Cynthia Watts Connell
'I feel that on my mission I was given back an identity that I hadn’t had an opportunity to have any other way.'
Growing up an Italian-Jewish kid in Washington State, Cynthia Connell was shocked when she was called on a Native American Mission as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Cynthia found difficulty in looking like every other person on the reservations, but she eventually found peace on her misssion by forming her identity through the help of her Heavenly Father. As a result, she was better equipped for the life she was going to live at Brigham Young University. This new life included the responsibility of being the editor for the Eagle’s Eye newspaper, assuming the role of Lamanite Cultural Specialist on Temple Square, and graduating from BYU with a learning disability. Cynthia finds joy in being married to her husband, Richard, and watching her kids succeed with their various accomplishments.
Tribe Affiliations: Saponi /Cherokee
Degree from Brigham Young University: BA English (1986–89, 94–95).
For a link to the full video interview and transcript, click here.