I was talking to my brother Wes while waiting for my daughter Jessie and wife Cassie  to land at the airport. They were returning from visiting family in Texas. I asked Wes how his life path would have been different if he had not decided to go to the high school where our dad taught.

For years, our dad was a math teacher at East High School in Salt Lake City, Utah. A few of my siblings struggled at the high school near our home. My parents asked them if they wanted a fresh start at a different high school, and they eagerly agreed.

I mentioned to Wes that I wished I had been given the opportunity to go to East High like he was. I asked him what the biggest blessing about going to East High was. He told me he loved the conversations he had each morning as they traveled to school. East High was an influential school, attended by some of the most prominent families. He was able to make lasting friendships as part of this community.

One day, Wes was on his way to his English class when he saw a huge line of people waiting to fill out an application for a scholarship. His teacher said, “Wes, if you fill out the scholarship application, I will not require you to come to class today.” After waiting in line for almost an hour, he was able to fill out the application.

After a few weeks of waiting to see who would get the scholarships, one day during the morning announcements, Wes was named as one of the three students who had won one of the scholarships. At a banquet in his honor, he was given a check for a year of schooling at Salt Lake Community College. He then went on to Utah State University, where he got a dual major in advertising and design.

I asked Wes if he would have gone to college if he hadn’t gone to East High School. Wes said, “I truly believe I wouldn’t have gone to college if I had gone to the high school near our home.” Wes is the fifth of ten children and the first to graduate from college in our family.

I like taking a deep breath and stepping back when I come to a crossroads in my life. God is in control of my life, and He knows what will give us the most growth. Just when you think you have everything figured out, God always gives us moments that will help mold us into the person we are today, and that is okay.