Rewarding curiosity G
BY SERENA DUGAR IOANE
Getting rejected four times didn’t stop Ganchimeg Gantulga from pursuing her education at BYU–Hawaii
Ganchimeg at BYU–Hawaii. Photo by Mark Tabbilos. 52 KE AL AK A‘I 2021
anchimeg Gantulga, a sophomore from Mongolia majoring in hospitality and tourism management, said when she quit school in Mongolia in 2016 to go on a mission, her family was sad. “My parents feared that all of us were going to end up without higher education. I promised myself that I would go [back] to college and earn the highest degree I can.” She said she tries to eagerly engage in her studies because, to her, education is the key to success. Gantulga said she believes education is a way to overcome both physical and mental poverty and has also learned education is a reward for curiosity. “Be curious about everything and always ask questions,” she said. Gantulga said she joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when she was 15 years old. “I was baptized with my sister. A year later, my older sister and mother followed our example and got baptized. Since then, I had a burning desire to serve a mission,” she expressed. Gantulga grew up with five siblings, but she was the only one able to go to college in Mongolia because of her family’s financial situation, she said. She knew her parents worked hard to pay off her Mongolian college tuition, she shared. So, she was nervous to tell them of her desire to serve a mission. “Yet, after much prayer and fasting, they accepted me to go on a mission,” she said. Gantulga said she was shocked when she was called to serve in the England Manchester Mission. “But it was a fantastic mission, and I have learned a lot.” Gantulga said losing oneself in a great cause brings rewards. “I offered my best in my mission, and as a reward Heavenly Father blessed me to learn English.” Otgontuya Tumursukh, a junior from Mongolia majoring in TESOL, said she met Gantulga a year ago when they became roommates. “She is a hard worker and never gives up. We built a special connection and always help each other and share our happiness and hardships together,” Turmursukh added. Gantulga said she is doing her best to fulfil the promise she made herself – to go back to school and earn a degree. “Soon after my
