Personal Biography

I was born in Santiago, Chile. On December 21, 1991. I grew up mostly in one home until I was 10. We lived in Maipu, Santiago, Chile. Our house was beautiful! From kindergarden to fifth grade I attended an elementary school that was called, Collegio Republica the Guatemala, in Chile. I had great grades. My best friend was Denise. She was a little older than me but we will always do things together at school.

At that time in my life I has two siblings, a sister and a brother. Both of them are older than me. My sisters name is Carolina and my brother is Patricio. When I was about eight, my sister got the opportunity to be an exchange student in California, United States. She stayed with some of my cousins there. When she came back and started college, she told my parents she wanted to go back. She did! She left Chile and went to Oregon to stay with some family friends. Soon after my brother thought that it wasn’t fair that my sister was the only one in the United States so he also came to the States with a student Visa. He was able to start college here. Two years later my parents and I made a trip to the United States in the winter of 2001. We loved it in Oregon. After a month of vacation we went back to Chile so I could start my school year. By the beginning of November my parents have made the plan to move to the United States because my mom was experiences mayor depression.  That day I called my best friend to tell her about what was happening. I was so exited to make the move!

I was able to finish fifth grade a little earlier than usual because I has great grades. My school friends through a party for me and wrote me notes about what they thought of me. I was lovely to hear them say such nice things and to also hear about many boys that had crushes on me.

We left Chile December 2, 2002. Our first stop was in Atlanta, Georgia.  Huge Airport!! I’ve never seen so many African Americans in my entire life. I was such a great experience for me to realize that not all Americans were blonde with blue eyes. Then our second stop was in Salt Lake City, Utah. My aunt and her husband picked us up to spend a couple of days with them.

Then we made our big entrance to Oregon, where my siblings lived. When we got out of the plane there was no one waiting for us! We did not know how to communicate with anyone. We waited for about an hour until my siblings came to pick us up. They forgot what time the plane landed. The drive was beautiful! We were able to make it to their small apartment and be there as a family.

We went through really hard times at first. My dad did not have a job so we weren’t able to help out as much. My siblings were living a crazy life and my parents went through some struggles with them. For several months my parents and I slept on the living room of our apartment, because my sibling had a roommate in there too. After a few months, the roommate was able to move out and my parents finally got the master room!

Our first day at church was different. I didn’t understand anything. I would only look at the cute boys. I remember going to my Sunday school class and only having three kids there. It was shocking to me because my class in Chile was much bigger. Our teacher also gave us licorice. It was cross!! I did not want to eat it.

The next Sunday was better! I had one kid come up to me and he gave me brand new scriptures in Spanish. I was in shocked that his parents would of bought those for me but they probably noticed that I have not brought them to church the previous Sunday.

I started sixth grade in January. I had to get caught up with my immunizations, so that’s what we did over the winter break before school started. Once school started it was a whole new experience. I didn’t know and I didn’t recognize anyone, except for one girl named Whitney who was in my Sunday school Class.

I had to follow around a student from Mexico named Blanca. She was supposed to help me around the school. Well, she wasn’t a big help. She did not like to do that. I did not know how to open my locker, and she would never help me. So I had to ask one girl whose locker was below me to help me to open mine, her name is Kelli.

Blanca one day also stole my P.E. Clothes from my backpack. Well.. That’s my story with her. At the end of that year she finally moved, and I didn’t need her anymore. But interestingly, my senior or junior year of high school I received a call from her. She called to apologize for all the things that she had done to me. I told her that it was okay. I have no doubt that she felt guilty for all the mean and stupid things that she did to me.

My mom, Isabel, got pregnant with my little sister, Keally. She is asorable and so fat. I can’t believe I have a little sister. I could be her mom. I’m a little like her mom!

The beginning of my adolescence was primary focused on understanding as much as I could of the language and the American culture. When I lived in Chile, I was well known in school, I was the student body president, I was involved in various activities, I had excellent grades and I was one of the top students in my class. When I came to the United States, everything changed. I was not at the top of the chain anymore. I felt, simply, invisible. During that time, I put all my energy into trying to fit in by learning the language and watching my peers. By next school year, I was able to speak the language well enough to communicate with others and actually have friends in school. I remember that moment very vividly. I felt less of an outcast and a little more integrated into the culture. At that time, I realize that it was the beginning of a new experience. I still had to learn how to behave socially, but I did not have to worry about not being able to understand and speak the language.

