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Voices of the Valley UVU, 800 W University Parkway, Orem, UT (2026)

04/21/2022

“I decided to take a break from school in 2020 because I didn’t want to take out student loans, or do online classes during the pandemic. While I was taking a break from school, I worked 2 jobs for a year. I worked at a bookstore and as a para-educator at an elementary. By the time school this fall rolled around, I had saved up enough money for three semesters.”

“Coming back to school this fall has been great, it’s been awesome to do my classes in person! With how my brain works, in person classes are the way to go because my brain can’t focus otherwise. It’s been a lot better and easier on my mental health. Yes, everyone else my age might be a year ahead of me in school, but I know I’m on my own path. Everyone’s timing is different, but I’ll get there eventually!”

(McKenzie Harper is a Family Sciences major at UVU.)

03/19/2022

Let’s start off by saying I’m grateful for the opportunities UVU has given me. I live up in Davis County and because of COVID, my mental health, and other family complications (death of parent and disability diagnosis of the other), I haven’t been able to move down to Orem to easily attend school. I was an online student during 2020 and most of 2021.

After 8 weeks of intensive outpatient therapy I overcame my OCD battles and can now commute to school 3 days a week via train and bus without my OCD impacting too much of my day. My sister has autism spectrum disorder and from a young age I have loved helping her navigate life and being a spokesperson for her.

My mom was recently diagnosed with epilepsy so I have now been able to learn more about it and figure out ways to support her through this difficult time. I also work as a nanny for some kids who also have disabilities. All of this has led me to a strong desire to be a special education teacher so I can help influence the lives of students with disabilities and make sure they have the tools they need to learn and grow, just like their non-disabled peers.

UVU is giving me the chance to do that, as well as helping me set myself up for success and make amazing friends along the way. I’ve worked hard for this education and will continue to do so as life gives me opportunities to make a difference in the world.

(Courtney Wojtasek is a Special Education major at UVU. When not at school or working as a nanny, she enjoys working out with aerial fitness.)

  

03/17/2022

I was diagnosed with autism the summer before middle school. This is late for most people, but average for a girl from Alabama (due to stereotyping among doctors and a lack of mental health professionals in the south). I was immediately given an IEP and put in special-ed classes, which I stayed in until graduation.

Autism affects every moment of my life. I can’t process emotion, I think in patterns and logistics, I struggle in social situations, and I’ve learned to fake laugh because I (almost all of the time) don’t understand humor. My processing speed is lower, my body moves slower, and I’m constantly tripping because my motor skills are rough.

Last semester I transferred to UVU. I was convinced by friends to try the Autism Studies minor, and I’m so happy I did. Being proud of my disability is still an ongoing journey, and so it’s incredibly helpful to learn about it in a classroom setting. I may live with autism, but that doesn’t mean I know how it affects others. It’s incredibly important to learn about the experiences of others, especially if my personal and career goals include helping those with disabilities.

(Noelle Hendrickson is a Creative Writing and Autism Studies student at UVU. She loves reading poetry, rollerskating, and watching the TV show Fleabag.)

03/16/2022

“where is your accent from?”

for the past 6 years this has been one of my favorite questions. i’ve loved when people inquired because that opened the door for me to proudly talk about my homeland. i wanted the whole world to know about how incredible my country is!!

but when this stranger asked me that, my heart dropped to the pit of the stomach.

“ukraine,” i responded.

his countenance changed. he got that look of pity in his eyes that i’ve seen way too often lately. he started bombarding me with questions: “do you have a family in ukraine? where are they? what are your thoughts on war? do you think putin is crazy? will there be a ww3?”

i became a walking reminder of trauma and terrible things that happen somewhere out there in the world. our whole conversation became uncomfortable to him.

