BYU Cougars share stories of coming back to campus.
Amazing Memory
By Elena Higbee Stevens (BS ’99), Millcreek, UT
After learning about buildings and programs on our BYU campus tour, my two oldest children and I stopped at the Eyring Science Center, where I had taken dietetics classes.
The food service dietetics class was serving lunch to the public at the Pendulum Court. My former teacher, Ana White Mitchell (BS ’93, MS ’96), was at the register helping the student cashier. As I paid for some desserts, I mentioned I was a graduate from the program. Ana smiled. She remembered my name after more than 20 years. She asked about my life, where I lived, how many kids I had. That meant a lot to me. I felt I still belonged at BYU.
That tender moment with my teacher also affected my kids. My two oldest are BYU students now, learning from attentive teachers. I’m grateful for the opportunities to visit my kids at BYU and see firsthand how their teachers genuinely care for them.
Four Degrees of Glory
By Mindy Watts Folsom (BGS ’13), Medford, OR
I started my freshman year in 1978. I stayed busy playing on the women’s tennis team and chipped away at some general-ed requirements, not certain what my field of study would be. I left school in 1980, after the untimely passing of my missionary brother.
Fast forward to 2006. At 46 years old I was married to a physician and busy raising five children. When our youngest daughter started first grade, I decided to finish what I started at BYU. I applied and was accepted into the Bachelor of General Studies program. I slogged through 23 online courses and earned the 120 credit hours required for graduation—a satisfying end to my story.
But what made this tale even sweeter was that our son Ryan J. Folsom (BS ’12, MS ’14) finished his master’s in neuroscience, our daughter Kathryn Folsom Brase (BS ’14) graduated from nursing school, and her husband, Jason E. Brase (BS ’14), finished his degree. In April 2014 we arranged to attend the same commencement ceremony and walked together to accept our diplomas. We dubbed our celebration the Four Degrees of Glory!
The memory became even more tender when just four short years later we lost Ryan in a tragic car accident. Most days linked together in our lives come and go without much beauty or fanfare, but that graduation day remains a transcendent treasure that I still hold close to my heart.
Beyond Buildings
By Christina Broadbent Erickson (BA ’01), Midland, TX
Twenty-two years after I graduated from BYU, I came back to join my teenage daughters on a campus tour. It was cold and snowy, but my excitement to see my old stomping grounds—and the clear plastic shields on the cart—kept me warm.
I was shocked to see the Harris Fine Arts Center, where I had taken many of my classes, being demolished. I still remembered crying my eyes out in the technology lab when one of my video media projects was accidentally erased. I saw the nice new Heritage Halls and vividly recalled the old dorms I lived in—a place where I made freshman friendships that have lasted decades. Campus Drive in front of the Wilkinson Center was no more, but I thought of the time I stood there waving an Olympic flag as the torch relay went down that street.
Those places may be gone now, but as I bought my daughter her first BYU sweatshirt in the BYU Store, I smiled to know that every occasion to be on campus is the chance to make even more memories that will last—whether or not the buildings remain.
Two Old Coeds
By Brenda Hale Duford (BS ’02), South Jordan, UT
Many years after graduating, my husband, Chad M. Duford (BS ’08), and I—now official visitors—pulled into the coveted visitor parking lot, eager to return to our campus.
As we meandered we shared memories of freshman tours, buildings where we had attended church, and stories from our college years. We talked about campus changes—bridges, buildings, and dorms that are now only memories. We laughed as we shared our favorite napping spots (mine the library’s fourth floor study carrels; his the floor under the Benson Building’s glass cases). We reminisced about the stress and excitement of the Testing Center, which in my day had a posted list of steps for taking a test. At the bottom of the list, someone had penciled in: “Pray.”
Walking hand in hand through campus, we felt transported back in time. Suddenly a realization set in—we were old enough to be parents to the students who were walking around us. A little stunned, we managed to make our way to the Creamery. After a few familiar spoonfuls of BYU ice cream, all was right in our world again. We laughed over our newest BYU memory as we drove home.
A New ID
Chrisanne Schraedel Davenport (BA ’14, MA ’17), Lowell, MA
I was thrilled when my husband decided to attend BYU for his PhD program, but even more so when I discovered that I would qualify for an account at the Harold B. Lee Library and have access to its fabulous collection again.
One hot afternoon in mid-July, I trekked across campus to update my ID card and set up a library account. Rivulets of sweat dripped down my face and whatever makeup I had on was long gone by the time I arrived. After the photo was taken, I gave a cursory glance at the image on screen. The five hours of sleep my newborn had allowed me the night before had created deep dark circles under my eyes, and my cheeks were flushed red from the heat, giving me an odd, clown-like appearance.
The student behind the desk widened her eyes in surprise when I said we could use the photo. It was fine, I thought. I knew from experience that IDs expired. A PhD program was five years long, and I’d have time to get a good photo later.
She handed me the warm ID card, and I began my walk over to the library to set up my account. As I went through the doors to the HBLL, I looked more closely at the card, then did a double take in horror. There was no expiration date listed—the card, apparently, was good for life.
I was relieved when, just a year or so later, I got a part-time job at BYU, which gave me an excuse to get a new card. The extra cash was essential, but the newer photo was a nice benefit.
CONNECTING THROUGH TECH
Making friends and finding love have always been a big part of campus life. Did you know that back in the ’80s, computer programs helped students match up with compatible dance partners? Fast forward to today, and technology has transformed the way we connect—dating apps, social media, and text messaging make it easier than ever to find and form meaningful relationships. Did technology play a role in making a close friend or helping you find your spouse? We’d love to hear your story. Share your experience via email. Deadline: Oct. 15, 2025.
Y Magazine pays $50 for stories published in First Person. Send anecdotes of up to 300 words to firstperson@byu.edu. Submissions may be edited for length, grammar, appropriateness, and clarity.
