An alumnus shares his journey and encourages students to not wait but act right now on their own ideas
BYU–Hawaii provides so many opportunities for its students, said Richie Norton, an award-winning author, an entrepreneur from the North Shore and a BYUH alumnus. He said, “Everything you need can be found right here [at BYUH].”
Starting something stupid
Natalie Norton, Richie Norton’s wife, said the best way to start something is to just do it. “If momentum is built, it is a lot easier to keep going,” she shared. Natalie Norton said both she and her husband feel passionate about not postponing the good things of life and focusing on what they can do. “BYUH brings [together] some of the most bright and wonderful minds, and if we can get going now, we can make such a difference in the world,” she said.
Richie Norton explained, “Everyone has thoughts pressing on their minds. They tell themselves it might be stupid, and they don’t have experience or money, and it is all a lie.” He added even if people fail after trying, their lives will change for good.
Lauren Schwalger, the organizer for the leadership story event the Nortons spoke at on campus and a senior from Arizona majoring in business management, said Richie Norton creates a safe space for students to grow their ideas and makes them feel loved. “I love how he said that we have everything we need here on campus to flourish,” she added.
Sudden life challenges
Richie Norton shared with the group a photo of his brother-in-law who passed away in his sleep at age 21 in Laie and was buried here. He said, “We thought about the Plan of Salvation and the thought of growing old, but for [Gavin, his brother,] that wasn’t true.”
A similar experience of loss came years later, he shared. “Our fourth son, Gavin, named after his uncle, caught a cough and eventually passed away and was also buried here in Laie.”
Richie Norton said both deaths changed he and his wife’s perspective on life and how short it can be. He explained how both losses his family experienced led to an idea they now call “Gavin’s Law: Live to start. Start to live,” which is a 76-day challenge to help people make their ideas a reality. Richie Norton said starting the ideas that are pressing on people’s minds right now will help them start living.
Value your time
During Richie Norton’s time at BYUH, he said he was elected student body president. He said he proposed, started and helped begin the BYUH Center for International Entrepreneurship. He added he started the Student Alumni Association and the “I Love BYU–Hawaii” Facebook group, which helps to connect 16,000 alumni worldwide.
Richie Norton said he graduated in 2004 ,and in the following years, he has seen Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok gain popularity. He said he has pondered on the question, “Is there any way that BYUH could have prepared me and the students that graduated in 2004 for what came 20 years later?” Richie Norton explained BYUH is an institution that teaches students character and principles to prepare for abrupt changes in life. He promised, “The same way the world changed for me, the world will also change for you in the next 20 years.” •