Joseph Ramirez Testimonial

A new ray of light from a rising sun in the life of a young man driven to make a difference not only in his own life but in the lives of many others in the world.  

Joseph Ramirez is a young man, 23 years old, who works hard because he knows what it means to be given the opportunity to succeed. Coming to Cumorah Academy for one semester has been a life-changing experience for him.  

It’s been that new ray of sunshine he’d been searching for. It has not come as a relief from the pain of a dark, cold night but instead as a culmination of effort and events in his life that have led him here.  

For young people like Joseph, Cumorah becomes a chance to see how far they have come. Let’s explore his story and testimony about how Cumorah has changed his life.  

Growing Up in Venezuela  

Joseph grew up in Venezuela. For most people, it’s not easy to live amidst so much political turmoil, and it was important for Joseph and his family to stay close to their community in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and apply the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ in their daily lives.  

With the gospel as their foundation, Joseph and his family always felt safe despite what was happening in the world around them. His parents taught him to be faithful and to always honor God in everything he does.  

As the political issues in his country worsened, many family members began leaving to go elsewhere because life was becoming unstable. Joseph’s family stayed, however, and it became harder every year at Christmas not seeing those family members who had left.  

But Joseph’s family stayed strong, and this taught him to be persistent in life, working hard to achieve great things. It also taught him to be patient and to face the challenges along the way.  

Ultimately, it’s what prepared him to be ready for the invitation to come to Cumorah.  

Coming to Cumorah  

Joseph, looking for opportunities to grow and improve himself, received an invitation on LinkedIn to learn more about Cumorah Academy.  

Though skeptical at first, he felt a special prompting to follow through:  

“I received an impression: I need to listen to what they have to say because it’s probably something great for you.”  

So, he scheduled the meeting that same day. He had the impression that it was up to him whether or not to take the opportunity:  

 “I said, ‘OK, if this opportunity has come my way, it’s up to you to take it.’”  

For Joseph, this was a risk. It was a chance he was taking because he knew that betting on himself would be the only way to know for sure if the impressions he had been receiving to improve himself were driven by the right desires. Coming to Cumorah would be an experience that would enable him to discover where his heart was leading him.  

It would allow him to discover his dreams.  

Upon deciding to come to Cumorah, Joseph then had to save the money needed to cover the cost of his flight. Getting tickets to fly from Venezuela to the Czech Republic was no small purchase. It would be a big sacrifice for him.  

He also knew that opportunities to advance in life, being from Venezuela, were few and far between, especially with the uncertainty of the ongoing political upheaval.  

So, Joseph didn’t waste any time and went to work. He worked for Amazon full-time as an Import and Logistics Assistant. He also taught English remotely, which helped him advance his English-speaking skills.  

After four months of hustling, Joseph had the money to cover the cost of his ticket. He was ready for his new adventure.  

 “That proved to myself that if I set a goal, I can achieve it if I work hard.”  

Cumorah’s Impact  

One of the biggest impacts of being a student at Cumorah for Joseph has been meeting the other students who come from many different backgrounds and countries.  

Learning about them and their stories has been ultra-inspiring for Joseph and has opened his mind to new perspectives:  

 “The people here have really impacted my life. When I have the opportunity to talk with different people from different countries, different backgrounds, I gain inspiration and perspective on the challenges I am facing in my own life when I learn about the things these people have experienced.”  

These kinds of perspectives are what’s possible from spending a semester here at Cumorah. Our students have the unique chance to meet other people just like them from different cultures and backgrounds who share the same mindset—a hunger to grow.  

For Joseph, he caught on right away to the mindset that is prevalent here on campus. He had the desire to take full advantage of the program once he realized how committed his teachers, leaders, and peers were to helping him grow.  

He knew he had made the right choice, and each friend he has made here on campus this semester has left a heartfelt impression on him—some big and some small—but the result is always the same. Joseph is slowly becoming the leader God needs him to be.  

“We may not speak the same language, but we are here united in the same purpose—to become better disciples of Jesus Christ.”  

Giving Back  

At the beginning of the semester, Joseph learned in his first leadership session about the importance of being a giver instead of a taker.  

Approaching the entire semester with the mindset of seeking what he could give instead of what he could get, his time here has turned out to be life-changing:  

“One of the things that I can do is give back all the things I’ve received here. This means helping and inspiring others and trying to give hope in the same way Cumorah Academy gave me hope for my future.”  

Approaching his life with the mindset of being a giver, Joseph can see a ray of brightness in his future. He can see past the dark uncertainty he used to have from the ups and downs of living in Venezuela.  

He now approaches the future with hope. This new perspective, gained through hard work at Cumorah over three months, inspires Joseph to give back in greater capacities in his life. The world of opportunities has now opened up for him.  

Advice for Future Students  

Cumorah Academy was a risk Joseph took, especially with the amount of money he had to save for his flight. He also didn’t fully comprehend what he was getting into when he took the first step of the journey, but without a doubt, he was committed from day one. He was prepared to learn, grow, and improve himself. With the steady flow of growth experiences he’s had over the course of three months, there’s no question he made the right choice.  

“You cannot imagine how many things you can receive and learn here. You can grow your knowledge to become a better leader, make new friends, acquire new skills, and I can tell you that this time in Cumorah Academy will surprise you every single day.”  

For many of our students like Joseph Ramirez, taking the chance to come here was the only decision they needed to make because of the changes they’ve undergone. It’s a decision that has proven to be a difference-maker—one that will be felt for generations.  

Are you ready to make that kind of decision in your life?