much more because I didn't know what dress I wanted and the store was closing in 30 minutes, so I thanked her and left. I was surprised how nicely I was treated. Either Allyssa's has very good employees or I'm not a very good actor- probably both. My friends said I didn't look 'shabby' enough.
So I decided to try again. We went down to Bath and Body Works but before I went in I made myself look crappy (definately not what I'm used to doing before going shopping). I put soil from the plants under my fingernails and put my hair in a ponytail right on top of my head with pieces falling out everywhere. Then I walked in the store waiting for worker to come tell me all the sales. We walked over to the sink and waited, but no one came over. I kept looking over at one girl, but everytime she saw me she looked away. This happened three times before she came over to me and asked if I needed any help. I told her that my hands were dirty and asked if I could use the sink. She said sure, very impatiently. I asked her if I could use the sample soaps. She snapped something back at me like 'that's what they are for.' I said alright and she left without saying anything else. I could tell that she was tired and was ready to close up and go home. I actually wasn't offended at all, I was just glad that I my experiment worked. It was interesting that when I was dressed shabby I received completely different service in two different stores.
I let Jamie and Katie decide what stores I should go to and they picked Allyssa's Bridal. So dressed in my cutoff sweats, a wrinkled t-shirt, and my hair falling out I marched into the store and told them I was looking for a wedding dress. They asked me when I got engaged- a question I didn't anticipate- so I told them I was 'unofficially engaged' and was just looking for the style of dress I wanted. :) The girl was nice and gave me two magazines to look at and their website. She wasn't able to help me much more because I didn't know what dress I wanted and the store was closing in 30 minutes, so I thanked her and left. I was surprised how nicely I was treated. Either Allyssa's has very good employees or I'm not a very good actor- probably both. My friends said I didn't look 'shabby' enough.
So I decided to try again. We went down to Bath and Body Works but before I went in I made myself look crappy (definately not what I'm used to doing before going shopping). I put soil from the plants under my fingernails and put my hair in a ponytail right on top of my head with pieces falling out everywhere. Then I walked in the store waiting for worker to come tell me all the sales. We walked over to the sink and waited, but no one came over. I kept looking over at one girl, but everytime she saw me she looked away. This happened three times before she came over to me and asked if I needed any help. I told her that my hands were dirty and asked if I could use the sink. She said sure, very impatiently. I asked her if I could use the sample soaps. She snapped something back at me like 'that's what they are for.' I said alright and she left without saying anything else. I could tell that she was tired and was ready to close up and go home. I actually wasn't offended at all, I was just glad that I my experiment worked. It was interesting that when I was dressed shabby I received completely different service in two different stores.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Coke Story
So today I 'bought a stranger a Coke.' It sounds random, but it was actually an assignment for MCom 320. Brother Clarke wanted us to buy someone we didn't know a 'Coke' (meaning any soda or drink). I thought about who, when, and how I was going to do this assignment. At first I was excited! It reminded me of when my family would go through a drive-through at a fast food restaurant around Christmas time. When we pulled up to the window to pay my dad would also pay for the dinner of the car behind us. We always tried to see the reaction on the people's faces when they pulled up to the window and realized they didn't have to pay. It was so fun for us kids!
This assignment seemed very similar except I had to give a stranger the Coke face-to-face. That was probably the most intimidating part. I tried a couple of times to muster up the courage, but failed. Then I just made myself do it.
I went to the deli in the Tanner building and decided to buy a lemonade. I was looking around to see who I could give it to and the only person around was the girl at the cash register. So I casually started to talk to her about her work and the hours of the deli. I didn't just want to hand her a lemonade without saying a word- I would be freaked out if someone did that to me. So we talked for a couple minutes and then slid the drink towards her and said, "Well this is for you. I hope you have a great day!" Then I left. I really wanted to see her reaction, but it would be weird if I just stood around and watched her, so I left.
It was amazing how happy I felt afterwards! I thought about how she would be feeling, what she was thinking about me, how the lemonade affected her day, and what she might do afterwards. It would be so exciting if she decided to buy a stranger a coke too and a chain of good deeds would keeps going. You just never know what long-lasting effects your small deeds can have.
This assignment seemed very similar except I had to give a stranger the Coke face-to-face. That was probably the most intimidating part. I tried a couple of times to muster up the courage, but failed. Then I just made myself do it.
I went to the deli in the Tanner building and decided to buy a lemonade. I was looking around to see who I could give it to and the only person around was the girl at the cash register. So I casually started to talk to her about her work and the hours of the deli. I didn't just want to hand her a lemonade without saying a word- I would be freaked out if someone did that to me. So we talked for a couple minutes and then slid the drink towards her and said, "Well this is for you. I hope you have a great day!" Then I left. I really wanted to see her reaction, but it would be weird if I just stood around and watched her, so I left.
It was amazing how happy I felt afterwards! I thought about how she would be feeling, what she was thinking about me, how the lemonade affected her day, and what she might do afterwards. It would be so exciting if she decided to buy a stranger a coke too and a chain of good deeds would keeps going. You just never know what long-lasting effects your small deeds can have.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Why, Why, Why?
This week has been very challenging for me. So many questions- so many doubts- so many wishes. How can life change so fast and expect me to hang on? That's one of the questions that I still can't answer.
Part of life is being able to endure the changes without knowing all the answers. If we knew what was going to happen there would be no purpose to this life. It wouldn't be a test and there would be no faith, no happiness, no excitement, no success.
As I have tried to take a few HUGE steps backward today so I can see the BIG picture I have realized how grateful I am for opposition in my life. I am glad that I have to go through hard times so I can enjoy the good ones. There really is a need to have opposition in all things, or there would be no purpose to life at all.
