Value of a College Education - Brother Jeff Anderson

Dear youth (and former youth) of the Pagedale Branch,

Having served with you I want you to know that I love you as in a special way that is hard to describe. I can only compare it with the love I have for my children. I want the best for you and have a deep and heart-felt desire to see you make good and righteous decisions for I know this is the only way that you will have peace and happiness. With this as an introduction I would like to finally respond to President Sleet’s request. Because I love you, I am going to share some stories that are funny, some that are embarrassing, and some that are difficult. I realize others may see these things, but if this helps one of you make the decision to go to college (and especially if that college is my alma-mater BYU-Idaho) then it will be more than worth it.

When I was in seventh grade my older brother was a Freshman in High School. That summer, my brother decided to go to EFY (Especially for Youth) because a good friend convinced him that there would be a lot of cute girls. His friend, of course, was right, but much more importantly this turned out to be a pivotal moment for my brother’s spiritual growth and, as I had no greater desire in life than to do exactly what my older brother did, mine. At EFY my brother decided that he wanted to abandon the path he had recently been flirting with at high school. This path included friends that drank and partied and further down the road would have led to immorality. Because he felt the Holy Ghost, he decided that he would strive to the live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Please note, my brother did not come home perfect, but in place of his desire to constantly challenge my parents authority was the desire to try to change himself and do good.

As soon as I was old enough I went to EFY (and then went every summer after). What I loved most about EFY was that here I could be the Jeff I liked the most. At EFY I was a star if I did good things. It definitely helped that there were a lot of pretty girls, but what was more was more exciting was that there were a lot of pretty girls that shared my beliefs and morals. Looking back, this good experience, along with the bad experience of dating some girls in school that did not share my morals and disliked my church and beliefs, were two of the major factors that drove me to what was then called Ricks College. I knew at Ricks that if I saw a pretty girl (that did not already have a wedding ring on) I could ask her on a date with much less fear that she would have different standards than me.

To be brief, those first two years of college were packed with some of the most fun I have ever had. A lot of it was a little silly (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IDn7rXa3wI … yes this is embarrassing, but it is funny) but it was all clean. The amazing thing, looking back, is that having all that fun didn’t have to stop me from getting a great education (~80 credits in 2 years – a lot – and a GPA of ~3.8), preparing for and serving a full time mission (they have a mission preparation class at BYU-Idaho!), participating in extracurricular activities (two plays, two musicals, and a barbershop quartet – yes it is nerdy but I liked it), and serving faithfully in church callings (my first ever). Of course, mixed in with the fun, there was some heartache, some discouragement, some loneliness, some frustration, and some anger, but despite these difficulties it was everything I needed and wanted at that point in my life.

The next three years I spent at Idaho State University. This was a time of transition. I also had fun, but spent these years concerning myself more and more with my education and my future life (it is here that I met and married Mary). This led naturally to where I am today, graduate school (really getting close to a career) and being a father and husband.

College has changed my life. It was the means of not just preparing me for my future career (which should be bright), but was also the means of forming my whole life. I sincerely hope that you will all make the decision to go. The scholarships are there. It is not out of your reach. It will pay you back many times in return, and if you let it by coupling it with righteous living and faithful service to the Lord (this includes a mission and diligently striving to find a person to whom you can be sealed in the temple) will be the means of bringing you peace and happiness as well.

With great love,

Jeff

Value of a College Education - Sister Katelyn Hunt

Education was something that was always very heavily emphasized in the home I grew up in. I never had to guess my parents expectations concerning my schooling and privileges such as access to a car, weekends out with friends and being able to participate in after school activities like dance and cheerleading were all tied to how I did in school. If I did not make grades, I lost access to the car. If I spent more time focusing on weekend plans than my homework, the weekend plans were taken away. While this frustrated me sometimes as a teenager, I knew education was important to my parents, and I knew it should be important to me too. And I knew that if I wanted to attend college, my grades needed to be good and competitive with every other high school kid that was applying to college. Aside from learning the importance of education, that emphasis also taught me some important life principles that I would take with me when I did leave my family home and move away to college. I learned about priorities. I learned about honoring commitments. I learned about the Law of the Harvest, that if I worked hard for something, put in my time and effort, it would always pay off. I learned to honor my parents and I learned to respect elders.

