Morning Routine
7:00 AM: I usually wake up around 7:00 AM and head straight to the gym for a quick workout. It’s a great way to get my energy flowing and feel focused for the day ahead. The gym at Cumorah has everything I need for a good workout, from free weights and equipment to a basketball court.
Sometimes instead of the gym I jump on the trampoline or walk around Cumorah on one of the many walking trails surrounding it. I could also swim or get a group to play volleyball. There are many ways to exercise at Cumorah.
I get ready for the day and spend the rest of my morning reading my scriptures and journaling.
8:00 AM: Breakfast starts at 8:00, and you’ll want to get there with enough time to eat before the devotional. Breakfast is always an array of foods. Some types of egg, sausage, yogurt and cereal, bread, cheese, deli meats, and fruit.
My choice today: a banana with Nutella, avocado toast, and scrambled eggs. Since it was chilly outside I got some hot herbal tea from the common room dispenser (Cumorah offers both cold and hot drinks on tap all day long).
8:35 AM: I clear my plate from breakfast and head down to the Conference room. Devotional starts at 8:45, but here at Cumorah- “on time” is late, and 5 minutes early is on time. I need to leave with enough time to get to the conference room by 8:40.
Devotional and Leadership Class
8:40 AM: Gotta be on time for devotional! As soon as 8:40 hits they close the doors and count the people who are on time. When they get to “Nephi” I lift my lanyard in the air so they can count me. My group is Nephi and we are in second place toward winning the house cup. Being a few minutes early scores points for my house group – every point counts!
Once you arrive at Cumorah you are sorted into houses (Like Harry Potter.) There is Ruth, Esther, Nephi, Moroni, and Isaiah. This is your family away-from-home group you will do activities with throughout the semester. Each house competes to win the house cup (that is full of candy) at the end of the semester.
Devotional is taught by students from Moroni’s group (every group rotates with devotionals.)
After the devotional Leadership class starts, which is taught by the mentors. Today we learned about empathy and communication.
Every week new mentors visit Cumorah. The mentors are typically retired married couples with years of experience in families and careers. They can teach us a lot. They spend a week here at Cumorah, teaching, visiting, and participating in activities. We get to know them and learn a lot.
10:00 AM: Break time! This is my chance to grab a snack from the kitchen, start on homework, or take a quick rest.
10:15 AM: Public speaking is a crucial part of the Leadership Course at Cumorah. In this class, we hone our communication skills by practicing speeches and learning valuable tips and tricks to become confident public speakers.
Here’s the fun (and nerve-racking) part – Cumorah uses a website called “Wheel of Names” that throws all our names into a virtual hat. The wheel spins, and whoever it lands on has to deliver an impromptu speech! It keeps things exciting and helps us conquer stage fright.
Lunch and Break
11:30 AM: I have another break now. Today I played a board game with other students in the common room. Students are free to play pool, do homework, or do whatever. Depending on your schedule students also might have more classes during this time.
Some days students will meet with their house groups during this time. They’ll do some team-building activities and games, plan service projects or devotionals, and hang out.
1:00 PM: Lunch! Today’s menu is looking delicious – Knedliky (gotta try the local specialties!), ravioli, chicken, salad, and broccoli. Refueled and ready for the afternoon.
The kitchen serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. (As well as a morning and afternoon.) Dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegetarian options are always available. At lunch and dinner, there is always a salad bar, soup, three main dishes to choose from, and sides. It’s always delicious.
Classes
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Class time!
The afternoons at Cumorah Academy are full of classes. Alongside the core Leadership & Personal Development course, students like myself delve deeper into various subjects to hone their skills. Today’s schedule offers a glimpse into the diverse learning opportunities available:
- Business & Entrepreneurship: This class dives into the fundamentals of business and helps develop an entrepreneurial mindset. Perfect for students who dream of launching their own ventures!
- English: This course helps students hone their English skills and prepare for the Cambridge Exam. Ideal for those who want to master the language or further their academic pursuits.
- Coding Bootcamp: This intensive program equips students with the skills to code and launch a career in the ever-evolving tech industry.
- Sales Bootcamp: Sharpen your sales skills and learn effective strategies to close deals confidently – a valuable asset for any career path.
Students who are not studying a course (in addition to Leadership and Development) can choose the Work Focus option. This is designed for those working remotely, providing a structured environment to manage both work and academic commitments. Additionally, Cumorah Academy allows students to pursue further education online through BYU Pathway or other approved online programs.
On Fridays, Cumorah doesn’t have classes in the afternoons. This time is reserved for pulling out all the activities Cumorah has to offer; Archery, air rifle shooting, clay-pigeon shooting, and Quad biking to name a few.
5:00 PM: Meet with the mentors. Every week a new mentor will arrive and students can sign up to meet the mentors. Today was my day to meet them. I sit with them and tell them about myself. They give me advice and tell me about how they met and their backgrounds.
This is a fun networking opportunity and the mentors are powerful influencers. They have a lot of experience and can offer great life advice.
5:30 PM: Meet with the advisory couple. Every two weeks every student meets with the advisory couple. Similar to the mentors this couple has a lot of life experience and is here to help the students feel loved and welcome and to offer support and advice. They are here the whole semester and are a great resource to students.
The advisory couple is helping me create my Life Vision for the Leadership Class.
Dinner and End of the Day
6:00: PM: Break. I get some homework done.
6:00 PM: Dinnertime! Tonight, we have a comforting rice and beef stew with mashed potatoes, broccoli soup, chicken, and noodles – all with a side salad, of course. Decisions, decisions!
7:00 PM – 10:30 PM: Free time, and time to unwind! After dinner, I might hit the sauna and hot tub to relax, and chat with friends. Calling family back home is also a must. Most nights Cumorah will have scheduled activities like watching a movie, having a bonfire, a dance party, or group games. The social calendar stays full so there are always fun activities to look forward to!
(These are not mandatory, however, and if you want to chill, read a book, or do something else feel free.)
Quiet
10:30 PM: 10:30 is quiet time. Students can still be up, but they need to be quiet and respectful to those who want to sleep. It’s also time to recharge and get ready to do it all again tomorrow. Cumorah Academy keeps you busy- in the best way possible.
This is just a glimpse into a typical day at Cumorah Academy. Every day brings new challenges, learnings, and fun – all while surrounded by an amazing group of people!
Thinking about joining the Cumorah fam? Check out the website for more info.
Written by Mack Fontano
Hi! I’m Mack, the content creator intern at Cumorah Academy for the Spring 2024 semester! I am from Utah in the United States and recently graduated from college in Communications and Digital Marketing. I love reading, writing – especially poetry, and drawing and I collect stickers!
Photos by Camila Caraveo
Supervision by Kamila Uberto Fullmer
