5th Grade

For 5th grade I was placed in a 5th/6th split class for the “smart” kids.  Our teacher was Mrs. Smith.  She was a sweet older woman and I loved her.  That year I ran for student-body secretary and won!  I continued to get good grades and never had any kind of issues at school or with friends.  I also played soccer.   I was put on a really good team and played center back.  I was a great little defender and really fast.  I got invited to play on the all-star team and we won everything.  Around this time, Grandma and Grandpa Julien moved to Utah and became Jazz season ticket holders and hardcore Jazz fans!.  Every once in a while I got to go to a game with them.  I especially loved the times when we went early and got to meet some of the players. Once, I met John Stockton and Karl Malone.  

The summer Olympics of 1984 inspired me to become a gymnast.  I was glued to the TV when Mary Lou Retton competed.  I started taking lessons and fell in love with it.  I was graceful and determined, but didn’t have a lot of upper body strength, which made the uneven bars especially challenging for me.  I started competing as a class 4 gymnast and did well on floor exercise and balance beam, but without explosive strength, I struggled on vault and bars.  I often got first place on floor and beam and sometimes won the all-around competition at meets.  

Sometime during these years I had a very special experience at church.  I remember sitting in my Primary class as my teacher, Sister Teeples, taught us about Joseph Smith’s first vision.  I remember feeling the spirit tell my heart that what she was teaching was true.  I went home that day and memorized my first scripture, James 1:5.  Although I always believed in a loving Heavenly Father and savior Jesus Christ, that was the start of my testimony of the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  On my birthday that year, Sister Teeples wrote me a sweet note that I have never forgotten.  She said, “Dear Shannon,  I just wanted you to know how much I enjoy being your Primary teacher.  You are always the one who listens with understanding far beyond your years.  They say that in every bucket of water one drop of water shines- you are that drop of water in my class.  I love you, Sister Teeples.”