Jeffrey A. Clements

There is several personality type characteristics which I believe describe who I am; I am outgoing, charismatic, thoughtful and honest.  As an Eagle Scout I have to add: trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.  I really am just a grown up Boy Scout! As far as how I view myself, I think I fit into two categories: I view myself as a "teacher" and a “family-man.”   

 

Teacher:

 

During my pursuit of higher education, I have been profoundly affected (for good and for bad) by teachers.  The paramount importance of teaching cannot be overlooked. Excellence in teaching has the ability to enlighten and inspire students whereas neglectful teaching has the ability to discourage and dissuade.  It is my aim to be the type of teacher that is able to make the subject matter impactful and important to the student. 

 

My love for teaching is not limited to academic teaching.  I currently teach each week outside of academics as a Sunday-school teacher for my church.  I believe teaching (and living) the gospel of Jesus Christ has the potential to change lives.  From 1999 to 2001, I lived in Port –au –Prince Haiti.  There I was able to teach the message of the Savior’s love as a full-time missionary.  This experience has profoundly shaped me to be the person that I am today. 

 

Family-man:

 

Family is extremely important to me.  My wife and children come first in the decisions of my life.  I aim to be the type of father and husband the Savior would have me be.  I would say that I am most definitely a “family-man”.  I love going on family outings (the beach, camping, fishing, hiking etc…).   We have a weekly family home evening in which we set apart one night of the week to teach the children about the gospel of Jesus Christ and spend quality time together as a family.  My free time is spent with my beautiful sweetheart and our beautiful kids.  I currently coach my son’s (age 5) soccer team, and my other son's (age 9) basketball team.   

 

Our family motto is “We can do hard things”.  Life is often difficult, but that is okay.  It is supposed to be.  As we emulate Jesus Christ, hard things are made surmountable.  Weak things become strong.  One of my favorite quotes is by Ralph Waldo Emerson. He said, "that which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do; not that the nature of the thing is changed, but that our power to do is increased."