Sister Spotlight
Tara Fitzgerald
BYU Baby.
Sometimes life comes full circle. That’s certainly the case
for Tara Fitzgerald a recent BYU grad in Law. Born here in Provo while her
parents were students at BYU, Tara spent her first two years in Provo before
her family moved to Fruita, Colorado after her mom’s graduation.
Life is sweet!
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| Castle Rock, view from Tara's house |
During their seven years in Fruita, Tara’s dad ran a candy
business before moving the family to a little valley in Southern Utah namely
Castle Valley. With not even a gas station in town, and the family needing to
travel to Moab for groceries, gas and all other needs, it’s surprising that
Castle Valley had its own tiny branch. It was there between the ages of 8-14 years
surrounded by mountains and the world famous red rock, and mountains with names
like the La Sal Mountains, the Three Mile Mesa, Castle Rock, Jello Mountain,
Priest and the Nuns, and Porcupine Ridge, that Tara felt like she tasted Zion. The
reason is simple: in their little LDS branch, they did everything together
including canning and gardening. And when it came to expanding their small
building, they brought people into the church. At the dedication of their
little branch building, the branch sang the Temple Dedication Hymn, “The Spirit
of God,” for the Seventy who was in attendance for the dedication. Tara thinks
of Castle Valley when she reads the words describing the place of Mormon in the
Book of Mormon: “how beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to
the knowledge of their Redeemer; yea, and how blessed are they, for they shall
sing to his praise forever.” Mosiah 18:30. Although her family has since moved
to Rexburg, Castle Valley was the place that laid foundation for her testimony
and who she is today.
New Kid in
School
As if being a new kid in school isn’t tough enough, imagine
being the new kid in a different school every year of your life from 3rd
to 10th grade. No wonder Tara is great at making new friends. One
year she even went to a 7th day Adventist school. At this school, Tara
was taught in a one room school house with just one teacher. On their way to
school, they would eat apples off the trees, and for recess they would swim in
a pond, riding a zipline off a tree into the pond. When the weather got cold,
they would ice skate. Tara’s childhood in Southern Utah was also full of hiking
and river rafting down the Colorado River. In short, Tara’s childhood was
nothing short of an adventure.
Mozart in the Desert (Southern Utah). And the Jungle (Rexburg).
Since there were no cultural opportunities in Castle Valley,
Tara’s grandfather would come pick the family up to go to his symphony performances.
But Rexburg provided more of the cultural opportunities that had been missing
thanks to the proximity of BYU-Idaho.
Tara’s own involvement with music has a long history. During
high school, university and even into law school, Tara has accompanied choirs
and plays ranging from My Fair Lady and Into the Woods at high school, Pirates
of Penzance, Secret Garden at university and even for a community theatre plays
such as 7 Brides for 7 Brothers, Oklahoma, and Oliver. Not surprisingly, Tara
completed a degree in Music Education at BYU-Idaho focusing on choral education
with an emphasis in piano, a unique combination since most people focus on
voice. What is coolest though is that Tara got to pioneer the coursework for
her degree because she was in school at the time Ricks College transitioned to
the 4 year university, BYU-Idaho. A highlight of her BYU-I experience was
accompanying many of the choirs there. Today she continues accompanying on the
piano, something that has allowed her to make money for most of her life, and something
that brings her great joy.
Called to
Serve . . . in the Emerald Isle
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| Tara in the Emerald Isle |
Not surprisingly, when Tara received her mission call, she
was called to a land associated with lovely music, the Emerald Isle (both Ireland
and Northern Isle). Even more fun, Tara
got her mission call on St. Patrick’s Day and with her Irish name, Fitzgerald,
she’d meet a lot of people with the same name, not to mention the many places
named with her first name, e.g., Hill of Tara, Church of Tara. In short, Tara
felt called to the right place and others recognized it as well.
Not surprisingly, the mission, a Catholic stronghold, was
very low baptizing. Although they didn’t see a lot of baptisms, they did
witness a lot of miracles, and saw many hearts turn closer to Christ. In her beloved
Emerald Isle, Tara started in Dublin and ultimately circled the island serving
in Eglington (Londonderry), Killarny (where Tara brought the sunniest summer in
years), Wexford (near Waterford), ending in Portadown up north. Getting to
serve in both countries, Ireland and Northern Ireland, she felt the heaviness
in the air in Northern Ireland that lingers from the conflict between the
Catholics and Protestants, though they are working to resolve it.
Interestingly, without the conflict in the south, there is a lovely levity.
Wait?! You did Law School?
Yes, despite Tara’s natural inclination for music, she has
completed a JD (law degree). Ya, I know you’re scratching your head figuring
out how that happened, so here’s the story:
Tara served a mission to Ireland after college and upon her
return, she was trying to figure out different things to do. It was at this
time that she looked into grad school. The first person in her family to go to
grad school, she toyed with the ideas of educational leadership and music, among
other things. She knew that something was missing, and while accompanying in
Rexburg, Tara had the feeling she needed to be back in school by the next year.
