Following the footsteps of her brother, who graduated seven years ago from BYU–Hawaii, Sabina Imangaziyeva, born in Almatinskaya, Oblast, Kazakhstan, said she packed up her bags and came to Hawaii to gain her education.
Imangaziyeva, a freshman majoring in accounting, said, “It’s an honor for me, being the only (one) from my country. I feel unique and I feel free.”
She also said it might be difficult for her fellow Kazakhs to come and study here. “I can’t imagine others coming to BYU–Hawaii. I don’t think they have knowledge about this island and basically all the members, they already graduated back home.”
Imangaziyeva explained she and her family were originally Muslims but were converted after her brother found discovered the church. “One thing that was attractive about the… Church was they focus on families and family is important. Everything, from how they teach, the culture, it really was the same with Islam, not just Islam but the same with our family traditions…
“So, my brother got baptized first when he was 14. Because he received his own testimony he said he wanted to get baptized and got permission...The following year, all my family got baptized as well.”
She said her family tried to share the gospel to her relatives but it was hard. Her relatives noticed a change in her family and how they were different from the others. “They were like, ‘I feel like you have a special spirit. You have something that’s special in you, in your eyes like, they’re shining. You have the light!’”
Despite the conversion of her family to the Restored Church, her relatives still stayed faithful to Islam but respected her family as they continued following the teachings of the Church.
She said during her mission to Temple Square, Utah, some of the missionaries she was serving with took a break from studying at BYUH to serve their missions. “They encouraged me to come because it’s so ‘international’ and they help us grow and study here. They taught and they shared their experiences and their [testimonies] and it inspired me to think about it.”
When she was serving in the mission field, she decided to start her applications to all the BYU schools. However, she did not finish her applications, as her No. 1 concern was to help her family first.
“(They) were my first priority after my mission. To sponsor them, I went back home after my mission and I found a job. I worked five jobs that time to support my family.”
Imangaziyeva said she made sacrifices since she did not have a sponsor before coming to BYUH. “I came to BYUH with no savings. I had a little bit to cover a couple semesters, but I’m so grateful that I got some scholarships that will help me. My merit scholarships and the job I found in the PCC is also helping me to cover my tuition.”
Roberta Szoka, Imangaziyeva’s host mom from Utah, recalled, “She worked for years, trying to save her money for college, but she contributed most of her earnings to her family, which significantly increased the time she had to work before being able to come [to BYUH]. [In Texas], she took two weeks off her child care work in order to help out, after Hurricane Harvey did so much damage to the Houston area. She went with her brother and helped remove ruined drywall from neighborhood home.” Szoka said she couldn’t wrap her mind around the idea of “little Sabina” swinging a sledgehammer to walls and pulling down drywall.
Kathleen Reyes, a sophomore from the Philippines studying social work and a coworker of Imagaziyeva’s, shared how thoughtful Imangaziyeva was whenever they were at work. “Even if she is tired from work, she will ask you how you are doing and [will] make you smile…
“She always smiles [at us] and it is contagious. It feels great when you see someone smiling at you especially when you are so tired.”
Imangaziyeva said she does not regret coming here. “When I was back home, I thought, ‘I’m not growing more. I’m not progressing.’ I got stuck home and (was) just opening the same doors every day, not progressing.” She remembered her brother calling her back home to help her get through difficult times. “My brother was a great example for me. He became my mentor and like a father. He encouraged me to apply to BYU–Hawaii while I was visiting him.” She remembers her brother saying, “Once you know how to play the game, you will succeed.” Imangaziyeva followed his counsel and example and learned how to play the game and how to live in a foreign country.
“So, I decided to apply to one of the schools, BYU-Hawaii… no matter if it was expensive or not. I just can’t believe that I made it and I am so grateful that I was admitted to BYU–Hawaii. Now I’m here and I’m working hard to pursue my degree... I don’t want to leave BYU–Hawaii.”
Writer: Esther Insigne