Brigham Young University Scholarship Essay
To my knowledge, there is only one Landon Follett Van Wagoner in the world, but what's in a name? I suppose that my upbringing isn't far off the norm for a BYU student. I grew up in Bountiful Utah and was blessed to be raised in a family that is active in the church, where my siblings and I learned the foundational lessons of faith. I am presently serving a mission in Melbourne Australia, and I will be attending Brigham Young University this fall.
I believe that the rest of my story might vary slightly from others, starting at a very early age. As my little sister was born just 2 years after me, our lives took a dramatic change. She was born without a pulmonary artery which demanded immediate open heart surgery and weeks and months of subsequent hospitalization. In spite of all doctor's prognoses, she became a miracle. Even in my early years I remember the first night she came home, wrapped in a Christmas blanket. The challenges issued by her health then and in following years were a proving ground for my family, and as a result the rule of my family and my life has been, "Family First".
As a child an innate curiosity drove most of my activities, it was not uncommon for a new toy to be dismantled for the sake of exploration, or a nearby forest to beckon with the call of adventure. It …show more content…
was not long before I met my first love, 88 keys, full of limitless possibilities. My desire to learn lead me to discover the teachings of music, specifically piano, which admittedly was frustrating at first. I wanted so badly to play what I felt, but I learned a valuable lesson there too: persistence.
As I grew, so too did my horizons.
In my years of Junior High I discovered the thrill of business. My father had a small ATV with a snowplow and I asked him if I could use it to clear the neighbors' driveway. His response was "show me a business plan, and we'll talk." I had no idea how to write a business plan! When I asked my dad how I was to do it, his response was classic "You'll figure it out." This response has become a second guiding motto in my life. I did figure it out, the business plan was approved, and the business grew. At its peak, it had 3 vehicles in the fleet and expanded its service to cover anything from custom Christmas lights to yard renovations, all at the age
17.
As my service in the church continued, President Monson made the historic announcement that enabled me to serve a mission one year sooner. I knew that I had to make my remaining time count. I worked on the seminary council at my school to prepare our graduating class for missions, and well over 100 went on to serve. I pushed to pursue a lifelong dream of being a pilot, I suppose through all of this, I have found that with God's help, I am capable. Capable of just about anything, and I set out to do it, as only I could.
I believe that the rest of my story might vary slightly from others, starting at a very early age. As my little sister was born just 2 years after me, our lives took a dramatic change. She was born without a pulmonary artery which demanded immediate open heart surgery and weeks and months of subsequent hospitalization. In spite of all doctor's prognoses, she became a miracle. Even in my early years I remember the first night she came home, wrapped in a Christmas blanket. The challenges issued by her health then and in following years were a proving ground for my family, and as a result the rule of my family and my life has been, "Family First".
As a child an innate curiosity drove most of my activities, it was not uncommon for a new toy to be dismantled for the sake of exploration, or a nearby forest to beckon with the call of adventure. It …show more content…
was not long before I met my first love, 88 keys, full of limitless possibilities. My desire to learn lead me to discover the teachings of music, specifically piano, which admittedly was frustrating at first. I wanted so badly to play what I felt, but I learned a valuable lesson there too: persistence.
As I grew, so too did my horizons.
In my years of Junior High I discovered the thrill of business. My father had a small ATV with a snowplow and I asked him if I could use it to clear the neighbors' driveway. His response was "show me a business plan, and we'll talk." I had no idea how to write a business plan! When I asked my dad how I was to do it, his response was classic "You'll figure it out." This response has become a second guiding motto in my life. I did figure it out, the business plan was approved, and the business grew. At its peak, it had 3 vehicles in the fleet and expanded its service to cover anything from custom Christmas lights to yard renovations, all at the age
17.
As my service in the church continued, President Monson made the historic announcement that enabled me to serve a mission one year sooner. I knew that I had to make my remaining time count. I worked on the seminary council at my school to prepare our graduating class for missions, and well over 100 went on to serve. I pushed to pursue a lifelong dream of being a pilot, I suppose through all of this, I have found that with God's help, I am capable. Capable of just about anything, and I set out to do it, as only I could.