In a world obsessed with shortcuts, quick wins, and instant gratification, persistence and discipline are often overlooked. They aren’t flashy. They don’t give you the immediate thrill of an overnight victory. But they are the quiet forces that transform vague dreams into concrete achievements. For young adults trying to navigate their education, career, and personal growth, these two traits are game-changers, helping you keep moving forward when motivation fades and keeping you focused when distractions multiply.
Victoria knows this from personal experience. Before arriving at Cumorah Academy, she had ambition and drive, but lacked the structure and environment to push her out of her comfort zone. She had goals but wasn’t yet equipped with the mindset and tools to achieve them.
What happened over one semester at Cumorah didn’t just help her land an international job—it gave her the lifelong habits of persistence and discipline that continue to guide her journey.
From Ambition Without Direction to a Purpose-Driven Path
Victoria Tacaki, from Brazil, first heard about Cumorah Academy from a friend. The idea of an international, immersive three-month program intrigued her. She saw it as a chance to refine her skills, grow personally, and challenge herself in ways that her daily routine couldn’t offer.
Life before Cumorah was a mix of good intentions and scattered effort. She was motivated, but without a clear plan or accountability, her progress was slow. “I had the values,” she says, “but I needed to learn how to apply them effectively in real life.” Finally, her husband, Eduardo, and she decided to come to Cumorah and have a life-changing experience.
That all began to change in Winter 2025.
Lessons That Stick: Building Persistence and Discipline
At Cumorah, Victoria didn’t have to abandon her beliefs—instead, they were strengthened. She learned how to live them out more intentionally, whether in leadership, relationships, or professional pursuits.
One lesson stood out above all: the power of showing up consistently. “I learned to focus on progress over perfection,” she explains, “and to never stop learning, even when things feel uncertain.”
The program’s structure taught her how to balance multiple priorities without burning out. Classes like Sales Bootcamp and Leadership & Personal Development gave her industry knowledge, while daily interactions with peers and mentors built her confidence.
From Classroom to Career
When the semester ended, Victoria put her new mindset to the test. Her goal was ambitious—to find an international job. And she did. Today, she works as a Sales Development Representative, the first step on her path toward becoming a Sales Manager at a multinational company.
“I’m continuing to grow, developing my skills, and moving forward,” she says. The techniques she learned at Cumorah—managing her time, setting achievable milestones, and practicing self-discipline—are now a part of her everyday life.
Victoria met many inspiring mentors during her semester, but one in particular had a lasting influence. This mentor didn’t just offer advice—she equipped Victoria with practical tools to succeed.
Through coaching sessions, she helped Victoria refine her elevator pitch, articulate her achievements with confidence, and clearly express the value she could bring to any company. “She didn’t hand me a job,” Victoria says. “But the mindset and tools she gave me opened the doors to the one I have today.”
That’s the kind of growth that happens when learning is paired with persistence and discipline, skills that go far beyond technical knowledge.
Why Discipline Matters More Than Motivation
Discipline can be an uncomfortable word. For some, it brings to mind restrictions or a loss of freedom. But in reality, discipline is the framework that gives you the freedom to pursue your dreams.
The Greek philosopher Plato is credited with saying, “The first and best victory is to conquer self.” And that’s exactly what discipline helps you do—overcome distractions, excuses, and self-doubt.
As Brent Gleeson wrote in Forbes, one practical step is to remove temptations from your environment. When you eliminate distractions, you create space for focus. That’s when persistence—the ability to keep going, even when the initial excitement fades—comes into play.
Motivation is great, but it’s not always there. Some days, it’s simply missing. That’s when discipline steps in to carry you forward. And when you pair discipline with persistence, you develop a kind of unstoppable momentum.
Persistence and Discipline: The Cumorah Advantage
Victoria’s time at Cumorah reinforced something she had always suspected—success isn’t about luck or sudden bursts of inspiration. It’s about consistent action.
Ralph Waldo Emerson put it perfectly: “That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do, not that the nature of the thing has changed, but that our power to do has increased.”
This was more than a quote for Victoria—it became a guiding principle. Every class project, every mentor session, every late-night study hour was an opportunity to strengthen her ability to keep going.
The Cumorah community played a huge role in this. Surrounded by peers who were equally committed to their growth, she felt both supported and challenged. “Could you imagine what would happen if you were in a place where everyone is pushing each other up?” she asks. “That’s what Cumorah felt like.”
Advice for Future Students
Victoria encourages anyone considering Cumorah to treat every day like a valuable resource. “Study, practice your English, and talk to mentors as much as you can,” she says. Even if their field doesn’t seem directly related to yours, they can offer insights that change the way you think and work.
Her own career path proves that lessons from seemingly unrelated conversations can have a major impact later. “The best growth often comes from unexpected places,” she adds.
Turning Goals Into Reality
Today, Victoria’s career plan is clear. She’s aiming to advance from Sales Development Representative to Account Executive and, eventually, to Sales Manager at a multinational company. She knows it won’t happen overnight—but she also knows she has the tools to get there.
She credits much of that confidence to Cumorah. “It gave me the foundation, mindset, and support I needed to start my journey,” she says.
And while her story is unique, the principles behind it are universal: choose an environment that challenges you, surround yourself with people who inspire you, and commit to practicing persistence and discipline every day.
Your Next Step
The truth is, you can’t always control your circumstances, but you can control how you respond to them. You can choose to keep going when it’s tempting to quit. You can choose to take small, consistent actions that move you closer to your goals.
Victoria’s story is proof that when you do, the results will follow.
If you’re looking for a place that combines personal development, professional training, and a supportive community, Cumorah Academy might just be your launchpad. Like Victoria, you could leave not just with new skills, but with the habits of persistence and discipline that will carry you through every challenge ahead.
Written by Fernando L. Ferreira Jr.
Supervision by Kamila Uberto Fullmer
