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Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Push Forward Anyways

Economic Principles & Problems was the class, with J.R. Kearl as the professor. This was all I knew when I signed up for the class during regristration. But in the past few weeks I've heard plenty more. "Kearl is great, but the exams are soooo tough," said one. "You signed up for that class! What were you thinking!" another exclaimed. Nervous feelings began boiling. And these feelings just about spilled over when I went to a class on leadership given by Professor J.R. Kearl himself. Former students laughed when Kearl said his exams were hard. "They were horrible," they said. The room laughed mockingly, but I squirmed in my seat. Would I be able to make it?
I approached Professor Kearl after his lesson. "I'm an incoming freshman," I said shaking his hand, "And I was wondering if it was a bad idea signing up for your class this semester. Should I wait?"
He sighed, contemplating his words carefully. "We usually encourage freshman to wait, at least until their second semester of BYU, just so they can adjust to the rigors of college."
I thanked him for his advice and walked out of the room. Doubt and fear began to mold in my chest, festering on my thoughts and emotions. Did I make a mistake taking this class? Should I drop it right away?
I needed inspiration. Cue Randy L. Bott. He stood at the podium, ready to address an audience that included myself. As I sat there, fearful thoughts pounding away mercilessly at my tender brain, I suddenly knew that Randy L. Bott would say what I needed to hear. He would provide the inspiration.
Throughout his speech he repeated a phrase that softened my frantic mind: "God did not send you here to fail." The words left his mouth, soared through the air, and hit me between the eyes. Just what I needed to hear. Then Professor Bott's eyes made contact with mine. We held that two-way bridge as he said this, "Satan will try to get you to give up, to drop out. Push forward anyways."
It was then that the fear and doubt evaporated in the high-mountain air. I was going to take Economic Principles and Problems, and do everything to make it through. And if Satan objected, I would push him aside and succeed anyways.

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