Exploring New Possibilities

 Exploring New Possibilities 

By Sara Penny 

What do you want to learn? My list is longer than the time available, so I just plug away with reading and learning. I feel fortunate to live in a community that values education and has so many resources. 

Communities with universities enjoy extra vibrancy and many opportunities to explore new possibilities. Southern Utah University offers events open to the public, from dance and theater to art exhibits and sports. The new Music Building under construction will be a welcome addition.  

So, I was surprised to read that only half of Americans view educational institutions as a positive. Maybe I am just lucky that I have seen more positives than other people see.  

Pew Research reports “Americans’ views of whether educational institutions are having a positive or negative impact on the country are essentially unchanged since late 2022. About half (53%) say colleges and universities are having a positive impact, while 45% say they’re having a negative impact.”

On reflection I think it is a family respect for the possibilities of education that puts me in the positive camp. My Nelson grandparents definitely believed in the value of education and made sure their children took advantage of opportunities. 

My father, Howard Nelson, remembered riding his horse across the Cedar Valley to school. This was in the 1920s before there were many fences and houses. That is the distance  from  the present Gateway School to Old Enoch. He attended Utah State University where he studied agricultural and art. I treasure the drawings from his college days and the sunset oil painting he did of Three Peaks. Whenever we went to Logan we ate at the Bluebird Cafe, because he remembered it fondly from his college days. He told me it was so warm during one of his Christmas college breaks that he was able to plow the  fields. 

Our family has definitely benefited from education. I am glad that we have students learning to build bridges and buildings that are safe. I appreciate the health research that gives us improved treatments for diseases. In nearly all aspects of life we reap the bounty of those who study how to make the world better. 

I hope you also take advantage of our stellar public library. In addition to books the library has music, audio books, and even art to check out.  There are many community programs from sketch night to storytimes.

Another way to help is to join the Iron County Today Insiders Club. Making a small monthly investment helps ensure that we have a local newspaper. Coverage of city and county meetings, local sports, and history offer valuable information. The national trend is a loss of community newspapers so we are fortunate to have this resource.

Exploring new possibilities and lifelong learning enhances our lives. Let’s encourage our educators and show appreciation for their positive impacts for all of us.

(column for Iron County Today for Cedar City Arts Council)