Brigham Young University Scholarship Essay

To my knowledge, there is only one Landon Follett Van Wagoner in the world, but what's in a name? I suppose that my upbringing isn't far off the norm for a BYU student. I grew up in Bountiful Utah and was blessed to be raised in a family that is active in the church, where my siblings and I learned the foundational lessons of faith. I am presently serving a mission in Melbourne Australia, and I will be attending Brigham Young University this fall.
I believe that the rest of my story might vary slightly from others, starting at a very early age. As my little sister was born just 2 years after me, our lives took a dramatic change. She was born without a pulmonary artery which demanded immediate open heart surgery and weeks and months of subsequent hospitalization. In spite of all doctor's prognoses, she became a miracle. Even in my early years I remember the first night she came home, wrapped in a Christmas blanket. The challenges issued by her health then and in following years were a proving ground for my family, and as a result the rule of my family and my life has been, "Family First".
As a child an innate curiosity drove most of my activities, it was not uncommon for a new toy to be dismantled for the sake of exploration, or a nearby forest to beckon with the call of adventure. It
In my years of Junior High I discovered the thrill of business. My father had a small ATV with a snowplow and I asked him if I could use it to clear the neighbors' driveway. His response was "show me a business plan, and we'll talk." I had no idea how to write a business plan! When I asked my dad how I was to do it, his response was classic "You'll figure it out." This response has become a second guiding motto in my life. I did figure it out, the business plan was approved, and the business grew. At its peak, it had 3 vehicles in the fleet and expanded its service to cover anything from custom Christmas lights to yard renovations, all at the age