Learn how Andrea May Derla gained temporal, spiritual, and leadership skills that prepared her for her mission and for life
In 2021, Andrea May Derla was scrolling on Instagram when she saw a post from
“I wanted to spend my time learning in a spiritually-based environment while preparing for a full-time mission,” she said. “I didn’t really know what to expect, but it was really fun — and the courses really helped me a lot!” Keep reading to see four ways BYU-Pathway helped Andrea prepare.
Prepared temporally
Andrea’s coursework was all in English, which helped her continue to improve her English skills and get a job as an online English tutor. “It was my first job, and it helped me a lot to save up for my mission,” she said.
Although Andrea served her mission in another city in the Philippines, her home country, knowing English also allowed her to communicate with her English-speaking companions.
Prepared spiritually
Andrea faced many challenges while trying to progress in her education. “I was doing BYU-Pathway during the pandemic, and it was also a hard time for me and my family,” she said.
Searching for strength during her challenges, Andrea began studying the Book of Mormon and watching BYU-Pathway’s monthly
“My BYU-Pathway experience is really a blessing, a miracle…” she said, “because it helped me come closer to God and see the Lord’s hand every day.” This spiritual growth not only strengthened Andrea through her current trials but also prepared her for difficulties she would face on her mission.
Prepared to lead
Starting with PC 101: Life Skills, Andrea learned foundational skills that helped her grow and serve as a leader throughout her mission. In class, she said, “We made our own presentations and then reported them. I used these skills a lot, especially on the Missionary Leadership Council.”
“From goal-setting to … leading the gathering, the simple things we learned in class really helped me to give counsel during zone conferences.” All of these skills helped Andrea to become a more confident leader.
Prepared for life
At BYU-Pathway, Andrea learned that she is capable of much more than she imagined. “BYU-Pathway really helped me a lot. I always shared about it with other missionaries. I told them, ‘You should do BYU-Pathway when you go home.’”
“One thing I can advise to future or current BYU-Pathway students is just trust — trust in Jesus Christ. And when you set your goals, include Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in everything. It will be okay because what matters to you matters to them.”
God directed Andrea to enroll in BYU-Pathway, which prepared her to serve a mission with faith and confidence. Just like Andrea, dedicating time and effort to learning new skills will prepare you to serve within your family, work, church, and community.
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