When Classes Clean my Windows

I hear the wooden door of 231 of the Richards Building close behind me as I leave yet another day of class. But was it just another day of class? Or did I let it change me a little bit, making it much more than "just another day," as if to say it was inconsequential? Because of the things I just heard, learned and felt in that class, am I going to do anything differently? Am I going to treat someone better or be better able to help? To everyone else the world seems the same now as it was two hours ago, but to me the world is so different than it was before I walked into that classroom.

Walking home I look around at all the other people walking, driving, talking, exercising, and rushing around me. I just wish that everyone on campus could go to the classes I go to and feel their paradigms shift by the moment, so that they, too, would be looking at the world in a whole new way.

I will never forget the feeling of walking around campus after a class and feeling like a whole new world has been revealed, wondering how I possibly lived without understanding what was recently taught to me or brought to my attention.  The feeling of leaving my international health class last fall and walking home at sunset, looking over a gleaming Utah lake and the beautiful BYU campus, with any pre-misconceptions about poverty blown out of my mind.

The feeling of walking out of my Old Testament class at the Jerusalem center and being re-converted, re-determined to always trust in God. The feeling of leaving my substance abuse class and knowing I could never look at an addict or alcoholic and think, "What a loser to keep on using drugs and not just quit. He's a hopeless case and will probably never succeed." Leaving my consumer health class and knowing I could never look at an overweight person and judge them.

Knowledge on these subjects has replaced any old judgements with complete compassion and empathy, and understanding. When you actually understand something, there is so much less room for judgement.

Letting your perspective be changed in class is like cleaning the windows you look through. Watch this:

 

Why I Love Brigham Young University

1. The People. From the kind students who hold open doors for you to the professors who stay late to answer your questions.  The bosses of your campus jobs who work with your schedule, the accommodating Taco Bell employees in the Cougar Eat, the volunteers who would tutor me in Spanish, the TA's who explain things as many times as you need, Matt who works with me at the MTC and brings me pretzels or chocolate throughout my shift... I could go on and on about the inspiring, fun, helpful, Christlike people who surround me. They are the essence of BYU and the are what make this place what Hope and I affectionately call, "The Happiest Place on Earth." Having grown up in a place with very few members, it's been so great to be surrounded by people trying to live just like me. The people are the foundation of one of my greatest blessings--BYU.

2. The Motto. As you drive onto campus, you see this sign:

It gives me chills whenever I think about the good we can do with what we learn here.

3. The Other Motto. When you drive into campus and look on the other side of the street, you see this sign:

The world IS the campus of BYU because I have met some of my best BYU friends far from Provo. I became friends with about 10 BYU students I went to Guatemala with, I nearly became family with 80 BYU students in Jerusalem, I went to a UN Conference in New York City with three others, and I'm sure I'll meet many more throughout my life because BYU students salt the earth.

4. Education. Several times a week I walk out of class absolutely fascinated, uplifted, or feeling like the world is in my reach and solutions are just around the corner. I regret it whenever I complain about classes because I feel like I'm offered a very high-quality education. I enjoy class so much, it's no wonder I feel no hurry to graduate.

5. The Visitors. Do you know how many young members of the church like myself would love to see General Authorities but don't get the opportunity? President Monson was here in November and Sister Beck is coming next Tuesday, and I'll never forget Boyd K Packer being here last year, or Elder Oaks a few months ago. They're here all the time! Dick Cheney, Condoleeza Rice, and other big wigs have visited in my time, too.

6. Rankings. Aside from being the #1 Stone-Cold Sober school since the dawn of time, BYU holds a good deal of titles.

7. The People Who Run It. You know who makes up the Board of Trustees? The First Presidency, a handful of the Twelve, and some of my other favorite people including Julie B. Beck and Elaine Dalton. I don't have to doubt the policies of this place because I trust the guys at the top.

8. That Feeling. Yes, I also love the sports, the Creamery, the beautiful campus, the library videos, the pride of going to the same school as Vocal Point, being close to the MTC and the temple, the intramurals, and Jimmer Mania.  But mostly, I love BYU because of that feeling you get when walking around campus. Whether you're a student or a first-time visitor you can feel it. It makes my heart nearly pop with gratitude and wish that everyone in the world could attend BYU for a time.  It's the Spirit. Today President Samuelson reminded us that Brigham Young told Karl G. Maeser at the founding of the school that "neither the alphabet nor the multiplication table should be taught without the Spirit of God."  I only hope to add and not detract from that unique Spirit of the Y.

Even though I like to think it's close to Zion, there are some flaws at BYU. But the last one we need is a student who's ungrateful for all that BYU is. One who takes their addmittance for granted and feels entitled to attend here. I worked in the admissions office for a year and personally answered phone calls of young people sobbing on the phone because they were denied admission. Cougars, RISE UP! We have so much to live up to. So much is entrusted to us.

Light in the Tunnel

It may be BYU's best-kept secret. It's never advertised. You just have to know. 

On Sunday nights at 10 p.m. you can find BYU students huddled in groups under the tunnel leading to the Marriot Center. They have braved the cold to sing hymns together for an hour or so.  Some nights there are just 30 or 40, other nights, there isn't enough room for the couple hundred.  It's a beautiful sight to see and hear: scores of young people singing about their conviction to fight with sin, their testimonies of Jesus Christ, their knowledge of where true peace comes from, and the joys of the gospel.

Half-way through, the head guy (I don't know how he got his top-man position) shouts, "It's that time again!" and everyone sits down. Newly-called missionaries announce their calls and everyone claps. Then everyone sings "Called to Serve" with extreme zeal. 

Last night I went with my roommate Jamie.

(I love this girl.)

And for once, I didn't just listen to missionary calls. I announced mine.

Hope and Logan joined us!

It reminded me of when Hope and I went tunnel singing two years ago when she visited me my freshman year.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love BYU?