Work Wisdom

I really enjoyed President's Hinckley's thoughts about work and I realized that I needed to hear these things right now in my life. I have been struggling lately with school. I feel like I study so hard and I work really hard and that my grades are not reflecting it. I am learning that this is not high school anymore and that I cannot do what I did in high school and make "A's" like I did in high school. I have always wanted to work in the medical field, especially as a pediatrician. I was beginning to think that because I was not doing well in my classes that maybe I am not smart enough. Well, I talked to several people about this and they are told me not to give up. They told me to just work harder. That's just what I am going to do. I am not going to give up on my dream. So, for me, the advice that stood out to me from President Hinckley is that work "is the process by which dreams become realities. It is the idle process by which idle visions become dynamic achievements." I really needed to hear that. I can be a doctor or whatever I want to be through hard work. I need to be willing to sacrifice some of my lazy habits to work hard and eventually get into medical school and continue pursuing my dream. I am grateful for his counsel and that I was able to read that. I am going to put that quote on my bulletin board and read it everyday to remind myself to work hard. I can't believe how the first line of the things we had to read related directly to me. It is no coincidence.

I think the greatest lesson I have learned from hard work is that, just as President Hinckley counseled, "there is no end to what you can accomplish." In high school I learned this lesson, and I think I forgot this lesson since I have been at BYU, but I am remembering it now. My junior year I took calculus. I was so scared for this class and I had a really difficult teacher. I had had him before and although I loved him, I always made B's in his class. For calculus, I was determined to make an "A." I worked so hard doing my homework and I studied hard. I had my friend come over and tutor me, and I made an "A." I never thought that I could make an "A'" in calculus and I know that it is because of the hard work and prayers that I made an "A" in that course. So, as I endeavor in more rigorous courses at BYU, I need to remember these noble truths and work hard!

Education in Zion

I really enjoyed the section in the exhibit called "From Academy to University: BYU's Founding Vision and Its Educational Pioneers, 1875-1950." In this section, I found the story of Delbert Brigham Brown to be very interesting. He was a "farm boy" growing up and didn't move to Provo until he was fifty two. I am sure he was not very well educated and he got a job as a custodian at the Smith Fieldhouse. I was impressed by his relationships with the students and his desire to help the students even if he didn't know them. As a custodian, I am sure he did not have a lot of money and he gave ten dollars to a foreign student he had never even met. Growing up, he had never even heard of the Word of Wisdom, but while working for BYU he helped students overcome problems with the Word of Wisdom in a kind and gentle way. There was a letter of gratitude from a student who had worked as a student custodian under Brown and I was touched by the sincerity and true respect the students at BYU had for Delbert Brown. I am sure he was not very well learned, but his wisdom was far beyond some of the most educated people I have known or have even heard of. He passed on wisdom to students by helping them through the problems that they faced and helping them to be better people, not necessarily by increasing their secular knowledge. He makes me want to be a better person and to be more selfless. He makes me want to do more service, so that I can have the legacy that he has. I am grateful to be part of this University that has such Christ-like professors and employees. I am surrounded by people that are good examples to me and this man made me realize that even small things can make a big difference.

Homecoming Week

I went to the Homecoming Devotional, I don't know if it was called a devotional, but it was on Tuesday morning. It was nice and I enjoyed the winning essay that was read there. I also liked seeing the band and the dancers that close and it really got me pumped up for Homecoming week. After the show, we went to the Homecoming Kick-Off Barbeque. There were a lot of people there and we enjoyed some good food. We did not stay long, but we had fun for a little while there. I saw some of my friends and we just hung out and enjoyed the free food, who could complain? Aside from my Tuesday activities I did not really participate in Homecoming this year. I am not huge on football, so I did not get too excited about the game either. I heard that the blue foam football was fun too, but I had to go open a checking account with my mom so I missed it, oh well. There is always next year!

Conference Correction

I loved watching Conference this year and I was impressed by all of the talks and it is hard to pick just one to talk about now. However, I felt like President Monson's talk in the Sunday morning session was the most corrective for me. It was about about change, which seems to fit for me perfectly as many things in my life are changing right now, actually pretty much everything is changing right now. I sometimes tend to look toward the future and look at what is missing in my life. President Monson seemed to be speaking directly to me when he said that we need to make the best out of every day and find joy in the journey. He said that we need to focus on the blessing we have each day. I am so blessed everyday. I am blessed to be at BYU and to have great roommates. I am blessed to have made friends in my ward. I am blessed to get to look at the beautiful mountains everyday that God created for me. I am blessed to have the Gospel in my life and to have the atonement and be able to rely on my Savior to uplift me. These are blessings in my life now and focusing on these great blessings instead of focusing on my daily stresses and on what is missing in my life right now will help me to be the best that I can be, now, not later. I am grateful for this talk and for President Monson. I know he is truly called of God and is inspired by God to share messages that we need to hear. So, I need to stop dwelling on the negative and focus on the positive blessings. He said to take pleasure in small things and express love and gratitude everyday. This is so true, you never know when the end is, so we must always be prepared.