Going forth to serve

Graphics by Sadie Madriaga

Professors encourage seniors to continue learning after graduation and to hold on to BYUH experiences

BY GREG TIVLES

As the academic year ends, graduating seniors at BYU–Hawaii said they will miss the normal graduation ceremonies. Professors advised them to be adaptable and to not let their educational experience go to waste post-graduation.

Caryn Lesuma, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Arts & Letters, said, “My greatest hope for students is they will take what they have learned at BYUH, both academically and spiritually, and use their experiences generously to make their families, communities, workplaces and countries a better place.”

Adapt to new environments

Scott Springer, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Business & Government, said, “Be ready to adapt.” Springer said within a few years of getting his bachelor’s degree in journalism, things radically changed due to digital technology, which outdated some of the things he had learned. “But I learned in college to be adaptable, and that helped me succeed,” he said.

Keith Lane, an associate professor in the Faculty of Religious Education, shared, “You’ve also learned to work with your mind. It’s become used to being ‘exercised.’ Don’t let it get lazy.”

Lane explained, “As with the knowledge you have, keep putting your mind to good work.

“Use what you’ve learned … and the processes you’ve followed for learning to bless the lives of others.”

Lesuma emphasized, “You may end up in a field you hadn’t anticipated with a high learning curve, but even if you find yourself in your desired field, you will find that job descriptions tend to change as rapidly as technology advances.”

During her first job as a journalist at the Honolulu Advertiser, Lesuma said she realized that, even with her English degree, employers were looking for a wide variety of skills like videography and editing. “Because of that,” she said, “I had to be flexible and be able to wear many hats in order to make myself an asset in the newsroom.”

Develop trust and be realistic

Springer shared, “Be realistic. Most people don’t land their ‘dream job’ immediately after college.”

He said many people work several jobs after graduating before finding the profession they want to stay in the long term. “Be realistic about how long it may take to build your career,” he stressed.

Lesuma said, “My advice is to be a flexible problem-solver with a positive attitude.” She also advised students to think of their end goal when daily tasks seem overwhelming.

“The biggest difference between then and now is that our seniors today are graduating without all of the wonderful gatherings usually associated with graduation.” She also pointed out the unique experience they will have entering the job market during a global recession due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jonathan Shute, an associate professor in the Faculty of Education & Social Work, said every student has experienced problems and stresses concerning school work and what to do after graduation. In giving advice for such feelings, Shute said, “Try to be organized. Be patient with yourself, your spouse, friends or your family.”

He said sometimes it’s best to take a deep breath and do the best you can. “Persevering diligently through college shows the world you have the courage and fortitude and stamina to succeed,” he explained.

Lane advised students not to let their education go to waste. “Having come this far, you are finally, actually in a position to start learning at a deeper level, to see the world around you through the lens of a good university education.”

He also encouraged seniors to continue reading and learning things related to their majors and minors even after graduation.

Always remember the Lord

“My greatest hope for you, the graduating students, is that you will stay close to the Lord and the Church as you move into your careers, family, graduate school and other responsibilities,” Springer said.

Lane said he wants students to continue the process of learning in order to be prepared to bless the lives of others. He said, “I’m convinced the Lord helps us learn things when we seek things in order to help and bless others.

“Our efforts can be helped spiritually when we are about the business of doing real good in the many ways that can be done and in building God’s Kingdom in the specific ways each person may be called to do,” Lane expressed.

Shute encouraged all graduates to remember President Russell M. Nelson’s plea to gather Israel from both sides of the veil by feasting upon the words of Christ and never forgetting the lessons learned at BYUH.

“Keep putting your mind to good work. Use what you’ve learned … and the processes you’ve followed for learning to bless the lives of others.” -Keith Lane