BYU Scholarship Recipient Thank you Letter

We receive many thank-you letters from thousands of students, many who would not have a chance to attend BYU without help. Below is an example of a thank-you note we received from Christy, a junior from Orem, Utah, majoring in History Teaching.

Dear Scholarship Donor:

   My name is Christy and I am a current BYU student. I love BYU. I am so grateful that I have been able to come to this university and experience its unique faculty, student body, and ambience. My mother immigrated to the United States from Guatemala She converted to the church when she was in Guatemala and has raised my brothers and in a home of love and concern. It was my dream to come to BYU and work for a Bachelors degree in History Teaching.I was accepted into BYU and started in the fall of 2002.

  I was so happy with my classes, with the new friends that I had made, and with the daily life experiences that were completely enriching my life. In this environment, I applied for the Travel Study program for Semester at Nauvoo.I was accepted, and I was so happy to know that my dreams of living in Nauvoo would be fulfilled and I would walk where the prophet Joseph Smith had walked. The program was going to be very expensive for me, but I knew that I could raise the money if I worked hard enough throughout the summer.The summer came and I looked for a job. I couldn’t find one.I turned in application after application and no one was calling back. My situation seemed hopeless. I knew that I was going to have to take out a student loan, and my stomach turned at the thought of being in debt so early in school. The day before I was going to go in and apply for a student loan, I received in the mail a letter from an office at BYU stating that they were able to give me money for the next school year. I was so happy I had received a scholarship that would cover for half of the cost of Nauvoo! It seemed that my bad luck was taking a turn for the best because that same week I found a job that would provide the rest.

  I found a new source of strength in knowing that I was going to be able to pay entirely for Nauvoo without taking out a penny in student loans.The week that the full payment was due for Nauvoo came; but something went terribly wrong.I had somehow done my calculations incorrectly and found that I was five hundred dollars short. I had no idea what I was going to do and my payment could not be late. I quickly became filled with a feeling of despair.I prayed that somehow the money could be found and that I would be able to make the full payment.That day in the mail came a letter from the scholarship office stating that I had been found applicable to receive the Pete and Arline Harman Scholarship.For what amount? Exactly five hundred dollars.I wept freely.The Lord had directly answered my prayers.

   This scholarship is not for an extreme amount of money. But this scholarship has increased my testimony of tithing, of prayer, and of faith. Although I don’t know you who donated this scholarship, I pray that you will be blessed by our Heavenly Father. That you will feel of his love, and that you will know that I am so grateful for the sacrifice you made to give this money to BYU. Thank you.Thank you so much.

  Thanks to your generosity, I have found a new desire to try my best not only in school, but in life.I am trying harder to live a life worthy of your sacrifice, but most importantly of the Savior’s.You have made me realize his love and care for me.I know that He cares for my education, dreams, goals, and desires more than I ever could.The scripture in Moses rings clear in my mind, 1:39 “For behold, this is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” Thank you once again for being an instrument in the hands of the Savior and for giving me a chance to fulfill my dreams here at BYU.