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Why Megan Smith Wants to "Talk Story" With You

Growing up in a small town, of only 3,000 people can give a person a very strong curiosity to learn about the vast world, which certainly has to exist beyond their own limited experience. This was the case with me.

I grew up in Sonora, California. It is a beautiful little town on the edge of the Yosemite Valley. It's a place where people are still honest, where parents can trust their children to ride bikes all around town and not have to worry about them being late for dinner, because everyone in the community is very aware of the children's curfew. It's a town that like Laie, loves football. USA Today even named it among the top-ten places in the country to watch a high school football game.

However, because it is tucked away in the mountains, Sonora is also a place that knows little diversity. In fact my only peers who looked different from the rest happened to be my little brother and sister, who were both adopted from Korea. Yes, Sonora comes with its limitations. Perhaps that is the reason I was so excited to journey across the ocean and attend BYU-Hawaii, a school, where I knew everyone has a different story.

I arrived in January 2004 on an unusually rainy night. I remember pulling up to the hales and stepping into the largest puddle I had ever seen. In my mind, it could have passed for a small lake. Without the sun, my surroundings were a mystery and I desperately wanted to explore them.

I was also anxious to meet my new roommate. Dragging my suitcase, I walked across the swampy Hale 3 courtyard to room 105 D. I opened the door and met Hingano Langi, the girl with whom I would be spending my first experience at BYU-Hawaii. She is Tongan and to my surprise, showed a hint of shyness. However, it did not take long for us to develop one of the most special friendships I had ever experienced. Here we were, two girls raised on two completely different sides of the world, but who found more in common with each other than not.

Immediately I knew that BYU-Hawaii was special because by the end of my first semester, not only did I have a special friendship with Hingano, but I had wonderful friends from Australia, New Zealand, Africa, France, Jamaica and the list goes on and on.

As I learned more about my new friends, I learned that different places in the world came with different challenges. I knew I wanted to do something to assist people in overcoming these challenges. I decided to major in social work, nicknamed "The Helping Profession."

Social work not only taught me about the dynamics of others, it also taught me a lot about myself. I learned why it is so important to be culturally sensitive, and to serve with a Christ-like love. The important lessons I learned as a social work major will undoubtedly follow me throughout my journey in life.

In the midst of my social work education, I met my eventual husband, Ryan, in the Joseph F. Smith Library. I was immediately drawn to not only his good looks, but to his sweet spirit and dedication to the gospel and to hard work.

On June 22, 2006, I went from Megan Boyack, a last name that gave me distinction, to another Megan Smith. But, of course, it was a small price to pay for the marriage that I have today.

I graduated from BYU-Hawaii in June 2007. I have to say that it was a bittersweet experience: Sweet because I was looking forward to what doors would open ahead of me, but bitter because I knew that my days of having the privilege of being called a BYU-Hawaii student were over.

Being a BYUH student has blessed my life in ways that I never thought possible. I received a top-quality education, made the best friends of my life and met my wonderful husband. Throughout my education at BYU-Hawaii, I heard numerous times that I and every other student were special. I was told I had been chosen to come to BYU-Hawaii because I and the other students had a mission to fulfill.

As I met and grew to love hundreds of different students, I learned this was indeed true: The students who come to BYU-Hawaii are special. They are given the great opportunity to study at this school because the Lord has special purposes in mind for each of them.

In the column "Talk'n Story with Megan Smith," I set out to share the reasons why BYU-Hawaii students are unique by telling their stories of how they journeyed to this special school. I have already met some incredible students with inspirational stories. For example:

  • Leslie Thompson, a young woman from Peru who converted to the church and now exercises great faith in her day-to-day life.
  • Nickoma Ing, who as a young Maori girl dreamed of an education and of dancing professionally. She is currently studying at BYU-Hawaii and is a feature dancer at the Polynesian Cultural Center's Night Show.
  • Sasa Zibe, who as a young man joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the educational opportunities it provided, but ended up getting a lot more than merely an education in return.

It is a privilege for me to have left my small hometown in Sonora, California, and to have come to this vastly diverse place to learn about life, the world and how through love and understanding of all people, developing peace internationally is a very real possibility. In writing the column, "Talkin' Story with Megan Smith," I am thoroughly looking forward to meeting students and discovering why the student body truly is "pure gold."

Every week I will publish a story on this website highlighting a special student. If you would like to share your story, please contact me at talkin.story.byuh@gmail.com .

To read inspirational student stories, click here.   

 

— Photo by Ryan Smith