BYU Standards

BYU campus. Ain't she a beauty.

I recently had a long conversation with one of my best friends from high school who is attending University of Washington. We talked about how college was going and complained about how pale we were getting on the mainland. I told her I was excited to go home and get my tan back and she agreed. I sensed that she was more homesick than I was, though, and I wondered why being away from home was affecting her more strongly than it was affecting me. After all, she is a good-looking, intelligent, well-adjusted teenager with an attractive personality and lots of friends. So it wasn't her. It was probably the gloomy Seattle skies. But what was is it about Provo that helps me to feel a sense of belonging?

I think I am comfortable in Provo because of BYU's high quality students and high standards for behavior. BYU students are not only smart, but also friendly and well-rounded. For example, I am very impressed to see how many of my neighbors go to the gym a few times a week like I do. I'm also surprised when people don't hold the door open for me--not because I feel like people should be holding the door open for me, but because I'm used to it now. The majority of people are just nice. Whenever I go off campus I'm shocked to see "normal" people, like boys with facial hair and girls with multiple piercings. Going home to Hawaii will be a shock. Not only will it feel hot and humid, but I'll be surrounded by ordinary citizens and sunburned tourists. I'll see the beach and green mountains and rainbows and sunsets. But I'll also hear swearing and partying across the street of my apartment and smell marijuana in the parking lot.

It was difficult to explain BYU's standards to my friend in a way that would make sense to her. For example, I told her about the honor code and said that it was "like an academic honesty thing, and a no drinking thing, and a no sex thing." I'm sure that Karl Maeser is spinning in his grave. But I appreciate the honor code because I don't have to worry about living a different lifestyle than my friends like I did in high school, especially when everyone started drinking and smoking senior year. I don't have to worry about what my friend worries about, like pictures from last night's party ending up on Facebook. So as much as I miss home and feel ready for winter break, I might even miss BYU a little bit.

photo: et.byu.edu