Victoria

Victoria turned 12 several months ago. She is now in the Young Women's program at church. They had their New Beginnings, where they introduced the girls. I was asked to tell about Victoria, and this is what I came up with. Thought I'd post it on here so family that doesn't know her well can learn about her a little. The theme was Pearls of Great Price, btw.

Everyone has heros. For many of us, it is our parents. For others, an athlete, or an entertainer. For some it is a fictional character. One of my heros is my daughter, Victoria.


Victoria came to our family when she was 17 months old. She had been exposed to drugs and alcohol before she was born and had been neglected as a baby. It was a rough way to start out in life, but Victoria has a strong spirit and she is a hard worker.

Victoria started riding a school-bus to school before she was 3 years old. She has been in school almost her whole life. She loves learning. If something interests her, she will look for books on that subject. She looks it up on the internet. Then she writes down everything she finds about that subject in a notebook. She started out tracing over the letters in the books. Then she started writing it out. She has developed very nice penmanship by doing this. She has several notebooks full of things she has learned about.

Victoria also writes stories about what has happened to her. She keeps them together like a journal. She likes to share them with her family.

Victoria works very hard in school. She has to put in much more effort than other students to learn. But Victoria does it. She works very hard. Victoria has taken up the violin. She has been at it a year less than most of the other students in her strings class. She is working hard to learn the notes and fingerings on her violin. But she is doing it. She practices every day because she loves playing the violin.

You might think that with all the struggles Victoria has it would get her down. Like all of us, she gets discouraged. But Victoria has a special gift from her Heavenly Father. She has so much happiness. Victoria is the happiest person I know. Even though sometimes it is hard for her to make friends, she works hard at being kind to everyone. She has a lot of empathy for those around her.

When I think of the qualities of a pearl, several come to mind. First, they are beautiful. Second, they are strong. Third, I consider the process that makes them. And last, I consider how they are valued. Like a pearl, Victoria is a beautiful person. Inside as well as outside. She shares that beauty with all around her. Like a pearl, Victoria is strong. She keeps going and going and going, even when it takes more work than it would take others. Like a pearl, she has grown layer by layer, effort by effort. Starting out small in difficult circumstances, she has grown slowly and has been turned into a fine gem. And finally, like a pearl, Victoria is of great worth. She is of infinite worth.

We are very proud of all that Victoria does. We are excited to see her come into Young Women’s. She is very excited to continue to grow in the gospel with the friendship of her other Beehives. And she is looking forward to girls camp!

When I think of a person who exemplifies a heroic life, I definitely think of Victoria.