1st Place Winner for Inspiring Learning Contest 2025
The Lord has blessed each of us with light, and the choices we make throughout our lives determine whether that light grows brighter or fades. As I reflect on my time at BYU, I see how gaining knowledge in the Life Sciences has allowed me to better understand one of God’s most remarkable creations: the human body.
I have been allowed to learn about my own body’s intricate design in a very intimate way. Born with a genetic condition, Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), I’ve faced many challenges. OI is a disorder where a mutation in the collagen gene causes the body to produce brittle, faulty collagen. This results in bones that are fragile and prone to breaking. The physical pain, frequent hospital visits, and repeated fractures have been difficult, but they have also been a source of growth and a means to better understand the body and how it functions.
Through my studies, I’ve gained insights that allow me to make informed decisions about my health, empowering me to live in a way that lets the Savior’s light shine more brightly within me. I see how my experiences can deepen my compassion and help me connect with others on a more personal level. In Matthew 5:16, the Savior commands us, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." This scripture has taken on new meaning for me as I strive to live in a way that reflects Christ’s light, even amid my challenges.
While studying at BYU, I have been blessed to witness the light of others around me. I have seen it in students who ensure I am safe and supported during labs. I’ve felt it from teaching assistants who creatively find solutions to unique problems so that I can succeed. I’ve also experienced it in the kindness of professors who work with the accommodations I need to excel in my studies. These acts of service have not only made my journey easier but have also helped me feel the Savior’s love through others.
The Life Sciences Building is filled with many diverse individuals—students, faculty, and staff—each with their own stories, struggles, and strengths. It is in these differences that the Savior’s light shines even brighter. Every person brings something unique, contributing to the collective light that illuminates our shared space.
As I reflect on my experiences at BYU, I see how the Savior’s teachings on bearing one another’s burdens truly come to life. In Mosiah 18:8-9, we are reminded of the importance of serving others: “...ye are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in.” Whether it is a lecture hall or a lab in the Life Sciences Building, I see these principles in action as we support and uplift each other. Letting the Savior's light shine throughout the program.
At BYU, I have learned that the Savior’s light is not just a personal beacon; it is something that grows and spreads as we serve one another. In all of our differences, we are united in a common purpose: to reflect the light of Christ and help it shine in our lives and in the lives of those around us.