It suddenly hit her that she had never considered law school and the moment she
did think about it, things started falling into place. She knew that she didn’t
have much time--the LSAT was coming up, and she realized that if she was going
to do this, then by golly she needed to do this for real. So her and her mom hopped
into a car to drive to Provo to walk around the BYU law school. While there, this
life path just lit up, even over an MPA (Masters of Public Administration) which she
had previously been leaning toward. The feeling she got just inspired her. She
figured if it was the right path for her, then she’d ask for the Lord to open
the door and she’d do her part to make it happen. With a week before LSAT, her
fears made her feel like she should wait because she wasn’t quite prepared, yet
she felt pushed to follow through anyway and live up to her commitment. So, she
just showed up, and on the day of the test she got the best score she had received
from any of her practice tests. She knew she had been helped from above.
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| Graduation Day with her JD (law degree!) |
Every day while at law school, her initial feelings were
confirmed, and she knew that she was in the right place. She was super driven
by the International Center for Law and Religion Studies whose major purpose is
to help bring more religious freedom into the world. During law school, she worked
for the Center as a Research Assistant, and then went on to serve on the
management board. As a result, she got to attend conferences both in
Washington, DC and at Oxford (yes, THAT Oxford). Her trip to Oxford was a real
treat in part because she got to visit Runnymead where the Magna Cart was
signed 800 years ago. She also got to visit the British Library to see the
originals and thereafter went on to visit her mission (more below)!
Striking a
Balance in Law School
Even during law school, Tara kept very busy. She brought
music into her law career by serving as the Director of the Law School Choir. She
also served as Spirit in the Law Club President and as the Managing Editor of Administration
for the Journal of Public Law. This
is no small feat. Law school is exceptionally busy without all the additional
work, so her engagement in good extracurricular activities is noteworthy.
From Law School
to the Courtroom by Means of the Police Academy
After graduating the end of April, Tara started training at
the Police Academy to become a law clerk/bailiff. It’s the small part of her
job as a bailiff that required the training which consists of 3 parts: physical
training, defensive tactics (taking control of situations including via arrest)
and then classroom preparation on the specifics of the law). The training was 6
weeks in length and is akin to boot camp training. No, she won’t be carrying a
gun; she’ll be armed with pepper spray. She’ll be serving as bailiff in Judge
Howard’s court in the 4th District Court. Future opportunities that
would interest Tara? Working as a guardian ad litem (representative and
advocate for minors) or working with religious liberty like in her law school
days.
Favorite
Calling She’d Wake up at 4am to Do?
You guessed it: Ward organist. Piano is her love and yes,
she’d wake up at 4 am as a child to practice!
And Now for
Something Totally Random
Not only has Tara worked as a dinner theatre accompanist,
but she’s also gutted fish in Alaska and has a CDL license from working for a
shuttle service in which she drove busses up to 45 feet in length. Tara’s no
wilting violet!
Ms.
Fitzgerald Goes to Washington
While many of us have visited Washington, DC and NYC, Tara’s
recent trip had the bonus of getting to hear oral arguments at SCOTUS. Plus she
got to do the fun stuff such as touring the White House (the parts open to the
public), the Statue of Liberty and even catching a Broadway play. Ask her which
one! J
A Celebrated
Sister
Among her accomplishments, Tara counts the Thomas E. Ricks Award
of Excellence at BYU-Idaho and the Faculty Award for Meritorious Achievement
and Distinguished Service at BYU Law School. But perhaps the greatest honor she
received came through a Community Integrity Award she received from her
community while in High School. This last one came out of nowhere, and she
still has no idea who recommended her. Nice way to be involved, Tara, in local
matters!!
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| The latest picture of the growing Fitzgerald Clan |
Inspiration
So what inspires this inspirational sister? Music, the gospel, good people,
nature, and of course Christ.
Perceptions
If Tara could have people see her in a certain way, it would
be to be viewed as someone who helps others feel loved and have fun in her
presence.
Walk and Not
be Weary
Let’s close with some good counsel for us all as we face the
challenges of all there is to do. It’s summed up in one of Tara’s favorite
scriptures, Isaiah 40: 31,
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew
their strength; they shall mount up
with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Back in May, our Stake President, President Blair, extended the following invitation to our ward members: “My invitation for 8th ward members to record a story of an ancestor that inspires them is meant to get them thinking of their ancestors in general. I don't want people to think they have to find a story of the ancestor whose name they take to the temple--any ancestor will do; any relative will do. I just want them to think of a story and write it down. Great if they can put it on FamilySearch but writing it down is the invitation. I also invite them to submit a name to the temple. Great if they can perform the ordinance, but submitting a name is the invitation.” 
