As I sat in my Marriot School of Management exit interview with my accounting professor, I had a major flashback. I was picturing my Boy Scout Eagle Scout Board of Review, where the board was asking questions to determine whether I achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. One of the inquiries that I was asked and turned into a 20-minute discussion was about “How was I going to give back to the program?” Now, my accounting professor was asking me the same question, “How was I going to give back to the program?”
I have thought about the question many times over the years and how I would answer it. I can calculate the number of hours I spend on BYU campus doing recruiting, presenting at various accounting and information system classes and clubs, mentoring students on opportunities and career advice, and the amount of money donated to the university. However, that is not what I generally think about but instead focus more on the unquantified things. The reasons are more about the feelings I get from giving back than the time, effort, or money I gave back. Below are my top five reasons I give back.
- Feeling of Gratitude. As a struggling student at BYU, there was much compassion and encouragement given to assist me in finishing up school and starting a professional career. These feelings awaken something in me that begin to help me understand how much I have to be grateful for as I was a student. I want others to feel that same compassion and encouragement that I felt. I want to give back to show gratitude for the opportunities that have brought me to where I am today and reminds me how lucky I am.
- Being a resource. I want to use my valuable experiences and insight to offer to the program and especially to students who are in the same place I was years ago. I know the impact others had on me, and I hope to enrich the lives of others. Through the years, I have expanded my network with others, allowing me to build valuable connections for myself and others in the future.
- Grow as a person. When I am engaged in philanthropic and humanitarian activities, I somehow can’t help but be touched as a human being. My greatest happiness comes from directly helping rather than merely making an anonymous donation.
- Building blocks for future development. As I am giving back, I am setting a good standard for the others I work with but more importantly for my children. I am trying to provide the building blocks essential for their future development. By setting an excellent example for the next generation, we can teach others to give back.
- It feels good to give. Deep down inside, I know we all want to feel that we contributed, added value and had some meaning and purpose in our lives. Giving to others helps us feel that we’ve made that difference and helped to make somebody else’s life better.
Nelson Mandela stated, “In Africa there is a concept known as ‘ubuntu’ – the profound sense that we are human only through the humanity of others; that if we are to accomplish anything in this world it will in equal measure be due to the work and achievement of others.” (https://www.azquotes.com/quote/823165) We are the byproducts of a great program here at BYU. For us to continue making the BYU Information System program and students a success, we need to think how to give back to the program and then act. I know we are sometimes too focused on the “struggle” of our daily lives to even think of giving back. Doing what you can, that is what matters. May my thoughts provide you with that little push in the right direction.