With a dad and three older brothers who all participated in the ROTC programs at Brigham Young University, Spencer Wright says it felt natural to follow in their footsteps. Now, as Wright serves in the Army ROTC and studies information systems (IS) at the BYU Marriott School of Business, he shares how these communities have shaped his character, perspective, and trajectory.
Raised in Ashburn, Virginia, Wright joined the Army ROTC program during his first semester at BYU in fall 2019 and then joined the Army National Guard a semester later. He finished his six-month bootcamp training and airborne school, and three short weeks later, he started his volunteer mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Taiwan.
After returning home from Taiwan, Wright jumped right back into military training for the National Guard, including jumping out of a helicopter after two and a half years of no practice. “I was sitting in the helicopter and freaking out because I felt like I had no idea what I was doing,” Wright said, “But when I got in the motions of it, my muscle memory kicked in.”
However, Wright says he’s gained more than just muscle memory; he’s also learned what it means to be a leader. “In the National Guard, I learn what type of leader I want to be and the qualities I want to emulate,” Wright says. “ROTC is where I get to develop those qualities and my leadership style in a low-risk environment.”
Beyond physical skills and character development, Wright’s service shapes his relationship with his family. When they gather together, he and his brother, dad, and grandfathers share military stories with each other. “Being involved in ROTC and the National Guard has been bonding for my family,” Wright says. “It’s created a shared understanding and mutual respect between us.”
Wright also found another community at BYU Marriott—although he says not in the way he expected.
Interested in studying business, Wright says he felt dismayed to learn that all business majors required him to take IS 201: Introduction to Information Systems as a prerequisite. The course description reminded him of the programming class he took in high school, which made him wonder “why anyone would want to do that for a career.” But IS 201 pleasantly surprised him—he loved the class. "Everything made sense to me, and it was fun," Wright says.
More than just the curriculum drew Wright to IS. “I loved my professors,” he remembers. “That’s the biggest thing that really made me like IS so much.” A year after taking IS 201, Wright applied to the program and was accepted.
Now as he works toward earning his MISM, Wright says his love for IS continues to grow with the help of his professors. "My professors do a really good job of caring for me as their student and making sure they understand what I need,” Wright says.
For Wright, the program also influenced his relationships outside of campus. When he learned of an IS study abroad to Asia, he thought it was perfect way to blend his passion for IS and Taiwan. And much to Wright’s surprise, this trip led to another love—his wife, Hadley.
Reflecting on how his relationships and college experiences have intertwined, Wright says opportunities come from trusting in Heavenly Father. “God’s timing is perfect for my life, even if it doesn’t seem perfect to me in the moment,” Wright shares. “I know people are going to be put in my path and I’ll be put in theirs; our whole job is to help each other along this journey in life.”
