Yash Naiker, a junior from Malaysia majoring in political science, said he lives by the saying, “Do better than what you did yesterday.” He shared there’s a tendency for people to compare themselves to others and forget to work to improve their own well-being. As a college student, he said his mantra helps him improve himself and his work ethic. “Being a student is hard. I don’t think it’s easy. So knowing this [mantra], it pushes me in the right direction ... to become a better person and a better student.”
Frances Sharma, a sophomore from Fiji majoring in political science, said her father once told her, “Aim for the moon. If you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” She said this quote has helped her deal with the difficulties of college life and persevere toward her goals. “We sometimes feel when we hit rock bottom, it’s pointless to try again, but if you keep trying, you’ll get somewhere in life. It may not be where you want to be, but you’ll still get there,” she said.
Taylor Flynn, a freshman from Utah majoring in social work, said her mantra is, “Live life in the moment.” Eager to attend BYU–Hawaii, Flynn said she considered graduating high school early, but her mother encouraged her to “live in the now” and cherish her high school experiences. She said her mother’s advice has helped her find joy in life as a student. “It’s helped me to focus on schooling and having fun with my friends … [and] making sure I’m getting good grades so I can continue and grow when I get my graduate degree as well.”
Helaman Kennach, a sophomore from Washington majoring in computer science, said he is comforted by a Elder Michael A. Dunn quote, “Truly, it is by small, simple and yes, even just 1 percent things that great things can be brought to pass,” given in the October 2021 General Conference. He shared he recently returned home to attend a funeral, missing four days of school and homework assignments, causing him a lot of stress. He said Dunn’s quote helped him complete the assignments he missed. “I feel comfort from the Spirit that I’m doing the right thing, and it helps me keep moving forward. Doing small things every day helps me feel like I can do it.”