Last week, I packed up my possessions and moved out of the Provo apartment I'd lived in for the last several years. I've certainly been frustrated with Provo at times, and I haven't been shy about criticizing BYU's administration. But it feels like time to review the things I've loved about being here; many parts of studying at BYU in Provo have been wonderful.
A little over three years ago, I moved into the apartment pictured above with four friends because we were tired of living in our prior apartment complex. People my age tend to move around a lot, but I've never liked moving, and I was always happy with this apartment. I ended up staying there for three years— the rest of my time as an undergraduate student— long after my original roommates had moved away or gotten married. Living in this apartment is the longest I've ever lived consecutively in any one place on my own (most of my post-high-school life was moving around in college or a mission, where I moved every couple of months).
Although my degree hasn't been formally awarded yet, I decided to physically leave Provo for my last three classes. I'll be taking them online while living in North Carolina. Even though my degree won't be formally awarded until August, leaving Provo feels like the symbolic ending of my relationship with the University. There are certainly times to talk about how any given community we are part of needs to improve, and conversations about how the BYU community needs to improve are ongoing. I've shared some thoughts about that, and I likely will have more to share once my degree from the University is formally awarded.
Still, this doesn't feel like the time for that. At the end of my long time as an undergraduate (punctuated by a nearly three-year deferment for an LDS mission), I can't help but think of the very best parts of my experience.
Faculty
I have loved working with my professors at BYU. The faculty at BYU are some of the best people in the world. Not just the best academics in the world— though they're certainly that too— but the best people. This is a group of people that will go out of their way to help you. Let me be clear: high school teachers will often tell high school students that "they won't get this kind of help in college." In one sense, that's true. The teaching responsibilities for professors are just too great for them to monitor everyone and be proactive about a struggling student. They won't punish you for failing to complete your work or approach you and ask you if you need help if you're struggling. You must be proactive. But if you are willing to reach out for help or communicate with your professor, they'll make recommendations and do whatever it takes to help you.
I remember that during one class early during my college experience, I was struggling because of personal issues. When the final exam rolled around, I was doing so poorly in this particular class that I knew I would fail regardless of how well I did on the final exam. Still, I was so embarrassed about my performance that I went to take the final exam anyway so no one would notice my absence. As I turned in the final exam at the front of the classroom, the professor noticed and started to head towards me. Thinking that I was about to get scolded for wasting the church's resources (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or LDS/Mormon church, sponsors BYU), I sped up to avoid him. It didn't work; the professor caught me right outside the door of the classroom. Far from being scolded, the professor wanted to make sure I was okay. He wanted to ensure that I was doing well; he encouraged me not to see his class as an indicator of future success and wished me well. That meant a lot to me.
This is just one of countless examples. I could tell these kinds of stories all day. Professors at BYU receive a small fraction of the praise they deserve. They have helped me appreciate subjects— even art history— that I never thought I could. For the professors at BYU teaching isn't auxiliary to their research; it's what they do. I have loved learning for them.
Non-Administrative Staff
During my last few years at BYU, I started working at BYU Broadcasting in their engineering department. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made. BYU makes an effort to hire students as much as possible— manning the food court, running help desks in the library, and so on— so I wasn't worried about finding a job. But I couldn't have anticipated what a great experience I was going to have at BYUB. I worked there full-time during during the summer, and part-time the rest of the year. It was amazing. I loved the people I worked with. They gave me an opportunity to work on real projects and to learn skills that helped me to grow. They were willing to take time to teach me what I needed to know. They were incredibly understanding of my role as a student. I can't speak highly enough of my wonderful experience there.
I would advise anyone going to BYU to try to find an on-campus job in their field after their freshman year. Not all on campus employers are created equal, but many are excellent. It will do more for you and your academic success than you think it will.
Provo Ecclesiastical Leaders
I have heard many first-hand horror stories about Provo ecclesiastical leaders. I have heard of people being interviewed about their dating habits, stake presidents dividing the room by people who were dating, and so on. I've never experienced anything like that in my local wards and stakes. All of my ecclesiastical leaders have been some of the best, kindest, most appreciative people I've ever had the privilege to associate with. I am, by nature, not one to ask for help. But my ecclesiastical leaders have always behaved in such a way that I knew if I needed help they would be there in a heartbeat. This has done more for me than they will ever know. I have always lived the university's honor code, but because of the way the university enforces it, I feel naturally hesitant to trust ecclesiastical leaders. That I came to trust and respect my ecclesiastical leaders the way I did, despite the university, is a testament to how wonderful those people are.
Students
If you go to BYU from somewhere other than the west, you're going to feel out of place and alone at some point during your university career. It's just going to happen. You won't fit in there in one way or another. People from Utah, although they are very kind people, don't often realize how culturally different from the rest of the country they are. For 95% of your friends, once they get married you'll almost never see them again. It's just the way it is. It's going to happen.
