A Certificate, a Degree, and Two Promotions

Guilherme’s commitment to education is paying off — literally

BY: Lauren Conrad

Guilherme Cidade, 27, was born and raised in Florianopolis, Brazil. From a young age, his parents taught him the importance of education and encouraged him to attend college someday.

Guilherme was excited to study engineering when he returned from his mission.

Their encouragement paid off when Guilherme was accepted to the Federal Institute of Santa Catarina (IFCS) to study electronic, mechanical, and computer engineering after serving a full-time mission in Salvador, Brazil.

While Guilherme was studying at IFCS, his sister mentioned that she was participating in BYU-Pathway Worldwide’s PathwayConnect and thought he could benefit from it as well. Guilherme was already pursuing a bachelor’s degree, but he decided to enroll at the same time to improve his English skills.

Learning time management the hard way

With the addition of PathwayConnect, Guilherme’s life became even busier. He was studying full-time at IFCS and BYU-Pathway, working to support his family, completing an internship, and fulfilling a Church calling. With so many demands on his time, he quickly felt overwhelmed and doubted his ability to accomplish everything he’d taken on.

Fortunately, Guilherme’s wife, Talita, was there to help him. “With much love, she was determined to help me finish everything I was doing,” he said. “She gave me so much support to endure to the end!”

Guilherme learned to manage his time through careful daily planning. He said, “I put [my plan] everywhere — in front of me, in front of my computer, on the refrigerator, on the bathroom door, every place in my house.” By scheduling time for every item on his daily to-do list, he was able to achieve his goals.

The rewards of discipline

Guilherme’s hard work and diligence paid off. He completed PathwayConnect in December 2017 and graduated from IFCS with a bachelor’s degree in engineering several months later.

The skills Guilherme learned through BYU-Pathway helped him land a full-time job.

During Guilherme’s final interview at his internship, his supervisor handed him a piece of paper with a list of skills and characteristics she had noticed in him, including his ability to be proactive and work well with his team members. “When pondering my manager’s feedback, I realized how much I had developed not only intellectually and professionally, but [I] also acquired and perfected several other skills,” he said. Participating in BYU-Pathway Worldwide was a key part of his growth.

Guilherme was offered a full-time position with the company as a data analyst. After beginning his new job, Guilherme decided to earn a certificate in data analytics online through BYU-Idaho, supported by BYU-Pathway.* The skills he learned in his certificate courses led to Guilherme receiving a second promotion, tripling his salary from when he began as an intern.

“I applied a large part of what I was learning in my job,” he said. “Such knowledge helped me give a significant return to the company.”

“When I finished the certificate, I showed my transcript and certificate diploma to my boss,” Guilherme said. “He showed it to the director of the company. Both praised me not only for my performance and dedication in the course, but also for having applied my knowledge in my work. In the same week, I received a raise and a promotion.”

Guilherme’s advice: Endure to the end

Guilherme’s family has grown along with his education.

Throughout his educational journey, Guilherme has learned the importance of perseverance. “I know sometimes we just want to give up and burn the books,” he joked, “but we have to keep doing our best and endure to the end. It’s the same as the gospel. Sometimes we don’t feel the Spirit [or] don’t feel that God is hearing our prayers, but we must endure to the end. In God’s time, He will bless us.”

Guilherme is grateful for the blessings he’s received. He is now preparing to apply for an MBA program, and he and his wife welcomed their first child — a baby daughter — in April 2020. He is excited to see what the future holds for him and his family!

*The current equivalent for the Data Analytics certificate is the Business Analysis certificate, which can be completed as part of the Professional Studies bachelor’s degree. Learn more about this certificate and others on BYU-Pathway’s degree web page.