I grew up on the same farm where my grandpa grew up. It was a tiny, remote farmhouse on a massive 30 acres of beautiful land, and our closest neighbors were half a mile down the road. My sister and I played outdoors day in and day out. Looking back, the space I grew up in was quite idyllic for a kid. I got to high school, and during those years, I discovered a passion for studying languages. My Spanish teacher nominated me for the Sterling Scholar Award in languages for our school. Around the time that I graduated high school in 2000, I became a Sterling Scholar. It wasn’t until later that I realized I had earned a tuition scholarship to what was then Utah Valley State College (UVSC). So, in January of 2002, I enrolled in college. My first semester was a complete disaster. I struggled to stay motivated in classes so much that I ultimately dropped out of school and lost my scholarship. 

I didn’t give up for good, though. Four years later, in 2006, my husband at the time was deployed, and I was trying to find ways to keep busy. It felt like time to go back and try college out for the second time. I still lived close to UVSC and already had some experience there, so it seemed to be the path of least resistance to easing myself back into education. Starting with general education classes, I studied the whole time that he was gone — three solid semesters with a 4.0 to show for it. Shortly after my then-husband’s return, I became pregnant with twins. Though I wanted to keep going to school, I was extremely sick and couldn’t even get out of bed to attend my classes. Conflicted by the desire to stay in school and the desire to start my family, I paused my education once again. 

For 10 years, I was solely a stay-at-home mom. Then in 2017, my then-husband blindsided me with news that he wanted a divorce. After he left, I felt abandoned and lost. My identity was wrapped up in raising my children, so I felt like I didn’t have any skills. I didn’t have a job or job prospects, and I desperately thought, What am I going to do?

Finishing my degree looked like the best option for myself and my kids. So, in the spring of 2018, I returned to college for the second time at the school that is now Utah Valley University (UVU). I declared Spanish as my major and Russian studies as a minor and then graduated in May 2021. 

While in school, my original master plan was to get a master’s in linguistics from BYU. However, with the pandemic in full swing, I missed the deadline to apply for the graduate program. Disappointed at first, I realized in hindsight that everything worked out how it was supposed to. UVU offers a graduate certificate for secondary education. Upon looking through other potential programs, I was really drawn to the graduate certificate program — it just felt right. I applied. Now I’m in my second semester of that program, which is going very well. It is all at once exciting, stressful, and exhausting, especially since I’ve been in school nonstop for a really long time. This semester, I’m observing other teachers within the classroom, and next semester I’ll become a student teacher. The graduate certificate happens to cover the first half of a Master of Education, which will allow me to finish a master’s within a year after I start teaching middle or high school. It has yet to be determined whether I will get the master’s right away or secure a few years of teaching under my belt first. 

To UVU students, I’d say that UVU is an incredible place to get an education, especially if you feel like you don’t really belong. Going back to school at age 35 was terrifying. It was strange to know that I was older than some of my professors. But I can’t imagine doing that anywhere else and having as positive an experience as I did. I’m grateful that UVU is a place that is willing to help in so many ways — academically, socially, and financially. I worked hard and did well in school, so I earned scholarships that I credit as the reason my kids and I were able to make it through for a while. 

Throughout all my life experiences so far, I have learned so much. After my ex-husband left, I was not in a good place. My self-esteem took a substantial hit. Being able to succeed at UVU helped me see that I am worth investing in. My future is worth investing in. As an individual, I have measureless value and worth, and so does every person. I didn’t have to convince myself of that alone — at UVU, there are so many who saw my potential and pushed me — who believed in me. I know it might sound cheesy and corny, but believe in yourself. And if you can’t yet, there will be people who will do it for you until you can.