“i’m fine. my family is alive. we keep on praying every day,” i smiled and politely changed the topic of our conversation, while using all the willpower to not cry. i knew he approached me from the standpoint of curiosity and genuine concern, but i didn’t have the mental energy to go deeper into that conversation.

honestly, overall, my interactions with others became uncomfortable. some people want to live their normal lives, but i serve as a reminder of the war. others come from the most sincere place and keep up with the news, but still don’t know how to respond. i get it. i’m grateful for all the love. nonetheless, life became a very isolating experience.

i made a little infographic on slide 2 on how to interact with your ukrainian friends. hope it helps! thank you for your kindness!

you know what? still, even during these awkward interactions and my hesitations, i’m even more proud than ever to claim that my (now subtle) accent comes from ukraine. the courage and freedom of my people runs through my veins, and that is worth more than gold.

слава україні!💙💛

(Veronica is a UVU student from Ukraine who is studying costume design. She is a passionate Swiftie.)

03/15/2022

Growing up around here, I didn’t get why people would get engaged and married so quick. How did you know you wanted to marry some rando after only knowing them half a year, even less in some cases? I thought all the 'Provo couples' were crazy.

Well, I guess I'm going to have to eat my words, because I got engaged in January to someone I met last July. I'm officially the Utah Valley stereotype, and I couldn't be happier.

It's not all sunshine, kittens and rainbows, though, and I think most engaged couples would tell you that. I'm in my last semester at UVU, so I've had to balance wedding planning while keeping my eye on my grades, and it's been a tightrope of emotions. Sure, it's wonderful to talk with family and friends about decorations, outfits, and catering, but it's also hard to plan the party of a lifetime when my professor is still expecting that reading response on a Monday night. It's great to work on an essay I'm passionate about, but sometimes I'd rather be with my fiancé.

Between all the bridesmaids, late assignments, boutonnieres and canvas announcements, I can get overwhelmed. I've lost count of the times I've cried into my boyfriends' shoulder because of stress. But hey, it's times like these that show me they’re the one.

Being a q***r couple in the valley has its own challenges too. I'd never felt more like the elephant in the room than when we hold hands in public. People think they're pretty sneaky with their glares, but they're really not. It can make date nights more tiring than anything if all the other diners at Wingers are staring at you.

At the same time, though, I've felt love and support from unexpected places, and have had to break down my own assumptions and stereotypes as people have offered love, support, and good old fashioned wedding advice. It's humbling, seeing people show up for us who I thought were going to be unkind or cold. It's allowed me to really think about how I jump to conclusions, and how to still protect me and the ones I love from hate whilst also being patient and optimistic.

Because, after all, it looks like the best things in life are the ones that prove me wrong, aren't they?

(Corey Boren is a Creative Writing Major minoring in History. When not in class, he'll be found tutoring in the Writing Center.)

02/27/2022

For 8 months every year for the past three years, I've had little else but UVU on the mind. I take 17 or 18 credit hours a semester. Both of my jobs are at UVU. This university has had so many positives in my life.

I want to be more than a UVU student during my time here, though. I'd like to be someone with excellent mental health and hobbies. I took up crocheting, but it feels like a distraction from what I should be doing. Remember reading for fun? I'm not sure if I do. I'd like to be a less stressed partner and a better friend. I'd like to see my family more. Being on scholarship makes that hard, even though I'm so glad for the assistance.

While I'm here, I'm trying to bring my full self. Trying to have to courage to remind people of my pronouns. Taking opportunities that feel right. But, I'm so tired. I'm hoping to find some last reserve in the time I have left here.

(Natalie is a student who is a Student Solidarity Leader on campus, in addition to working at the Small Business Development center.)

02/27/2022

Welcome to Voices of the Valley, an opportunity to share your experience with other Wolverines, and to hear their stories as well!

Voices of the Valley is dedicated to sharing experiences, stories, literature, and art from students within the UVU community, highlighting the diverse cultures, experiences, and identities that come together at UVU! The past several years have been a challenge for many students during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Voices of the Valley hopes to highlight both the joys and challenges our campus has faced during this time.

Voices of the Valley accepts submissions from Utah Valley University students, faculty, and staff, in addition to all those connected with the broader UVU community. In order to submit, please click on the link below.

Voices of the Valley UVU

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