Goin' Right Far

When I was a young girl, my family gathered together to watch a movie called "Spencer's Mountain." It was the story of a backwoods family with many children. The mother's dream was to send her children to college. The belief was that an education was the key to a better life. The parents sacrifice their dreams for their oldest son to go to college trusting that the others will follow. The family gathers together to see Clay Boy board the bus to travel miles away to conquer state college. He moves to the last seat on the bus and a stranger asks him, "Goin' far, son?" The boy answers, with tears in his eyes from the separation from his family, "Right far."

That ending always brings tears to my own eyes.

That idea that an education could help you get far in life always stayed with me. I know that college isn't for everybody and that many people make a lot of money and a great contribution to society without higher education. But there are doors that a degree opens and doors that remain shut without one.

But more important to me has always been the value of learning and I have enormous respect for those who work and sacrifice to gain an education.

My dad worked as a diesel mechanic after joining the Navy at seventeen. My mom said that she attended a few classes at a community college after high school. I was the first among my sisters to earn a high school degree as my two elder sisters dropped out, later earning their high school equivalent. I attended BYU for two months after my own high school graduation and then dropped out, not even having completed one semester of college. I have always regretted it.

I earned an Associate of Science in accounting from LDS Business College after my divorce. It was one of the most challenging tasks I have accomplished. That degree has opened many doors for this single mom.

Well, today Emily graduated from BYU. In a couple of weeks, Sean will graduate from USU. They follow Sarah, Clayton, and Laurie. Nephi attended BYU Salt Lake. Shandie attended SLCC and Kim also has a bachelor's. Laurie has a Masters; Sarah's husband, Jeremiah is working on his Masters; and Laurie's husband, Clint, is a doctor. We've come right far.

As I stood in the Marriott Center watching the graduates come in, I was filled with emotion. I thought of the sacrifices that my children and their spouses have made for their educations. It has been hard work; stressful and exhausting. One or more of my children have been taking college courses since 1997 when Sarah first entered BYU. Sometimes it seemed like our family would forever be stuck in a state of suspended college attendance animation. As I stood there, two weeks before the tail end, I felt pleased with all of their accomplishments and I respect them for their hard work.

I especially love seeing commencement at BYU. There are so many young families posing for pictures. Graduates, young moms and dads, in blue robes for bachelors and black for doctorates holding babies or toddler's hands while standing in front of the Cougar by the stadium or outside of the sign that says, "Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve." I can't imagine the hard work or the sacrifice for them to attend school while raising families.

But still, I always believe deep in my heart that it's all worth it because now they have the keys to "go right far."

Thanks to my children. You always and forever bring honor to me.