“The Joy of Learning,” Friend, July 2024, 32–33.
Friend to Friend
The Joy of Learning
From an interview with Olivia Kitterman and Noelle Lambert Barrus.
I didn’t feel like I was a good learner growing up. All my siblings were really smart. They got good grades. They took the hardest classes. I kept trying out for the hardest classes, but I was never accepted. Math was very hard. So I thought, “Well, I guess I’m not smart.” I didn’t think that could change.
Then one year I had a teacher who gave me the confidence I needed. My teacher saw more talent in me than I did. She said, “Clark, you can be a good student. You just need to believe in yourself.”
So I kept trying. I studied harder. I also worked to be more organized. I learned how to keep track of my homework. Turning off the TV helped me to focus on my schoolwork. Soon, I became a better student. And my confidence grew.
When I went on my mission, I saw that I didn’t have to learn on my own. I asked Heavenly Father for help. And I listened to the Holy Ghost. As I worked hard, I was able to teach and help people. When I came home from my mission, I went to college. I prayed for God’s help in every class. I became a better student and even started to love math!
I thought that being smart meant that you knew a lot and school was easy. That isn’t true. If you are willing to involve the Lord in your learning and work hard to improve, you are smart!
If things are hard right now, remember that you are a child of God. You have incredible potential. You can do hard things. Just keep practicing. Ask Heavenly Father for help. He wants you to succeed. You can do this!
Learning Fun
Find each pattern of school supplies in the grid below. What do you like learning about in school?
Illustrations by Agnes Saccani