Leaving behind their friends and family to travel thousands of miles to an unfamiliar place where they will spend the next year or longer of their life. This is the path for several seniors after they graduate.
While many seniors are looking forward to college, starting their careers, or attending trade school, student members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints take the unique path of traveling across the world going on mission trips.
“I think it’s always been a priority of mine to help people find the Gospel and spread the love of Jesus Christ,” senior Robert Asay said. “ It’s very important to me to help people find that joy and serve others.”
Students learn where they are being called surrounded by their friends and family.
“I’m going to Chihuahua, Mexico,” Asay said. “I was pretty excited when I found out. I’m excited to learn a new language and learn more about that culture.”
Before they start serving others on their trip, they have to go through training.
“First we go to the missionary training center (MTC) where we learn about missionary work,” senior Connor Burton said. “You meet people there and some of them go with you to the mission.”
Although they will be prepared, the mission won’t come without challenges.
“It’s going to be difficult. There are going to be times during the mission where I feel discouraged,” Asay said. “Not knowing the language for the first year will be awkward but I’ll figure it out.”
Despite the fact that they will be serving their missions for over a year, students already have aspirations for their future.
“My plan after is to major in engineering at BYU and at the same time start a business,” Burton said. “From there I’ll figure out what I like more and want to do for my future.”
Even though they may go through struggles the students remain committed to this unique pathway.
“To me it’s really important to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and going to serve people,” Burton said. “I think that leaving my home and going to serve is the best way you can start out your adult life.”
