Life Update: She's a college Girly

Right now, the only thing that keeps me showing up to classes is being able to describe myself as "disgustingly educated." That's hot.

I came back to school at Utah Valley University after 4 years of traveling the world...and it's actually going pretty well. When I dropped out of UVU in the spring of 2021, I was studying Digital Marketing with a minor in Business Management. I think I had switched to a communication major at some point, but I was so incredibly bored with my classes. I wanted to be in a social media career but sitting on my bed watching a zoom lecture in a COVID-induced lock down was not slicing my bread.

So I did it. I quit school, I made a name for myself on social media, I traveled the world, I went on brand trips, I partied in mansions, I made thousands of dollars.

And now I'm back at school.

It's hard to say why I'm here exactly, but enough things lined up that whispered in my ear "go back to school," that I took the bait.

March 31st

Alright, its a few days later. It's March 31st, 2026 and my ass is burnt out. I'm so busy. I feel like I'm sprinting to keep up with all of the assignments and work I need to do. Right now, I'm working on a feature article, just had my first Press Release published (woohoo!), I need to write a book report for a book I haven't read, I'm scratching my way through a research paper one paragraph at a time, I'm having a hard time getting people to come to my fitness classes, and Noah and I are quite stressed about money. And my damn car's check engine light came on.

So it begs the question again, WHY the hell did I leave my life on the beach in Hawaii making 6 figures to come back to Utah??

Believe it or not, I felt pretty dang empty in Hawaii sometimes. I felt unfulfilled with no goals. It was incredible to learn how to have fun and not center my life around work. But, I also felt like I had nothing to work towards. I had no challenge.

It genuinely drove me nuts.

Despite how exhausted I am, it feels so good to have structure. It feels so good to use my brain for something and really dig in.

April 30th

THE SEMESTER IS OVER!!

We made it baby. Don't ask me how many more semesters I left after this until graduation, because I have no idea.

Also fun fact, I never ended up writing that book report. I wish I was kidding, but I literally emailed my teacher about a 24 hr extention and then just never even attempted to write the report. I got swept away in a wave of a million other assignments, but I still ended the year with a passing grade! I think. I actually haven't checked my final grades yet, and I probably won't. They are literally none of my business.

This school year was really freaking hard. I felt suffocatingly busy near the end, and a few of you even reached out saying, "hey bestie, I think you're burning yourself out:)" How dare you be correct.

What I did do (besides burn myself out), was challenge my mind every day, become a better writer, pitch news stories to reporters, network with the Utah Jazz and KSL PR teams, have the Powersuit Project pitched for a national award, learn to manage finances with my partner, host workout classes with or without people, and fight my way through dysautonomia.

THAT'S A WIN BABY

I still think about Hawaii every day, but then I cuddle on the couch with the love of my life, he brings me electrolytes so I don't pass out, and then we giggle into the sunset watching trash TV or playing card games... and then I realized that I bring the sunshine with me wherever I go.

Hawaii was wonderful and bright and incredible because I made it that way. And I've created my own little paradise inside my new apartment with the kindest, most wonderful, handsomest, smartest, silliest man I've ever met & our child (a cat). Guys I'm literally making my own little family!!! I'm gonna cry.

The semester is over and I'm taking a deep breath of gratitude for the life I continue to create for myself.

Next up:

• Miss Pleasant Grove on May 16th

• Miss Utah June 16th-20th

xoxo, Bethany