New Tricks

"You can't teach an old dog new tricks." I'm sure you've heard this adage before, but how true is it? Certainly as one gets older, some things get harder, such as running, eating, and hot tubbing, but isn't it more frequently used as a cop-out than an actual declaration of truth? Similarly, many people say, "I can't change" or "That's just the way I am." Although in some circumstances that may be a legitimate claim, the truth is we can change and we do change all the time. Humans are dynamic beings.

The experiences I had during the last two months renewed this truth in my mind. Working as an EFY counselor was a blast. I met so many stellar people, and learned of the goodness and great potential found in today's youth. I feel that I have grown so much, and in ways I didn't know were possible. Growing up I was taught about Jesus Christ--that He suffered and died for me so that He could forgive me of my sins and make it possible to live with God again. More recently, I have learned about how Jesus' suffering (called the atonement) also provides strength to overcome trials and temptations. Said another way, Christ helps bad men become good and good men become better.

As a result of working at EFY, I have grown immensely, especially in the social aspects of my life. I learned how to better interact and connect with people that I don't know. I learned how to better understand and communicate with females (please note that I don't have any sisters and I was scared to talk to girls in high school). I learned how to have greater confidence in myself and in my abilities in front of large audiences. I learned how to ignore feelings of awkwardness and embarrassment to be able to help others. While I put in the effort to improve, I can't take the full credit for these changes. They were possible only with the help of the Savior. You see, this summer I learned for myself that the atonement is there not only to help us in physical and spiritual ways, but in social and emotional ways as well. Because of Jesus Christ, people of all ages can learn new tricks. Put your trust in Him and He will help you grow in ways that you currently can't imagine.