February 21, 2018
Where Am I Supposed to Be?
My path to BYU-Pathway Worldwide was not one of mere coincidence. It was a journey that began more than ten years ago. It took patience, understanding, and faith in my Father in heaven. My path not only required a dedication to my education and family, but a firm decision to follow God’s will.
Feeling doubt and uncertainty the first few years
Trevor with his wife and daughters
For the early part of my teaching career, I jumped around jobs quite a bit. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree from Boise State University in 2005, I returned to my hometown of Vale, Oregon, to teach high school math. At the time it felt like the best place for me to be, but after one year, my wife and I felt like we needed something different.
I began searching for jobs in Arizona since I had family there. In 2006, I found one in Mohave Valley and took it, but by the end of the school year I began to feel that my wife and I were needed elsewhere. My job search began once again.
I often questioned why God was leading me to places just to leave soon after. Why couldn’t I just know where I was supposed to be?
God’s plan for me started to become clearer
After wrestling with these questions for what seemed like months, I once again began to see God’s hand in leading me down the path He intended. Thoughts of returning to Boise came into my mind, but after looking for potential employment, it seemed to be a dead end.
Those thoughts finally made sense one day while waiting for my wife at an airport terminal in Arizona. I recognized one of my professors from the university waiting nearby. I struck up a conversation and asked her if there were any teaching opportunities back in Boise.
“Well, I’m not aware of any right now,” she said. “However, we do have a graduate assistant position open in our department.”
I quickly applied, and in the fall of 2007, my wife and I were on our way back to Boise State. While there, I assisted in the kinesiology department and earned my master’s degree in curriculum and instruction.
God was slowly but surely leading me along my path to BYU-Pathway.
Trevor’s path led him and his family back to Boise in 2007. Even then, he was being prepared for his future career with BYU-Pathway.
Learning about a new program made me change my direction
In 2009, I got a job in Rigby, Idaho, teaching elementary school and later middle school physical education. It was in Rigby that I learned my elder’s quorum president, Bryan Pope, worked for an organization called BYU-Pathway Worldwide.
After a few years, my wife and I again felt that this wasn’t where our path would end. I began another job search, this time looking at jobs in Wyoming. I found a few leads, but they led nowhere.
I wondered for a long time why this happened. If I was a good candidate for the position, then why was I overlooked? Where did I belong? Should I ignore those feelings and be content with my current job?
In 2013, those questions were answered.
While looking on the BYU-Idaho website for job openings, I noticed a curriculum coordinator position at BYU-Pathway was available. I remembered something Bryan Pope had posted about his job some years earlier and decided to contact him. I reached out to him and asked if I would be qualified for the position. He encouraged me to apply.
Trevor with his team of students at the Pathway Home Office.
Personal revelation led me in the right direction
For my interview, I was asked to prepare a lesson that PathwayConnect students learn about. I decided to give my presentation on study skills, and worked on it tirelessly for the week leading up to the interview.
I went to the temple the day before my interview. While walking out, I felt inspired to change my lesson. I had no idea how I should do it; but with one day before the interview, I knew I needed to completely start over.
I hurried home and scrapped everything I had worked on up to that point. Instead of study skills, I changed the topic to personal finance. I furiously searched through several websites looking for any information on the subject. It was a huge risk, but I felt confident in my decision to change my lesson.
After my presentation, the interviewers had a few questions.
“Now,” one of them said with a puzzled look, “have you seen the courses that we offer?”
“No, I’ve never looked at the course, and I don’t really know what’s in it,” I said.
“Interesting,” she said. “A lot of what you said is exactly what we teach in this course.”
I had the best feeling walking out of that interview. It had nothing to do with me or my efforts; I just felt so guided and directed by God. I realized He had been looking after me the whole time.
Since being hired as part of BYU-Pathway’s team, Trevor feels he has found where he is supposed to be.
Finding where I’m supposed to be
Within a few days, I received a call informing me that I got the job. I found out later that I used the exact video and pamphlet in my lesson that PathwayConnect students use in theirs. I know the Lord helped me to create that lesson.
For a year and a half I held the curriculum coordinator position at BYU-Pathway until I took another position in the advising department. Now working in the Student Success department, I have continued to see how God has led me to these specific positions for my benefit and growth.
I’m thankful for each of these experiences. Looking back on them helps me see how my family and I were led to where we are now. I look forward to all the experiences that God has in store for me, and I know that wherever He takes me is where I’m supposed to be.
Learn more about BYU-Pathway Worldwide at www.byupathway.lds.org.
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