In her memoir, Educated, Tara Westover shares her difficult childhood growing up in poverty in rural Idaho. The youngest of seven children, Westover was raised by conservative, survivalist parents, who practiced the Mormon faith, but eschewed the mainstream Latter Day Saints church. Westover and her siblings were homeschooled, taught to fear and avoid anything that could be linked to the government, including hospitals and schools.
Westover felt a pull to seek an education and life beyond which her parents and community were providing. Using books and tutors, she learned beyond the scope of her homeschooling and managed to get accepted to Brigham Young University and Cambridge.
Westover’s story is incredible. She faced enormous obstacles from both her family and culture to find a place in academia. She was in physical danger from an abusive older brother, whom she managed to outwit to survive. Her parents offered reluctant support and she had to figure out financial aid and housing on her own. She was taught to be so self-reliant that the idea of financial aid, even though she was desperately poor and among the most needy at her University, was a concept that scared her. Westover had a difficult time making friends and trusting others. She had to overcome both gaps in her knowledge socially and educationally.
One of the most shocking examples of Westover’s knowledge gap is when she asked for a definition for the word Holocaust in a civics class at BYU. The classmates thought that she was being disrespectful, but Westover’s parents never taught her about the Holocaust and it was a sincere question. There are many things about Westover’s family that are hard to imagine. For example, Westover’s father makes his children work with him on incredibly dangerous junk salvaging jobs. One of Westover’s brothers is horrendously injured, but since they fear modern medicine, he is treated at home. It’s absolutely horrific.
Despite her childhood traumas and difficulties, Westover loves her family. I think this is the heart of it, that many people love their families, even the relationship is complicated. Westover’s parents are hot and cold during her time pursuing her University education. She has the support of some siblings who have also moved away from their parents teachings, but her relationship is fraught with others.
Educated is inspirational and surprising. I admire Westover and everything that she fought to overcome in efforts to pursue her education. She kept going even when she struggled to find support from her family or to connect with her peers. I don’t know if many people could be humbled by all that which they did not know and still continue to fight for knowledge. Every time she was beat down, she got back up and came back stronger.