The Power of Hope and Vision
“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.”
The great Nelson Mandela taught us about hope and expectations in less than ten words. Indeed, some of our projects may not turn out as planned. However, allowing hope to guide our choices demonstrates a firm character. This quote perfectly reflects the beliefs and aspirations of Patrick Sedivy.
His wife Allyse and he have always had a special love for young adults. The couple believes that inspiring young adults will directly impact the future. Young adults will be the leaders of tomorrow, so training them will positively influence the world. The Sedivys realized something was missing. How could they help young adults believe in themselves?
This powerful question led to a special moment for the couple. They both felt spiritually prompted to start a school that could be a beacon of light and hope for young adults. After much hard work and many prayers, Cumorah Academy now exists, blessing hundreds of students so far.
Building a Legacy Through Service
Patrick has a special connection to the Czech Republic. He served as a young missionary in the country many years ago. After much discussion with his wife, the couple worked together to establish a campus in the Czech Republic.
What greater privilege than to begin the semester under the guidance of Patrick Sedivy? Cumorah’s founder loves interacting with each student, memorizing their names, and learning their stories. Each leadership lesson is crafted to meet the needs of students and the world, and Patrick loves teaching them.
In a world filled with selfish messages, the first lesson will change students’ perspectives on giving and receiving. Leading is about serving and inspiring others, and this lesson will teach them how to do just that. The lesson is called Givers and Takers. Unfortunately, many people are less likely to serve and help others, and they might only do so if they expect something in return.
A student from Peru, John Wagner felt the presence of Patrick was transformative for him. “I really discovered what I want to achieve in life, my family, and in the Church. Even if our experiences were bad in the past, we can always change our beliefs so our experiences will be great later on,” he says.
Cultivating Leaders for Tomorrow
Rooted in the virtues of love, charity, and motivation, Cumorah Academy was created to develop the leaders we need. We have seen many selfish leaders in the world, but Patrick Sedivy and other mentors are here to change that. They are teaching students how to serve and positively influence others to take action.
One scripture that conveys this message is found in Mark 10:45:
“For even the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
As students immerse themselves in service and become givers, life will ultimately find a way to reward their efforts. Service is a cornerstone in the character of those who live by it. Most importantly, at Cumorah Academy, we work to refine the character of each student. Change them, and they will change others. Patrick genuinely believes this.
And students are sharing what they have learned.
“I learned about the importance of having a life vision and combining it with small goals because each time I reach a small goal I feel happy and it encourages me to reach a bigger goal. That’s what I intend to use Cumorah for, reach the small goals so I can accomplish bigger ones,” says Ester from Portugal.
Patrick’s faith in this generation grows stronger with each semester. ‘This is the generation,’ he often says, as young adults continue to impress him time and again. Despite the challenges the world faces, he believes this generation will bring hope to all. As the semester unfolds, we will see their choices driven by hope, not fear.
Written by Fernando L. Ferreira Jr.
Photos by Natalia Lopez
Supervision by Kamila Uberto Fullmer
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