A Second Chance at Education: David Patterson’s Journey with BYU-Pathway

David Patterson took himself off the educational path in the 9th grade. He’d failed the 7th grade and the 8th grade twice each. He dropped out when he started his first year of high school. As a person with dyslexia—someone who struggles to connect sounds with letters—he did not read well. That was over 50 years ago.

Higher education without high school seemed unobtainable. Fear kept him from considering it, but Patterson was aware of a program through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that might help. He was nervous and busy, too, but finally “mustered enough courage” and decided to enroll in BYU-Pathway Worldwide. He recently told his story here.

He wanted to quit that first week, particularly dreading the required group gathering. That sounded like another meeting. David Patterson serves as a counselor in a leadership role that oversees a large geographical area with nine congregations and over 3,000 members. That means a lot of meetings.

With their positive feedback, the group members got him through the first two weeks. After that, “It was fun,” he added. He continued to receive support from service missionaries, mature couples who volunteer together, and whose focus is individual student success.

BYU-Pathway Worldwide is designed for online students who need foundational academic and religious courses. Students do not have to be members of the Church. The Pathway certificates program centers on skills that promote hiring opportunities. Advanced associate and bachelor’s degrees are available through BYU-Idaho and Ensign College.

Patterson’s first goal was simply that first-level certificate. He now holds a Marriage, Family and Human Relations certificate from BYU Idaho. It has not been easy, and he is still very busy. The training made a significant difference in his approach to his career in life and trauma coaching.

As the author of a popular book (Live One Life: A Guide to Recovery from Trauma, Drama, and Other Addictive Behaviors), Patterson based his coaching on his own story. His confidence increased with the professional insights he gained: “I could really talk to people and within a matter of a few minutes start making headway with them.”

Clark Gilbert developed PathwayConnect in 2009 when he was president of BYU-Idaho. An initial group of 50 students has blossomed into over 61,000 working toward certificates and college degrees. Students represent 180 countries and all 50 states. The cost is low—advertised as under $10,000 for a bachelor’s degree. A single year at a public university costs about $8,600 in Texas.

The program includes a spiritual component for all students. All the other positives about BYU-Pathway Worldwide are impressive, but divine assistance is important. David Patterson concluded with his quiet testimony, “And I realized that my Heavenly Father was on my side. Made a big difference.”

A single Pathway. A simple goal. Students take that first brave step, and then another and another until they reach a place they didn’t know they could go.