Mia Boice, a Spring 2020 graduate from Georgia who majored in psychology, reflected on the family she has made during her time at BYU–Hawaii and offered advice to current students about the importance of making people a priority.
“I think when I really reflect on my time at BYUH, I think about the incredible connections I was able to make with others and the family I came to have,” Boice said.
Boice worked in the BYUH Admissions office during her time at school and said she was grateful for the co-workers who had become like family to her.
“Mia is one of the most genuine and open-minded people [I have] ever met,” said Tyler Pisciotta, an alumnus from Nevada who worked with Boice in the Admissions office.
Pisciotta said some of his favorite memories with Boice came from going to concerts and watching movies together including all of the Oscar-nominated films from 2019.
Boice said the diversity and richness of the cultures she experienced at BYUH was something she could not have had elsewhere.
“I lived in Georgia all of my life. [In Georgia], you meet different people from different backgrounds, but there are so many different individuals from different cultures around the world that I would have never met if I didn’t come here,” Boice said.
Studying at a multicultural school helped open her mind to new things. “Experiencing other cultures broadens one’s intelligence, experience and opens people up to different mindsets.” She said it is essential to have the opportunity to be outside of your worldview because it helps people better understand each other.
Alexis Jimenez, an alumna from California, shared one of the reasons Boice has been such a wonderful friend. Jimenez’s house caught fire during her time at BYUH, and Boice allowed Jimenez to stay with her for a few weeks as she recovered.
“She’s the most caring person I know, and she never fails to always be there for me,” Jimenez said.
Boice said her goals are to work for a couple of years to save money for graduate school. She has moved to Utah and accepted a job at a psychiatric outpatient center.
Boice said, “I plan to work here for the next two years or so just to save up and prepare for graduate school and to gain experiences fit to psychiatry.”
Boice offered this advice to students: “People are [the] priority.” The most important thing individuals can give is sharing their time, effort and sacrifice with others as the connections we make are what is most valuable in the end, she explained.