A BYUH graduate shares his journey and dedication to arts and crafts in the studio to finish his degree.
Born and raised in Nueva Ecija, Philippines, Jimboy Mojica Fajardo, a senior majoring in fine arts, said his success at school came when he tried his hand at sculpting, painting and carving. “When I got accepted to BYU–Hawaii, doors full of opportunity came my way as different art-related classes were offered. I enrolled first in a sculpting class, never knew a thing about it and now I am planning to pursue my masters in sculpting,” he said.
Fajardo said he grew up living a simple life, near rice fields with few neighbors and cool friends with whom he played traditional Filipino games. He knew everyone in his neighborhood when he was growing up, he said. In a family of six, Fajardo was the oldest of all boys, he said. “I lived a humble life,” he continued. “My dad worked as a foreman in construction while my mom worked for the barangay (neighborhood),” he said.
Everyone but his father was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Fajardo said. His mom was the first to accept the gospel, he said, which helped him go on a mission at the age of 18 and enroll at BYUH.
Getting into art
Around the age of 7, Fajardo said he was introduced to the arts. “I can still remember my first encounter with drawing,” he said. “[My family] visited our grandmother’s house and saw stuff my grandfather used as an architect. I was curious about every sheet and instrument that my grandfather had. Ever since that time, it sparked my early interest in arts, especially in drawing.”
After learning about his grandfather’s drawing supplies, he said he began drawing on walls, he said. His passion for drawing led him to do art for his elementary and high school’s editorial page, he explained, adding his first saved piece of art was an editorial cartoon for his high school magazine.
When he got older, he said he enrolled in an engineering course during his first few years as a college student in his hometown. After three years of engineering classes, he said he dropped the program, saying he felt like it was not for him. He applied for a mission and said he challenged his interests while serving the Lord. During that time, his feelings, he said, pointed him back to art. He heard about an opportunity to study at BYUH and saved money for a couple of years before coming to Laie to pursue his artistic dreams.
Finding his path at BYUH
“There is a lot to mention about Jimboy, but what impresses me the most is that he knows who he is and what he does,” said Jacob Jackson, associate professor in the Faculty of Arts & Letters and a mentor to Fajardo. “He does not wait for anyone to tell him what to do. He never gets discouraged and he just puts in the work,” Jackson said.
Initially, Fajardo applied to major in graphic design because he wanted to digitize his art and make a career out of it. “I tried graphic design, hoping to learn a new path in art, but something inside me said that I should switch,” he added. The feeling was persistent, he said, until he switched his major to fine arts.
Fajardo said this switch led to a beginning sculpture class. “I never thought that one day I would be good at it,” he said. “Besides the progress I made in that class, I also came across wonderful people who guided and taught me the wonders of art.” He listed Jackson as one of those guides as well as two alumni with BFA’s in sculpture, Nnamdi Okonkwo from Nigeria and Leroy Transfied from New Zealand.
“Upon entering BYUH, I only knew how to draw,” Fajardo said. “[But] after taking classes related to my major, I was able to better appreciate drawing and learn new things like painting, sculpting and now carving.”
Camilla Marie Peterson, a junior majoring in political science from Utah who is engaged to Fajardo, said in his final semester, Fajardo took a carving class just so he could experience it. She said it amazes her how he wants to expand his skills and talents. He is always taking classes to add to his already existing talent, she said.
Jackson met Fajardo in his Intro to Design class and noted how engaged Fajardo was in learning. “He is very cheerful and friendly in class,” he said. “He is just the type of student that you know will create wonders.” Jackson listed Fajardo’s positivity, resilience, ability to listen and take feedback seriously as admirable traits he noticed while teaching him.
Using art to tell a story
Fajardo said whenever he creates art, he puts a story behind it, hoping to inspire his viewers. Moreover, Fajardo said there are times when his personal struggles and challenges affect the way he makes his art. “Although it was a struggle, it did not stop me from getting things done and seeking help from others,” he said. “We just need to be patient and dedicated to our craft.”
Peterson started dating Fajardo in Spring 2023 after meeting at church, she said. “Getting to know him was exciting,” she said. “He told me about his passion for art and showed me his masterpieces. I was amazed at how talented he is.” It is incredible, she said, to see him take a piece of clay and create art. The arts and crafts Fajardo makes are nearly identical to the real thing, she said.
Life lessons learned in school
Peterson said Fajardo is a very busy man. He has a church calling to fulfill, assignments to submit, work to attend to and time to spend with her. “With his busy schedule, we make sure that we put the gospel at the center of everything we do. I am a firm believer that if we put the gospel first, everything will fall into place,” she said.
There were three main takeaways Fajardo said he had when he graduates in December 2023. They were the things that led him to finish his degree with “flying colors,” he said.
One of them was putting God first. Like Peterson, Fajardo said, “I just had the confidence that if I served God and did my callings, everything would fall into place.” Doing this let him balance work, school, and art, he said.
Being open to learning new things was another lesson, he continued. “If I only focused on drawing, I am pretty sure that I would not have loved and learned other forms of art,” he explained. “Trying something new definitely helped me expand my skills and learn a lot about myself.”
Last is building a network. Fajardo said he used his time at BYUH to learn from others and explore countless opportunities for graduate school and career.