My name is Patricia Janis and I am from the city of Anna, in North Texas. There are many experiences I have had while attending Wyoming Catholic College that are wonderful, and will remain in my memory for years to come. One of those experiences happened in March, my freshman year. There was a huge snowstorm, and we had a great time playing in the snow at the dorms. We sledded down hills, had snowball fights, and some people even made small ski jumps.

My favorite outdoor trips have been the 21 Day freshmen trip and desert backpacking in Muddy Creek Canyon, Utah. I especially enjoy backpacking because I feel that it is one of the best ways to engage with the outdoors. It allows me to really take in the beauty around me and think, or pray. It is also a great opportunity to get to know fellow students better, since I get to be on the trail with them for hours, and we hangout together in camp in the evenings. One of my favorite memories from an outdoor trip was from the desert backpacking trip. One morning of the trip, it was raining very heavily, and our water supply, the infamous Muddy Creek, was now extremely muddy. It looked like a river of chocolate milk. We had to keep crossing the river to follow the trail as we were in a canyon, there was often not much land to walk on. The current was strong and the mud was sometimes stronger. The crossings were difficult and we were all wet from the river and the rain. Yet, it was one of the best and most enjoyable moments of the trip. Though no one said it, we all knew it would be easy to feel down about this turn of events, so instead we chose to rejoice in the experience. Group spirits were more high that morning than any other day of the trip. We were all singing and talking and laughing, and having fun. Getting stuck in the mud was an occasion for joy, so was being wet and the cold. The best moment though, was when we decided we should pray the rosary. We hadn’t been praying more than a minute when suddenly the clouds broke, the rain mostly stopped, and we could see the sun! Much as we had enjoyed the rain and cold, we also welcomed Mother Mary helping us out.

Two of my favorite classes are theology and humanities. I love theology because it teaches us truths about the doctrine of our faith and what we really believe as Catholics, that I would never have learned on my own. I love humanities, because it allows me to learn more about human nature, and better understand God’s creation. Humanities makes me realize just how interesting, wonderful, glorious and terrible people can be.

I did ballet for nine years before coming to Wyoming Catholic College, and it still holds a very
special place in my heart. I look forward to PEAK this summer.