Conquering Fear

I have an incredible opportunity. A remarkable opportunity, really. I've been accepted to spend the summer at the BYU Jerusalem Center. I'm so excited, but reading through the student handbook, I realize how different it will be. I can't take my cell phone and watching Netflix is a no-go. I can't go running in my Nike shorts every morning and making myself no-bake cookies? Forget about it. I have to give up dating and flirting for 3 months. That's pretty tough. Shirts have to be up to my collar bones and skirts to mid-calf. Don't look men directly in the eye-- that's an invitation for sexual harassment. All of these little things I never even thought about. Things that I do every day. Things I won't be able to do. A completely foreign culture I have to abide by. So many little things. It terrifies me to think of leaving my family. Not having a break-- I like to have breaks. Being in a different country for 3 months? Ahh. It would be so much easier to just stay home, just say, "no thanks". But I would regret it for the rest of my life. I have an opportunity to go to the Holy Land. The place of Christ's ministry and atonement. How can I not go? I can put aside worldly things for a short period of time to come closer to my Savior. It's the least I can do. Isn't it? No matter who doesn't read this, it's okay. I needed to just work these things out for myself. I needed to write down my fears and address them. I need to be brave. This is my time to prove that I'm more than just the tall girl who is majoring in English. I'm more than just the name "Tiffany Erickson". I am strong. I am smart. I am bold. I am courageous, and with the help of my Father in Heaven, I can conquer any fear.