9. Education

Thankful for an Education. 

After James served his mission in the Philippines, he took a trip to Hawaii to visit his brother Richard.....and has been here ever since, working and studying at BYUH (off & on). He currently is on a break (to make his millions he says), and has about two years left to his undergraduate degree. If you've met James, you know that he should become a lawyer or an accountant. He is good at arguing a point and extremely good with numbers, statistics, anything math.
His educational background and academic strengths are a total contrast to mine, and further prove how dumb/behind Americans are in math and science. Seriously, I want my kids to go to school in New Zealand. Not only because they have to wear 'Harry Potter' looking uniforms (haha), but because I have lost total faith in America's public school system.

I on the other had made it known to everyone my senior year, that after graduation I was "Out of here". (I did NOT want to attend BYU-H) I remember applying early to BYU-Provo and then finally jumping for joy when I got my acceptance letter. People are surprised that I willingly decided to attend BYU-Provo, but I loved my two years there. However, I did have to struggle with homesickness at first. It's weird that when only a few us (friends connected to Laie, Kahuku, Hauula) decided to leave to Utah after high school, a lot of our friends/classmates thought we were crazy. Saying they could never live on their own or were too scared to leave Hawaii. But now a couple years later, they've all moved to Utah. I think most of them still wanted to live like high school seniors (but finally realized they needed to grow up). Anyways, I made friends with some Hawaii people, but I pushed myself to embrace "the haoles". haha. I will never forget my 1st roommates: Claire (CT), Bryn (IA), and Tammy (AZ) :)

Provo taught me how to GROW UP.
Budget finances, study, be social, gain my own testimony, cook, clean, attend church, travel. Don't worry, I mean I still stayed out late & took the random road trips to Cali :)
Keep in mind that this entire time, James and I were doing the long distance (millions of Tmobile mintues) relationship. After returning for summer break before my junior year, he proposed and a year later we were walking hand in hand into the Kona Temple.
And I was PISSED that I was transferring to BYUH, haha.
But now I got to take classes with my new husband, and then as a pregnant mother-to-be, and now finally as a working mama.
I enjoy learning and am very thankful for the opportunity to further my education. It's sad that even in our modern day AND ESPECIALLY within our own LDS Church, women still struggle with educational and career goals.
I can't wait to graduate this coming April 2012.

"Knowing, then, that marriage and family come first, what should we think about education and careers? Remember—the issue is not marriage or education; the issue is marriage and education. . . It has been said that before becoming somebody’s wife, before becoming somebody’s mother, become somebody."--Sister Marie Hafen

Let your first business be to perform your duties at home. But, inasmuch as you are wise stewards, you will find time for social duties, because these are incumbent upon us as daughters and mothers in Zion. By seeking to perform every duty you will find that your capacity will increase, and you will be astonished at what you can accomplish.
--Eliza R. Snow, Daughters in My Kingdom, p. 59


In the June 11, 2007 employee meeting with Elder Richard G. Scott, an employee who works in advising asked how to advise women who believe they cannot justify the cost of completing their education when they plan to stay home with their children. Elder Scott seemed a little surprised by the question but responded instantly: “Please, open their eyes,” he said. “A mother has got to be brilliantly educated in today’s world. One of the greatest gifts that can be given to today’s children is a mother in the home who is well-educated.”

Resolve now, while you are young, that you will get all of the education you can. We live in a highly competitive age, and it will only grow worse. Education is the key that will unlock the door of opportunity. You may plan on marriage, and hope for it, but you are not certain that it will come. And even though you marry, education will be of great benefit to you. Don’t just drift along, letting the days come and go without improvement in your lives. The Lord will bless you as you make the effort. Your lives will be enriched and your outlook broadened as your minds are opened to new vistas and knowledge.
--President Gordon B. Hinckley, “Let Virtue Garnish Thy Thoughts Unceasingly,” General Young Women Meeting March 24, 2007.

There must be respect for the interests of one another. There must be opportunities and encouragement for the development and expression of individual talent. Any man who denies his wife the time and the encouragement to develop her talents, denies himself and his children a blessing which could grace their homes and bless their posterity.

--President Gordon B. Hinckley

For women, the important ingredients for happiness are to forge an identity, serve the Lord, get an education, develop your talents, serve your family, and if possible to have a family of your own. However, you cannot do all these things well at the same time. You cannot be a 100-percent wife, a 100-percent mother, a 100-percent Church worker, a 100-percent career person, and a 100-percent public-service person at the same time. How can all of these roles be coordinated? I suggest that you can have it sequentially. Sequentially is a big word meaning to do things one at a time at different times. I hope you acquire all of the knowledge you can. Become as skillful as you can, but not exclusively in new careers at the expense of the primary ones, or you may find that you have missed one of the great opportunities of your lives.

--President James E. Faust

*We hope we are becoming good examples for our children to follow in attaining their eduction, no matter what struggles come :)