A new year of school or semester could be scary. However, it could bring a new beginning and marvelous feelings for each student. To illustrate, the ex-president of Brigham Young University mentioned in his speech called Inspiring Learning relevant ideas to learn and think of that. For example, the last year of school was difficult. Nonetheless there were a lot of successes such as the spiritual development of the university. The speech shows how each year in BYU, all the communities have the same goals such as following mission, aims and the different values for helping the improvements of learning and personal advancement of each student. As an international student and a new member of the LDS Church, I have to be focused to understand well the purpose of my Heavenly Father. Therefore, while I was studying and reading Kevin J Worthen’s speech, several aspects caught my attention in terms of ELC students: BYU’s philosophy toward learning, learning by experience, and inspiring learning.
BYU’s philosophy toward learning
First, one of the main terms of Brigham Young University is to follow the philosophy toward learning to improve and grow as individuals and children of God. For this reason, if a student would like to envision BYU, they need to know that learning at Brigham Young University is not only for their professional future. Also, they need to understand that it is for their eternal life. The university of the lord encourages students not only to follow the mission statement and the aims. Likewise, it is how the characteristics and purpose produce a deep understanding and relation with our daily life. For example, the aims document effectively boils all these down to four main points. They provide learning that is spiritually strengthening, intellectually enlarging, and character building, leading to lifelong learning and service. Also, there are some specific values like kindness, humbleness, gratitude and faithfulness.
Learning by experience
Secondly, Brigham Young University gives individuals more than empty knowledge. The institution wants to find for students experiences and opportunities to learn in several good ways. Kevin J Worthen emphasized that experiencing life is a fundamental aspect of our human journey. As Elder David A. Bednar pointed out, gaining knowledge through faith and real-life encounters is a core aspect of God's plan for our well-being. It wasn't enough for us to merely memorize divine laws in our pre-earth existence and consider ourselves ready for the celestial kingdom. To truly prepare, we had to enter mortal life, undergo unique experiences unavailable in our pre-earth state, and derive valuable lessons from them. Experience plays a vital role in our earthly learning journey. Nevertheless, what is the intention of Kevin J Worthen, everyone has different perspectives about his speech. Also, BYU has a specific model that stays entered to learn. It encourages all students to study here to seek to learn so they can help people in the future. In addition, I really like that this university doesn’t care what career students are going to choose; they can see God’s help to gain those skills so they can better help other people.
Inspiring learning
Third, the term of inspiring learning is related to the mission statement and the aims of BYU. People can understand a general meaning without a full understanding of all the values and in the missions of BYU because inspiring is a word that people usually use as a synonym of motivation. However, students and members of the different faculties of BYU can see learning like a huge groove of different characteristics because inspiration could be defined as motivation, resilience, etc. Moreover, inspiring learning is a representation and model of revelation and hard work with the gospel. The enhancement of the term and practice of inspiring learning is difficult nowadays, but that brings a huge amount of good benefits. For example the relation and interaction between professors and students in the classroom.
Why did several aspects caught my attention in terms of ELC students?
All those main ideas like The learning at BYU, Inspiring Learning and Learning by experience according to the speech by Kevin J Worthen how to help ELC students to envision Brigham Young University. I consider that the relation is that any international student who belongs to BYU may identify that the model and educational structure model is not ordinary like other universities. The reasons to support that is that our motivation and perspective have a strong relation with our spiritual future and eternal life. The faculty members want to help us in all our issues but with the help of our Heavenly Father.
Conclusion from my perspective
To conclude, entering a new phase in a high education institution could be really difficult and it is something really challenging, or studying a different language. Kevin J Worthen mentioned, each year is difficult and there are going to appear difficulties. However, I consider the achievements of different individuals in BYU to be good and inspiring. How inspiring learning and the gospel can help the future of that important educational institution and people who belong there. As a pupil, reading the speech called Inspiring Learning by Kevin J Worthen was a really good way to have a clear mind about the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ and requirements that encourage students to grow spiritually together like that learning in God. As the president Russel M. Nelson in a general conference said “The future will be glorious for those who are prepared and who continue to prepare to be instruments in the Lord’s hands”. Finally, I feel blessed because I envision BYU from my perspective and I learn from that.
Nelson, B. P. R. M. (2020, October 3). Embrace the Future with Faith. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/10/37nelson?lang=eng
In-Text Citation: (Nelson, 2020)
Worthen, K. J. (2023, July 18). Inspiring Learning. BYU Speeches. https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/kevin-j-worthen/inspiring-learning/
In-Text Citation: (Worthen, 2023)