BYU-Pathway helped Wayne turn his fears into deeper faith, strong friendships, and a bright future
At age 36, with a wife and three kids, Wayne Herridge had abandoned any hope of furthering his education.
Born in Portsmouth, England, Wayne had never completed a college degree. In 2016, his wife, Evanna, told him that applications for BYU-Pathway Worldwide were open and encouraged him to enroll.
He said, “Going into mainstream university would have cost too much. We were looking for ways I could get a degree in the cheapest and most effective way possible. BYU-Pathway gave me the lead-in to get a degree.”
Wayne worried about the time commitment required to earn a degree in applied technology . However, he felt stuck professionally in his dead-end job as an education examinations officer and trusted BYU-Pathway could unlock new career possibilities.
“When I started BYU-Pathway, I knew it was going to take a lot of time and effort,” he said. “But I also knew I was now on a safe path to betterment.”
Adding value in the workplace
Tackling tech classes was tough. Learning new programming and web development principles each week was intellectually overwhelming, but Wayne persevered. Supported by BYU-Pathway’s resources and his classmates, he managed to complete his assignments — even the most difficult ones.
The new skills he acquired didn’t go unnoticed at his job. “Management saw the difference in what I was able to do,” he said. “I could bring new ideas to the table. I’ve been able to help my team and improve the company.”
More than just a degree
BYU-Pathway proved to be more than a path to a diploma. Wayne refers to his classmates as friends — relationships that will endure well beyond graduation. Talking of a friend living in Pennsylvania, USA, he said, “I’ve never really met him in person, but we text regularly. We talk about our kids and our gardens. We have become good friends.”
Above all, the faith-based courses allowed Wayne to strengthen his relationship with Jesus Christ. “Not that I didn’t know before,” he said, “but learning about the Savior and His role in class helped me to see how He is in the details of our lives. He’s in everything we do.”
Learning to look ahead
Now 44 years old, Wayne plans to advance his career after graduation. His degree has opened new doors, enabling him to move from a minor role within an educational institution to becoming an educator himself.
Building on his newfound skills and certainties, Wayne is ready to create an exciting future.
“I wasn’t good at school before,” he said, “but now I know I can work under pressure, meet deadlines, and complete different tasks at the same time. I have become resilient and determined.”