One of the greatest fears about college doesn’t even involve what happens at college. It’s what happens after graduation. Many significant decisions and life changes occur once someone receives that diploma, such as where to live, where to work, when to buy a house, how to buy a house, etc.
One BYU-Idaho alumna spoke about some of these fears and how her family’s journey, which began in Rexburg, ended up going to Arkansas.
Jenny Rubisch graduated from BYU-Idaho in 2010. At the time, she and her husband, Josh, had just celebrated their first anniversary and had their first baby on the way.
They moved to Provo, Utah, so that Josh could finish his undergraduate program at Brigham Young University. But a three and a half-hour drive from Rexburg was only a mere warmup compared to their next destination.
They then moved to Florida for Josh’s four-year dental school program.
“I was terrified to leave the west and go to Florida with no family or friends nearby, and just be in a completely different area of the country,” Jenny said.
Despite the fear she felt, Jenny said the move helped her learn and grow and develop a stronger bond with her husband.
“Those four years we had at dental school were some of the most precious and best years of our marriage and our lives,” she said. “It taught us so much to rely on one another, and it taught us to rely on the families in our ward.”
Their journey later took them to Arkansas, Josh’s hometown, where they, at one point, had to live with his aunt until he could find a job in the area.
Today, Jenny and Josh have three kids and a house of their own in Arkansas.
Although the start of the journey appeared daunting for Jenny, she said they’ve found their home in Arkansas.
“I wouldn’t change the memories [we have] or having our kids young for anything. I think it was all part of Heavenly Father’s timing, and it has taught me so much,” Jenny said.