The Power of Resilience
Resilience has become increasingly popular over the past few years. It is a skill and talent that is crucial in nearly every area of life, yet not easily developed. The challenges and stress we encounter daily often shake our deepest foundations.
In response to these demands, we constantly remind our students of the importance of resilience. One of our students from Brazil, Diogo, recently shared a valuable lesson he learned from this week’s mentors:
“I learned how to make a good plan in a time of crisis. You must first identify different scenarios during a crisis so you can have a plan B in mind if plan A doesn’t work out.”
Our mentors for the week, Beau and Jessica Tolman, would be proud to hear Diogo’s words. A student sharing their learning is a true measure of a teacher’s impact. This special couple understands the power of soft skills and the importance of nurturing them.
Resilient Leadership and Leading by Example
Beau and Jessica Tolman are veterans in leadership, demonstrating the talents true leaders possess. They taught our students how setting a positive example shapes the course of their goals.
“Be the example. Be the light for others. We see it in people often. They have a light inside, and I would say let that light shine and be a force in your community.”
Albert Einstein once said, “Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others, it is the only means.” The Tolmans believe strongly in this principle and shared it with our students.
They emphasized that an exemplary leader must rely on people—and to rely on people, they must listen to them. This is why they taught the importance of being an active listener.
Steven R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, wisely noted, “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” Listening is a natural strength of the Tolmans, and Jessica shared her love for one-on-one sessions with students: “I love the one-on-ones with the students. It helps us get to know them and how we might impact them on their journey.”
Our student Estefania from Peru felt this connection deeply and learned the importance of being a good listener. “They shared six points about being an active listener. I felt the mentors took the time to get to know me,” she shared. As highlighted in previous posts, the interactions between mentors and students are the crème de la crème of Cumorah Academy.
Finding Purpose at Cumorah
Beau and Jessica learned about Cumorah Academy through a friend who introduced them to Patrick Sedivy, Cumorah’s founder. After learning about the Academy’s mission, they immediately knew it was the right place for them.
“We didn’t even talk to each other, we just looked at each other and instinctively knew we needed to become mentors.”
Beau graduated from the University of Utah in 1991 with a degree in business, while Jessica graduated from the same university in 1992 with a degree in mass communication and a minor in English. Their academic achievements have enriched their careers: Jessica has worked in radio advertising sales for 28 years, and Beau has built a successful career in business, with various roles in operations and sales support.
On choosing a career, they advise, “It’s all about experiences and opportunities. Take those chances, do interesting things that stretch you or teach you something.”
Resilience and the Light of Cumorah
It’s often said that time flies when you’re enjoying the journey, and our time with the students came to an end—but the Tolmans’ teachings remain.
We began this post by talking about the importance of resilience in today’s world. Resilience is essential for progressing toward personal goals, and our students demonstrated it by making sacrifices to join Cumorah and seek new opportunities.
At Cumorah, we believe sacrifices bring blessings, and we trust our students will achieve great things, setting an example for others to follow. Our foundation rests on the teachings of Jesus Christ, who set an example “that ye should follow his steps” (1 Peter 2:21). He is our Teacher and Exemplar.
As we watch our students leave campus, they carry Cumorah’s light with them, sharing it with those they serve and spreading its influence around the world.
You can watch their experience at our campus in the clip below:
Written by Fernando L. Ferreira Jr.
Photos by Natalia Lopez
Supervision by Kamila Uberto Fullmer
To read more stories about our campus and events, check out our Blog Page.