But there are students who aren't like that. There are people who will listen to you and accept you and love you just as you are. Seek these people out, and strive to be one. They are out there.
Update 5/7/2017: Corrected a typo.
A little over three years ago, I moved into the apartment pictured above with four friends because we were tired of living in our prior apartment complex. People my age tend to move around a lot, but I've never liked moving, and I was always happy with this apartment. I ended up staying there for three years— the rest of my time as an undergraduate student— long after my original roommates had moved away or gotten married. Living in this apartment is the longest I've ever lived consecutively in any one place on my own (most of my post-high-school life was moving around in college or a mission, where I moved every couple of months).
Although my degree hasn't been formally awarded yet, I decided to physically leave Provo for my last three classes. I'll be taking them online while living in North Carolina. Even though my degree won't be formally awarded until August, leaving Provo feels like the symbolic ending of my relationship with the University. There are certainly times to talk about how any given community we are part of needs to improve, and conversations about how the BYU community needs to improve are ongoing. I've shared some thoughts about that, and I likely will have more to share once my degree from the University is formally awarded.
Still, this doesn't feel like the time for that. At the end of my long time as an undergraduate (punctuated by a nearly three-year deferment for an LDS mission), I can't help but think of the very best parts of my experience.
Faculty
I have loved working with my professors at BYU. The faculty at BYU are some of the best people in the world. Not just the best academics in the world— though they're certainly that too— but the best people. This is a group of people that will go out of their way to help you. Let me be clear: high school teachers will often tell high school students that "they won't get this kind of help in college." In one sense, that's true. The teaching responsibilities for professors are just too great for them to monitor everyone and be proactive about a struggling student. They won't punish you for failing to complete your work or approach you and ask you if you need help if you're struggling. You must be proactive. But if you are willing to reach out for help or communicate with your professor, they'll make recommendations and do whatever it takes to help you.
I remember that during one class early during my college experience, I was struggling because of personal issues. When the final exam rolled around, I was doing so poorly in this particular class that I knew I would fail regardless of how well I did on the final exam. Still, I was so embarrassed about my performance that I went to take the final exam anyway so no one would notice my absence. As I turned in the final exam at the front of the classroom, the professor noticed and started to head towards me. Thinking that I was about to get scolded for wasting the church's resources (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or LDS/Mormon church, sponsors BYU), I sped up to avoid him. It didn't work; the professor caught me right outside the door of the classroom. Far from being scolded, the professor wanted to make sure I was okay. He wanted to ensure that I was doing well; he encouraged me not to see his class as an indicator of future success and wished me well. That meant a lot to me.
This is just one of countless examples. I could tell these kinds of stories all day. Professors at BYU receive a small fraction of the praise they deserve. They have helped me appreciate subjects— even art history— that I never thought I could. For the professors at BYU teaching isn't auxiliary to their research; it's what they do. I have loved learning for them.
Non-Administrative Staff
During my last few years at BYU, I started working at BYU Broadcasting in their engineering department. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made. BYU makes an effort to hire students as much as possible— manning the food court, running help desks in the library, and so on— so I wasn't worried about finding a job. But I couldn't have anticipated what a great experience I was going to have at BYUB. I worked there full-time during during the summer, and part-time the rest of the year. It was amazing. I loved the people I worked with. They gave me an opportunity to work on real projects and to learn skills that helped me to grow. They were willing to take time to teach me what I needed to know. They were incredibly understanding of my role as a student. I can't speak highly enough of my wonderful experience there.
I would advise anyone going to BYU to try to find an on-campus job in their field after their freshman year. Not all on campus employers are created equal, but many are excellent. It will do more for you and your academic success than you think it will.
Provo Ecclesiastical Leaders
I have heard many first-hand horror stories about Provo ecclesiastical leaders. I have heard of people being interviewed about their dating habits, stake presidents dividing the room by people who were dating, and so on. I've never experienced anything like that in my local wards and stakes. All of my ecclesiastical leaders have been some of the best, kindest, most appreciative people I've ever had the privilege to associate with. I am, by nature, not one to ask for help. But my ecclesiastical leaders have always behaved in such a way that I knew if I needed help they would be there in a heartbeat. This has done more for me than they will ever know. I have always lived the university's honor code, but because of the way the university enforces it, I feel naturally hesitant to trust ecclesiastical leaders. That I came to trust and respect my ecclesiastical leaders the way I did, despite the university, is a testament to how wonderful those people are.
Students
If you go to BYU from somewhere other than the west, you're going to feel out of place and alone at some point during your university career. It's just going to happen. You won't fit in there in one way or another. People from Utah, although they are very kind people, don't often realize how culturally different from the rest of the country they are. For 95% of your friends, once they get married you'll almost never see them again. It's just the way it is. It's going to happen.
But there are students who aren't like that. There are people who will listen to you and accept you and love you just as you are. Seek these people out, and strive to be one. They are out there.
Update 5/7/2017: Corrected a typo.
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