Esther Huang was searching for something different when she began looking for a new college. After starting her education in Boston, she wanted a place where she could find peace and focus on her future.
“I Googled schools without weed or partying, and BYUI was at the top of the list,” Huang said. “I went back to southwestern China, I saved, I worked, and then I applied to BYUI. That's how I ended up here. And I love it so much.”
Huang, who is not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said BYU-Idaho's environment gave her the clarity and calm she needed. Through demanding coursework, faculty mentorship, and research opportunities, she also gained the confidence to apply to graduate programs and pursue a career in English education.
Huang grew up in southwestern China, where she discovered a love and aptitude for English at the age of 12. She later came to the United States for high school and began teaching English as a second language before entering college. Those experiences helped her recognize education as the career she wanted to pursue.
When she came to BYU-Idaho she decided to declare English Education as her major.
In Fall 2024, Huang enrolled in an educational psychology and human development course taught by Benjamin Pacini, a faculty member in BYU-Idaho's Department of Elementary, Early, and Special Education. The course challenged her more than she expected.
“I was really challenged. I cried. I was studying all day, and on the weekend,” Huang said. “It was hard in the beginning, but then I realized I could do this.... I have grown so much.”
After completing the course, Huang began working as Pacini’s research assistant. Through his mentorship, she discovered she was capable of more than she had imagined when she arrived in Rexburg. Applying to graduate programs was no longer beyond her reach.
“I realized that [the challenge] is really for my own good,” Huang said. “No matter how hard it is, it’s what I really need. I think it’s a gift.”
Huang has submitted applications to graduate programs and is waiting to learn where her next opportunity will take her. Although she does not yet know what comes next, she said she feels prepared to continue growing.
“Because I felt lost, I think I needed inner peace even more,” Huang said. “BYU-Idaho gave me that inner peace, and I am very grateful for that. Now that I know my calling and am more determined than ever, I feel ready to