Knowing your divine identity changes how you see the world — see how Guilherme has applied this in his professional life
Guilherme Cidade was a student from Brazil whose experience with BYU-Pathway Worldwide laid the foundation for the rest of his academic and professional career. Read the first half of his story , and then see where he is now!
What started as a small step in 2018 ended up reshaping my entire academic and professional path. I was already enrolled with a university in Brazil, but my sister suggested I also try BYU-Pathway Worldwide . I’m really grateful I listened to her — I never could have imagined the doors that would open from such a simple decision.
BYU-Pathway’s foundational PathwayConnect courses and my certificate in data analysis built on the knowledge and skills I’d previously gained through my mechatronics degree from Federal Institute of Santa Catarina (IFSC) in Brazil. These experiences prepared me to also complete a master’s degree in business analytics and an MBA from the University of Utah in the United States.
Looking back now at my education and professional journey, I’ve come to see that education is about so much more than achievement. It’s really about what it allows us to contribute and give to others
We are not ordinary
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, “Your origin story is divine, and so is your destiny. … You are anything but ordinary. You are gifted!”
Those words really resonated with me, especially as an engineer. I used to think my skills were mainly about helping companies become faster and more efficient. Over time, though, I started to see something much bigger. My work could actually bless the lives of millions of people. Whether it’s improving safety or building more effective systems, I realized I was helping to make everyday life better for real people.
Strive to do our part
I first enrolled in BYU-Pathway while I was still studying at IFSC, where I noticed a gap between what we learned in the classroom and what we needed to succeed in a real work environment. I felt like the gap could affect engineering students’ confidence in their abilities, and I wanted to do something to help. Using what I was learning in BYU-Pathway, I chose to focus my final project at IFSC on that challenge.
The system I created gave students the chance to practice what they were learning with real equipment, not just simulations and theories. What began as a capstone project became more meaningful as IFSC used it as a new training tool future students could rely on.
We can serve anywhere
The reminder from President Uchtdorf that I am not ordinary — and that my potential is divine — stayed with me as I graduated and started working. Over time, I realized how many possibilities for good there were in my work. My skills were more than technical; I had an opportunity to contribute to real recovery and healing for people. That mindset inspired my first invention: a treadmill system designed to operate inside a high-pressure hyperbaric chamber.
As the invention was later featured by well-respected universities like UDESC in Brazil and Harvard, I was grateful the Lord guided my efforts to help patients recover faster and support new rehabilitation research.
The Lord will magnify our efforts
If there’s one thing I hope other students remember, it’s this: you are not ordinary. You may feel unsure of your path and wonder whether your talents matter — they do!
I went from a newly returned missionary uncertain about the future to working in places where I can impact millions of people. BYU-Pathway was the beginning of that transformation for me.
BYU-Pathway helped me see what was possible, and I truly believe it can do the same for you. Don’t lose heart or give up when things feel unclear. As you strive to do your part, the Lord can magnify your skills in so many ways, allowing you to bless His children in ways you never thought possible.
How will BYU-Pathway help you reach your potential? Consider enrolling in an online degree program .