Colson Beus (CELL ‘26) first arrived at BYU feeling like a “little fish in a big pond.” As a first-generation college student from a small farming community in rural Washington, Beus felt intimidated by the sheer number of students who all seemed to have everything figured out.
“Everyone here is so amazing,” he says. “I lost confidence in myself and in my ability to succeed because I compared myself to my peers too much.” After switching between five majors, Beus found his path and built his confidence thanks to his newfound passion for serving God’s children through the study of medicine.
By combining his love for connecting with others with his enthusiasm for understanding the body on a cellular level, Beus feels uniquely suited for the practice of medicine.
“I really don’t see myself doing anything else. The idea of being able to devote my entire career to connecting with and caring for others in need is enticing and exciting.” Beus’ pull towards this call provided the fire necessary to press on.
Another academic avenue that helped spearhead his self-esteem and further cemented his fondness for cellular biology and physiology was conducting research with Dr. Ben Bikman. Together they examined the effects of semaglutide, the active compound in Ozempic, on muscle and fat cell metabolism by measuring treated cell’s mitochondrial fitness.
While results from the study are in the process of being finalized and published, Beus says this project made him feel capable of combining personal interests with scientific advancement for the benefit of others, which he couldn’t have done without Bikman’s guidance and support. “I just love him. He has been a wonderful mentor for me and a great example of what it means to be a dedicated disciple of Jesus Christ, while still being extremely successful in academia” Beus notes.
Building Belonging Through Faith and Works
Beus was able to cultivate a sense of belonging at BYU by stepping out of his comfort zone. “Trying new things and finding activities that I enjoyed and was good at helped me gain confidence,” he says.
Amidst this growing period, Beus found distinct power in focusing on his eternal identity instead of comparing himself to others. For other students who feel lost or insignificant, Beus’s advice is to not be concerned with what others are doing in their academic pursuits and to focus instead on their passions. Beus found that getting involved in something he was passionate about was more valuable to his personal development than defaulting to the status quo.
He also urges students to be brave and develop bonds with their professors. The mentorship he received from Dr. Bikman, Dr. Jeffery Barrow, and Dr. Jason Adams made all the difference in Beus' education.
"They inspire me because they are so academically successful," Beus says. "They're writing these papers, presenting at these incredible conferences, and traveling the world. They're also humble, down to earth, and family-centered people. They've strengthened my testimony on what truly matters, which is making your family top priority."
His sense of belonging was also strengthened after taking an anatomy course, where he discovered an academic niche that challenged his intellect, expanded his research abilities, reflected his interest in human biology, and enabled him to serve others. He excelled in the course and became a TA, where he had the opportunity to share his knowledge with other students for six semesters.
In the end, Beus adds that all is not lost if you feel small or uncertain about the future. “Especially as a first-generation student, we're out here trying to figure it out,” he says. “It's hard because everyone else seems to know what they're doing.” With guidance from good mentors and helpful BYU resources, he was able to take charge of his future with confidence.
Beus is grateful to be headed to the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine starting August 2026, just a couple of hours from his hometown. Beus plans to specialize in ophthalmology, a branch of medicine that focuses on disorders of the eye, fulfilling his call to serve and building on that hard-earned confidence to change lives for the better.