Right now the hardest part of life is not knowing what the future holds. I am constantly asking: "What is the purpose of this trial?" or "What does God want me to learn from this experience?" or "What is this person's role in my life?" As my life is changing so rapidly, especially in the transition to summer, I find myself grasping for stability and reassurance. But in the world there are very little things that are perfectly steady and sure. I have to turn back to the truths and people that I know will never change: my Heavenly Father and my family. They will never abandon me. That I know will never change no matter how bad the storms and whirlwinds are raging.
So I will move forward with faith. Doubt not! Fear not! Things will work out Janae! Remember that the trials and mysteries of my life are really a blessing and life would be boring and pointless without them. Life is a puzzle; and even though it's frustrating to figure out how the pieces go together keep working at it because it will be worth it!
Janae
ps- Wow that felt good :) I like this blog thing- it really helps me sort out my life! Thanks for enduring that with me!
Part of life is being able to endure the changes without knowing all the answers. If we knew what was going to happen there would be no purpose to this life. It wouldn't be a test and there would be no faith, no happiness, no excitement, no success.
As I have tried to take a few HUGE steps backward today so I can see the BIG picture I have realized how grateful I am for opposition in my life. I am glad that I have to go through hard times so I can enjoy the good ones. There really is a need to have opposition in all things, or there would be no purpose to life at all.
Right now the hardest part of life is not knowing what the future holds. I am constantly asking: "What is the purpose of this trial?" or "What does God want me to learn from this experience?" or "What is this person's role in my life?" As my life is changing so rapidly, especially in the transition to summer, I find myself grasping for stability and reassurance. But in the world there are very little things that are perfectly steady and sure. I have to turn back to the truths and people that I know will never change: my Heavenly Father and my family. They will never abandon me. That I know will never change no matter how bad the storms and whirlwinds are raging.
So I will move forward with faith. Doubt not! Fear not! Things will work out Janae! Remember that the trials and mysteries of my life are really a blessing and life would be boring and pointless without them. Life is a puzzle; and even though it's frustrating to figure out how the pieces go together keep working at it because it will be worth it!
Janae
ps- Wow that felt good :) I like this blog thing- it really helps me sort out my life! Thanks for enduring that with me!
Sunday, May 3, 2009
My life is 566 words
Here goes another post! I've been thinking about a lot of things lately and can't decide exactly which one I want to talk about. There have been so many things happen to me the last semester that I never expected! Studying, running, dating, and teaching have thrown in different twists into my life. As I have learned to deal with each area of my life I have had success and great joy! Here's a summary of what has happened this last semester in my life.
School is one area that I have been very blessed in this semester. I really enjoyed my classes, especially Accounting 200 and Math 119. At first I wasn't sure if I would do well in these courses, but my talents and efforts seemed to be magnified as I put forth my best work. Ultimately I was able to excel in all my classes this semester which will be very helpful for purposes of getting into the BYU Marriott School of Business.
In between all my studying I've been doing a lot of running. My family and I trained for a half marathon this semester. It was a really neat goal to do as a family and even though it took a lot of time I was glad that we were able to keep physically fit and complete a challenging goal. We ran the Country Music Marathon in Nashville, TN on last Saturday. It was really hot and humid, but I just took it slow and had fun running with my sister Aubrey!
When I think about work I'm pretty sure that I have the best job in the world! I love teaching violin/viola lessons and coaching orchestra. The kids are so cute and I get so proud of them when I see how much them progress. TCO (Timpanogos Chamber Orchestra) ended in March with two successful concerts at Abravenal Hall and at the Assembly Hall at Temple Square. Now I'm focussing on my studio recital coming up this Saturday. Aubrey and I really got serious about group classes this semester and I can tell the students have learned a lot from playing together. For the recital each student is going to play a solo and then we'll have several group pieces at the end. I'm really excited! I hope it goes well!
Well, that's the really quick, vague update of the life of Janae Johnson. I am really excited to see what the future holds! I have faith that Heavenly Father will direct me right where I need to be.
Janae
School is one area that I have been very blessed in this semester. I really enjoyed my classes, especially Accounting 200 and Math 119. At first I wasn't sure if I would do well in these courses, but my talents and efforts seemed to be magnified as I put forth my best work. Ultimately I was able to excel in all my classes this semester which will be very helpful for purposes of getting into the BYU Marriott School of Business.
In between all my studying I've been doing a lot of running. My family and I trained for a half marathon this semester. It was a really neat goal to do as a family and even though it took a lot of time I was glad that we were able to keep physically fit and complete a challenging goal. We ran the Country Music Marathon in Nashville, TN on last Saturday. It was really hot and humid, but I just took it slow and had fun running with my sister Aubrey!
When I think about work I'm pretty sure that I have the best job in the world! I love teaching violin/viola lessons and coaching orchestra. The kids are so cute and I get so proud of them when I see how much them progress. TCO (Timpanogos Chamber Orchestra) ended in March with two successful concerts at Abravenal Hall and at the Assembly Hall at Temple Square. Now I'm focussing on my studio recital coming up this Saturday. Aubrey and I really got serious about group classes this semester and I can tell the students have learned a lot from playing together. For the recital each student is going to play a solo and then we'll have several group pieces at the end. I'm really excited! I hope it goes well!
Well, that's the really quick, vague update of the life of Janae Johnson. I am really excited to see what the future holds! I have faith that Heavenly Father will direct me right where I need to be.
Janae
Friday, May 1, 2009
Day 1
Here I go! I can't believe I have my own blog. This is not really like me but I think it will be fun! I will be posting each week for the next month and a half for my Business Writing class and after that we'll see where this goes. Enjoy everyone!
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