TUESDAY, AUG. 21: Education Week classes officially began Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. Campus was buzzing and the day was beautiful. There is something about being at Education Week at the base of such majestic mountains. It makes me feel smarter!
I am always very grateful to the volunteers who help herd everyone around campus to the different classrooms. I am also grateful to the campus staff. They are so patient while we stand in long lines just to get to the front of the line and spend too much time deciding between a mint brownie or a cinnamon roll.
Before classes begin I take time to strike up a conversation with whoever I'm sitting next to:
Where are you from?
Is this your first Education Week?
What classes have you attended today?
These simple questions seem to bond Education Week participants and suddenly I am having a wonderful conversation about a profound truth shared in one of the classes.
One I shared today with a Wilkinson Center Ballroom neighbor: In Brad Wilcoxs class at the end of the day, he introduced Elder Smith, who had been one of the missionaries in Chile while Brother Wilcox was the Mission President.
This is Elder Smith, he was one of my missionaries. Welcome, Elder Smith.
By the way, what is your first name, Elder?
Ben," replied the elder.
Ben, Ben. Who knew?!
Every time I come to Campus Education Week I see someone I know. Its also a time to reconnect with college roommates who made such a difference in my life as a young freshman student at BYU. A long way from home in Maryland where I grew up and a new convert to the church, these girls influenced me for good in ways that are difficult to express.
As I walked around campus today excited about what I will learn and be exposed to, I was reminded in a very special way how wonderful it is to have good influences in our lives. The bond that is created through gospel friendships is a wonderful gift. That feeling is always enhanced while I am being educated here at Education Week. I would not be here at Education Week this week if my roommates all those years ago had not helped me to grow and had not been such positive examples to me. My goal here at Education Week this week is to hear principles and lessons that I can apply to my own life so I can strive to be that same type of example to others, to my family, to my new granddaughter and to my spouse.
I am sure I can build some new friendships, too, waiting in line at the Cougar Eat to get my mint brownie.
Or do I want a cinnamon roll?
(Lisa Olsen is from Redding, Calif. She has been married for 32 years and has four children and one granddaughter. She is a professional educator and is currently serving as an institute teacher and Primary music leader in Redding.)