September 16, 2019
Inspired to Make a Difference
Connor Behr is a BYU-Pathway Worldwide student in his second semester in the PathwayConnect program. He’s also a scientist! Growing up, Connor always loved science and was particularly interested in physarum polycephalum — a slimelike mold that can reproduce easily. He didn’t know while growing up that this slime mold could potentially help many people around the world.
Connor and his wife, Anika
Connor is from Ogden, Utah, and he and his wife, Anika, love to create art as they enjoy their life together as newlyweds. While they share many similar hobbies, Connor’s primary hobby revolves around his love for science. His science experiments led him to discover that the slimelike mold he knew so much about could potentially help those who suffer from diabetes.
Diabetics are unable to produce an important protein in their pancreas called insulin. Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics need insulin daily to live, but it has become extremely expensive.
Connor’s sister was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when insulin prices had already begun to skyrocket. He thought, “Why isn’t this being fixed? I have some spare time. I’ll fix that.”
In an effort to help his sister, along with millions of other diabetics, he devotes most of his time to this project, which he likes to call the PhyR, or “fire,” project. For the past two years, this project has acted as a full-time job for Connor. This is an ongoing endeavor to produce insulin at a faster rate using the slime mold, which is much more similar to the natural cells in our body, making it better and cheaper for diabetics.
A modified physarum polycephalum specimen under UV light
He knew that he would eventually have to gain an education to proceed in his endeavors, but like many PathwayConnect students, Connor’s life is filled with time-consuming responsibilities that made an on-campus education impossible. With the PhyR project acting as a full-time job, Connor needed something to help him get his degree in a quick, convenient, and cost-effective way. That’s when he found PathwayConnect.
PathwayConnect has helped Connor earn an education as he progresses in his project and stay close to the Lord. As he works on his education in the morning, he invites the Spirit into his home, which helps guide him in his daily work.
Connor has been able to feel the Spirit guide him to find answers to difficult questions in his studies and research. As he went through the first two semesters of PathwayConnect, he knew the Lord was watching out for him, his education, and his project.
Connor said, “It was definitely the spiritual side of PathwayConnect that reinstituted me into the gospel and still supplements my spiritual diet. It’s very nurturing, and it just feels good. My testimony has definitely grown.”
Connor further explained, “The Spirit has given me peace and direction. I give credit to the Spirit and mostly to the [PathwayConnect] program which has allowed me to carry the Spirit with me throughout the day.”
Connor working on his PhyR project
Not only has PathwayConnect helped Connor spiritually, but it has helped him in his professionalism. Connor said, “Being involved with PathwayConnect has helped [me] receive trust, professionalism, and credibility.” As a scientist, Connor needs to show that he is furthering his education in addition to furthering this project. Connor reaches out to big companies for information and help with this project, and juggling online education while working on this project takes determination. PathwayConnect ended up helping Connor with not only his project, but with his well-being, which he hopes to give back to diabetics.
Connor shared, “[This project] is not about me — it’s about diabetics. It’s about people in general. I know [PathwayConnect] can bless so many other people in so many different ways. When I think, ‘Why should I be in this class?’ I think, ‘This class isn’t about me. This life isn’t about me. It’s about everyone around me.”
What are ways the Spirit has helped you in your education? Share below!
Comments on "Inspired to Make a Difference"
The Lord always uses us to help others. Thanks so much.
Inspired! I’m hoping that l achieve my dream through my journey.
The Spirit has always prompted me to get an education and helped me many times and in many ways.
I read and read again. I love Connor’s story ’cause it clears my thoughts so that I can fit in my tough goals. I feel strengthened by his testimony and blessed by God to belong in his real and holy Church. Thank you dear brother Connor for sharing !
Thank you so much for this inspired story that’s really taught me a lot
I loved reading Connor’s story about his interests, his skills, and his ambition and willingness to further his education to meet his dreams. It gives me hope that the Spirit will guide me to where I belong, so I can help my brothers and sisters I committed to before I entered this world.
ways the Spirit has helped me in my education so far is; through pathway, i am now able to listen more to the words of our prophets, devotionals, and other spiritual talks that centers on our savior Jesus Christ. i have also read and listened to inspired stories and testimonies of others, within the short period of time of pathway study. and i hope to learn more…
These are the kind of stories that you need every day!
I agree! Hearing others’ success stories can be really inspiring.
I am so inspired by brother Connor’s testimony and am in tears just by reading. I pray that Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit will always guide you in this project. I too lost my mother to diabetes and pray for a lasting remedy that will minimize the sickness.
Keep up the good work!
So inspired! I’m hoping that l achieve my dream through this journey.
The Spirit helps me to think positive always. The fist time I enrolled in BYU-Pathway, I had so many questions because I felt that no one understood me. I cant speak yet in English, but I know the lord will help me learn and gain knowledge. I know that the Spirit will always guide me. He will help me overcome the fear in my life.
I believe that the Holy Spirit helps us to have more faith in Jesus Christ and his divinity and his power. I know that the Spirit is always with us, both in our spiritual and temporal goals. Many times in my studies and in my decisions, the Spirit encourages me to continue and strengthen myself with more vision, faith, patience, and perseverance to achieve my proposed goals and progress.
Great story! Only our Heavenly Father, who knows us like nobody else does, can help us develop the talents and gifts with which He has blessed our lives. That will bless the lives of many of His children as well. Thanks.
Pathway connect is the way of the Lord and the Lord uses us as instruments to do his work. Connor’s experience is the Lord’s doing, and the glory and honor returns to God.
Thank you for your response! I agree that the Lord uses us to help and bless other people.
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