I received my Patriarchal Blessing when I was 17. I was getting ready to enter my senior year of high school and would be making some significant decisions regarding my future in the upcoming months. I remember distinctly the Patriarch telling me that my Heavenly Father wanted my to obtain all the education I could. He wanted me to fill my mind with the arts, sciences, literature so there wouldn't be room for things like pornography, ill thoughts of others, or negativity. I also remember him saying to prepare myself with an education so that if the time came someday that it would necessary for me to provide for my family, I would be able to do so. I would be educated and have the skill set to obtain a job that would allow me to take care of my children. This scared me at the time. Scared me right into taking seriously a college education. Few things cause me more anxiety than not being able to provide for myself or my children, this is especially true now that I have a little girl that I love and adore more than anything. We are fortunate that Wade, my husband has a good job that allows me to stay home and be with my baby girl during the day. What a blessing. But Wade too, took seriously the importance of education and went through 6 years of college and several summer internships to secure the employment he enjoys today.

Aside from the ability to provide and the importance of educating myself, college was fun! Really, really fun! Some of the most fun years of my life. I was on my own! I set my own rules, I made so many friends that I remain close to, to this day. I went to football games on the weekends, or on adventures with roommates. I went to dances and parties. I got involved in student government and got to plan activities for the whole university. And I learned loads about myself. I learned I needed 8 hours of sleep a night to function well! I learned how to be a good and supportive friend. I learned I need to be around people to be my happiest self. I learned how to talk in front of a crowd. I learned how to balance my budget and manage a checking account. I learned how to cook and do my laundry! A college education in one thing, an important thing, but a college experience is something too, a something that should not be missed.

I am grateful for parents who instilled the importance of education. I am grateful for a patriarchal blessing than reinforced that importance and told me why it was so important. And finally I am grateful I went the direction all arrows were pointing and got a college education and a college experience.

Sister Katelyn Hunt

Value of a College Education - Brother Robert Rodriguez

As far as the value of an education....it is priceless. 

 

There are many people in this world who have made tons of money, only to have it stolen by unscrupulous managers, agents and CPA's.  An education is something that no one can take from you and allows one to understand more about the world and who it operates.  There have been times that my lack of an advanced education has kept me from getting certain jobs.  My education has on many occasions gotten me jobs.  I glad that I learned how to learn, which is what most education is all about.  No matter how much you know, you still have to learn how the company does what they do.  It may not be right or the best, but, you still have to understand what it is that they do. 

A university is also a place to meet someone who has some ambitions too.  You'll meet a different class of people in college.  There's no guarantee they'll be better, but, they will be different. 
An education opens many doors for a person.  You may not like the doors that open, but, it is better than a closed door without options.

 

Brother Robert Rodriguez

Value of a College Education - Bishop Paul Kjar

One of the best things a college education has done for me has been to instill a love of learning inside me. Yes, I got a degree, which helps me provide better for my family, but I also came away with a love of learning. I think back on the once in a lifetime opportunity I had to study and learn and grow intellectually as a great blessing.

A few comments from President Uchtdorf this past conference stood out to me:

"For us, education is not just a good idea, but a commandment."
"Education is not so much the filling of a bucket as the lighting of a fire. For members of the church education is not merely a good idea, it's a commandment. We are to learn of things both 'in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad.' (D&C 88:79)

“A man is saved no faster than he gains knowledge.”

“Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.” (D&C 130:18).

Bishop Paul Kjar

Value of a College Education - Sister Julie Matthews

I attended college, and absolutely feel it's worth it!  For many reasons.

 First, an education is important.  What if something happened and I needed to support myself?  It's nice to have an education to fall back on.  I currently don't work, and only worked a short time in my field, but I am able to pick up odd jobs on the side, because I have a 4 year degree. 

Second, I think you gain so many things besides an education.  You learn social skills, how to be on your own, your testimony grows, and you grow up a lot.  I think there is a huge difference in someone that has gone and been out "on their own", even if they live at home and go. 

And third, how are you ever going to know what is really out there, if you don't go out and find out?  The world is a big place, and it's awesome to make the friends, and have all the experiences of a college student. 

 

Sister Julie Matthews