Mindy Michaels

Senior Seminar
Ed Austin
Examination of Major Courses
People will react differently to the same situation. It is human nature to
relate to some topics, people, and environments better than others. I found that
this was the case with the Dance program class requirements at Brigham Young
University.
I believe that many, if not all, professors in the dance department tried to
incorporate gospel principles into their curriculum. However, some were more
successful at creating a welcoming and spiritual environment than others. I found
that the courses that influenced my testimony the most were those that were
student oriented and in which the teacher cared more for us as individuals than
they did about our careers.
Jiamin Huang and Caroline Prohosky were my mentors on the China Dance
Study Abroad. This has to be the single most important and influential decision I
made as a dance major. Jiamin gave us a rich cultural experience by explaining the
history of China and its people. She told us personal stories of growing up during
the Cultural Revolution and gave insight to her decision to move to America and her
conversion story. Every story she told had significance not only to what we were
doing as dance students in China, but to us as members of the church. She
strengthened my testimony by demonstrating that dance and the spirit are great
tools to bridge cultural and linguistic divides.

Similarly, Caroline used experiences from her own life as a college student to
showcase that hard work and relying on the Lord will help you attain any goal you
set. Her love of the gospel and of the Chinese people allowed her to reach outside
of our study abroad group and touch the hearts of those she taught in improvisation
and composition class. She understood that to touch hearts, one needs to be open
and honest.
Kathy Black and Kathleen Sheffield were also two of my most supportive
teachers. Kathy Black, although struggling to keep things organized mentally, was
so focused on each of the Advanced Composition students that any agenda or goal
set upon us by the Dance Department or BYU became irrelevant. She wanted us to
be happy with our lives, period. She supported our choices and our decisions and
frequently expressed her love for her Savior and applied her teaching and guiding to
her personal experiences with obedience and revelation. She is truly a beautiful
woman who sees people as children of God first and foremost.
Kathleen Sheffields Orientation to Dance class was always a safe place for
students to express their opinions. She allowed us to share experiences and show
emotion in a safe and welcoming environment. She encouraged us to think deeply
about what our goals were in dance, how we defined dance and art, and even how
we would eventually use dance to further the building of the kingdom of God. She
loved helping her students feel that they could accomplish anything they set their
mind to and keep an eternal perspective.
Many teachers are great and keep the goals and aspirations of the Dance
Department as a constant focus, but the mentors, who understand choice, love, and
the gospel cannot help but support their students no matter what the goal. They

ensure that the Spirit abides in all their classrooms, no matter the content. Like
Hans Bos says, While I dance I cannot judge, I cannot hate, I cannot separate
myself form life. I can only be joyful and whole. That is why I dance. The teachers
who have made the greatest impact on my dancing and on my testimony have been
those who live the gospel through every moment of their lives, they cannot
separate themselves from the Lord.