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Learning in Laie has taught her the importance of connection across cultures, shares senior social work major

Lauren Goodwin, wearing a black graduation gown and an olive green dress, poses by holding her black graduation cap with both hands and smiles while standing on a dirt path surrounded by shrubbery and trees.
Lauren Goodwin enjoys her social work major because it helps her appreciate others more.
Photo by Mark Daeson Tabbilos

Studying social work at BYU–Hawaii has brought the world closer to her, said Lauren Goodwin, a senior from Colorado. “Connection between people is so important to living a good life, being a good person and being able to help others. One of the biggest jobs of being a social worker is having the desire to help and do what’s best for the people you are helping.”

Goodwin added her biggest takeaway from her time at BYUH was learning to be culturally competent and feel prepared for the workforce. “Social work has taught me it’s important to take into account our backgrounds because then we can understand the significance of other [people’s] backgrounds, that helps us learn to love people and embrace their stories.”

Stepping out of her bubble


Coming from a tight-knit community helped her gain the skills to love others, but, Goodwin added, what was lacking from her previous experience was the diverse cultures she said she found here in Laie.

“Diversity [is] No. 1. I think I’ve met more people around the world than anywhere else in my life. It has opened my worldview and perspective. I owe everything to Hawaii, including a new outlook on life and diversity.”

One beautiful aspect of living in Laie and attending BYUH, shared Goodwin, has been the idea of all cultures placed into one area, living harmoniously in one community. She said, “I’ve been able to really step out of my own bubble and push myself to see others’ perspectives and learn. My time here has been such a great opportunity to see and experience that. I’m so grateful and blessed to have experienced it.”

While attending BYUH, Goodwin said she experienced many highs and lows. She expressed during one of her earlier semesters, she was feeling down and wanted to return to her comfort zone by going home. The love she received from those around her at BYUH changed her mind, Goodwin shared.

“I wasn’t expecting to experience the genuine love from the people and the love I feel for them. Here at BYUH it doesn’t matter who you are. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, or what you’re studying. [You] always have a community and you always have people. This understanding has changed my worldview and perspective on who I want to be in this world.”

Lauren Godwin, wearing an olive green dress, two gold bracelets, a gold ring, and a gold necklace, smiles while holding her black graduation cap with both hands at the beach at sunset.
According to her friends, Lauren Goodwin is known for her humor.
Photo by Mark Daeson Tabbilos

Family away from home


One day while living in the hales, Goodwin said she arrived home and found her roommates on the floor in the common area of their apartment watching a movie and talking about their lives. “It was a very short memory, but it’s something that encompassed my whole experience here. I’ve always felt so welcomed, loved and embraced wholeheartedly. I think it has a lot to do with a mutual unsaid agreement to understand and talk and be friends.”

Goodwin said one person who particularly influenced her experience at BYUH is Keaweamahi (Tyger) Wasson, a sophomore political science major from Kahuku, and his family. Goodwin explained she was introduced to Wasson through her good friend Ashley Howell, a senior from Exeter, California, studying biomedical science, who is Wasson’s fiancé and Goodwin’s roommate.

During Mother’s Day of this year, Goodwin said she felt especially far from home since she could not celebrate with her mother. Instead, the Wasson family invited her to join their family that day and made her feel as though she had a family away from home.

“They really helped me survive school. Having that family system and feeling of warmth out here made me feel close to home even though I’m so far away. [Ashley] has always been so kind and has almost been a sister to me, which has made all the difference.”

Accepting others


Howell said Goodwin made her birthday celebration memorable by being there when others could not. She explained since it rained on her birthday, many people did not attend her planned celebration, leaving her with just Goodwin and one other friend. “Even though it was super rainy, and nobody came, it was a really fun experience. She made it fun, and it was a great opportunity to be able to see she’s a real friend.”

A huge part of Goodwin’s character is her humor and ability to accept all people, shared Howell. “She’s not a stereotypical person from the mainland. You wouldn’t get that vibe from her. You would think she belongs here.” She added BYUH was made for accepting diversity, and Lauren does exactly that.

Howell added, “Her sense of humor is by far the best. She’s one of the funniest people I know. I think that … was another reason I liked her so much.”

She explained having Goodwin as one of her close friends has taught her to be more open to the cultures present at BYUH, understanding of all people and to have fun no matter what. She shared Goodwin loves and is very accepting of Hawaiian, Asian and Polynesian cultures. Howell added she is inspired by Goodwin and how if she doesn’t understand something about culture, she does all she can to understand it.

Claire Parsons, a sophomore from Perth, Australia, majoring in business management, expressed Lauren is a loyal, dedicated, committed, empathetic and very funny individual. “Whenever I’m with Lauren, I can wholeheartedly be myself without judgment. She brings that out of me, which I am so thankful for.”

Parsons shared she met Goodwin through a family home evening at BYUH where they bonded over social media memes. “She brings out the best in people because she is so light, loving and kind to her friends and all people. It’s so easy to bounce off of her humor because she is so funny.”

Choose to learn


In the future, Goodwin said she plans to attend a graduate program in Provo, Utah, where she will further her education. She explained many of the skills she has acquired from her time at BYUH will greatly benefit her future connections and her profession as a social worker.

Goodwin explained her parents have always encouraged her to pursue her education and achieve the highest grades. She explained her success at school has allowed herself to feel confident and given her a newfound love for knowledge.

“[My parents have] always stressed how important [education] is to them and how it should be important to me. They’ve always encouraged me to … make learning a huge priority in my life.”

She advised students to be more open-minded and willing to learn while at BYUH because those skills will affect their future lives. “Our attitude affects the world because people shut themselves off to learning and understanding people when their attitude is not willing to accept those differences. We’re all depriving ourselves of a bigger human connection if we choose not to learn. I would have never learned that anywhere else but here at BYUH.”