Mars had a friend who had recently joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He invited Mars to come to church with him. “The very moment I walked into the ward building, I felt peace and a welcoming spirit,” he said. “It felt like I was home.” Mars met with the missionaries five to six times a week after that.
With the desire to get baptized, Mars contacted his parents to get acceptance. “They were not supportive,” Mars said, “but after a while their hearts were softened and they gave me permission.” Mars was baptized September 19, 2014.
After his baptism, Mars’s friend suggested that he study in a church environment to help him continue his new good habits. Mars chose LDS Business College. “It seemed like the right thing to do,” Mars said. “Being the only member among my whole family and friends, I did not have a lot of knowledge about the Church or the Gospel. Coming to a church institution and surrounding myself with the right people was a lot of help in having higher standards in my life as a member of the Church.”
At LDSBC, Mars is studying global supply chain and operations management. The hardest challenge is being so far away from family, but he loves studying at the College.
“It is not always about gaining hard skills,” Mars said, “but the school also focuses on your soft skills, helping you to becoming a more effective person in both life and employment.”
The College gives students an opportunity to strengthen students like Mars, both mentally and spiritually. “I have learned a lot about myself and my potential that can come through following Jesus Christ,” Mars said.
One way Mars has come to know himself better is through the Gallup Strengths Finder test. The test helped Mars understand a lot about himself and other people and how his strengths can be beneficial to others. Also, working at the Career Services has helped him “obtain many great experiences and work around amazing people that are striving to help students in their career.”
There are many opportunities and plans Mars has for his future. After he graduates from the global supply chain and operations management program at the BC, he wants to serve a mission. “I will fly back home to get acceptance from my parents first, he said.
Mars has the opportunity to change the world as he works to change himself first. “I would like to change myself by being actively engaged in service and learning habits and values that work towards caring and helping others. Then, be an example through my actions to the small amount of people I live or work around. I am a believer that one’s actions influence the minds and hearts of others and inspire them to do good.”