A BYUH student shares how being in the university helps him find his purpose and motivation through his family and be rooted in it
Having faith in God, believing in yourself and choosing the right people are some of the lessons and values Fetuao Tuaina learned from his journey as a student in BYUH. “Life is hard but I would say if I can do it, you can do it too. Remember that God never leaves our side and if you need Him, just ask Him. The door is always open with our Heavenly Father,” he shared.
The family as the “why”
Tuiana, a senior from Samoa, majoring in information technology said he came to BYUH because of his family. He said he was converted as a member of the church when he was 14 and since then, his family had been encouraging him to study at BYUH. “My family, who is my ‘why’—my motivation— sacrificed so much for me by working hard to help me get here to BYUH,” he said.
Since coming to the university, Tuiana said his motivation is still his family. “My family played the biggest role in my life and my journey here in BYUH; they made me who I am,” he said. When he feels alone or down, remembering his family helped him push through to do the right thing and to study eagerly. “I want to make them happy and to prove that I can do this too just like my siblings who have already graduated,” he shared.
Since being the first generation to come to BYUH, Tuaina said he chose information technology as his major because he wants to improve technology in Samoa. “It is difficult to have access to technology and the internet in Samoa so I made up my mind to get my degree in information technology to help my country,” he said.
Seeing how Fetuao gave everything for his family, Tee Tuai Tuaina, a health and human science freshman from Samoa, the younger brother of Fetuao Tuaina, said Fetuao served as his example. “I have seen him step out of his comfort zone while experiencing and learning more here in BYUH which helped me too,” Tee Tuai Tuaina said.
Right people, right track
Facing a lot of challenges as a student in BYUH, Tuaina said one that stood out to him was staying on the right track. He continued that as a new student then, he didn't know what to do with choosing the right people to be with such as friends to carry along his journey. “I got into a car accident when I was a junior because I was associating myself with people who are not centered in the gospel and that made me stray away from my friends here in BYUH,” Tuaina shared.
Iah Carmella Blasabas, a business finance senior from the Philippines, said Tuaina’s personality is the life of the party. “He is a fun and adventurous person to be with,” she said. She continued that Tuaina is a caring person that always gives a positive vibe to everyone around him.
Knowing your purpose
Having that challenge pulled him down, Tuaina said it is normal to think about it. However, he said, with God and knowing your purpose of coming here to BYUH, it will help you not be pulled down by those challenges completely. By choosing the right friends, Tuaina said, they are the ones who will help you get by through reaching out. “From their simple actions of reaching out and messaging me, I noticed how much they value me, which made me feel fit and comfortable with them,” he said.
Seeing God’s hands in those challenging moments, Tuaina said it reaffirms his faith and the truth to him that God loves everyone. “God is there to help me especially when I get into an accident, and I know that He will do the same with everyone who’s struggling too,” he expressed.