            My high school years were different than a normal American teen. Many teens go on vacations or out with their friends during summer time. That was not the case for me. Both of my parents had to work in the summer and I had to stay home to watch my little sister. I was not able to have the opportunity to spend time with my peers during breaks. I was always around my family because they needed me to translate, watch and teach my little sister the things that she needed to know for next school year. That is part of our culture. Family and the well being of our loved ones always come first.

Even though I didn’t spend my adolescence summers with my peers, I was taught to be more responsibilities. At times I felt like my sister’s mom. To this day she likes to pretend that I am her mom. Spending my summers with her had a huge impact on my adolescence. I became more mature because I was the homemaker while my parents were gone and I did not only have responsibility over myself but also my little sister. To this day, because of that experience, I have grown to learn about responsibilities and how to handle struggles with young children which has helped now as my husband and I raise our daughter.

            One of the best experiences that I had in my adolescence was joining the high school dance team. I did not only gain more friendships through dance team, but I was able to focus on just me rather than my whole family. That was my time. I was in dance team for four years and I made long lasting friendships that help me find my role as an adolescent not as an adult.  I was able to learn so much about myself through that experience. Dance team was a small escape that allowed me to be a teen. This experience helped me understand that everyone needs their own time. Even though a family should always be united it is important that children feel like they are children and that they do things that children need to do.  

Dance Team

            Getting my driver’s license was also an experience that opened the door to more freedom. In Chile, individuals do not get a driver’s license until they are eighteen. Getting a driver’s license as young as fifteen was a little shock to me. Why would they trust teens on the road? Getting my driver’s license was huge climax in my adolescence. At that time, I did not feel left out at all because everyone was doing the same. I was able to fit in with my peers and gain more freedom to do the things that I wanted to do with my friends.

After Graduating from High school, I meet Jason, my husband.  He came to High school graduation to “actually see Ben Butterfield”. What a lie!! He was there to see me!! Well after that we started talking. 

Jason and I knew each other from high school. We never really talked to each other because he was a Senior and I a Freshman.  Actually, at a Mormon dance he tried hooking me up with a boy my age ( aka Nathanael).  Secretly, I did have a crush on Jason that year. But because he was so much older than me, I never figured anything could happen. When Tara and Andrew got married, I helped at the reception. Nancy (Jason’s mom) asked me if I could take a picture with a cut out of Jason (He was on his mission).  I obviously said yes. I guess his mom sent him the pic and he couldn’t remember my name. He though it was Sylvia. Well... Kinda close. I invited Nancy to my graduation. I was so excited that she was going to come because she was my first Seminary teacher. I love her. Surprisingly, Jason wanted to come too. When they came over to congratulate me, I saw him there and I froze. I was like wow... he is here..this is awkward... I don’t know what to say... So I ignored him. I gave a hug to his mom and I was going to shake his hand, but he gave me a hug. I really didn’t talk to him. My sister and my parents did. I just talked to his mom. 

Well my sister and his mom were secretly talking on Facebook trying to figure out how they can get us to go on a date. I guess Nancy told my sister that Jason could help register for classes and then my sister told me. Jason and I talked on Facebook a few times after graduation. When it was time for registration he did help. I actually knew more than him!!!!

That summer we started dating and by the fourth of July we were girlfriend and boyfriend. We attended BYU-I together. Jason Proposed on December 25^th, 2009 in front of the Christmas tree. He had to go back to school and I stayed home working and planning the wedding. We got married April 16, 2010. I was eighteen and Jason was Twenty two. We married in the Portland, Oregon Temple.  One of the happiest days of my life!

            We lived with his parent for a few months to save some money.  Then we came to BYU-Idaho together. We met so many wonderful people, the Hallams, Diamonds, and Melancons, Bradys. We got pregnant with Lea around December. We found out we were having a baby in January around Jason’s b-day! In April we found out that we were having a girl. Leiahna Erika Andrus was born September 16, 2011. She is the joy of our lives. School has been hard especially because I want to be home with her. She recently turns one and she is a blast. During the summer we with Jason’s family went to Hawaii. It was so much fun. I also watched Keally my little sister during the summer.

            The fall semester is going great so far. We are both in School and will graduate this semester. Can’t wait to be done!