A Literal Gift from Heaven

February 2023

As Tenille Diel sat in her ward in Alaska and listened to senior missionaries present about BYU-Pathway Worldwide and what it offered, she was captivated. Tenille and her husband were married young and started having children right away, becoming a family of seven. Tenille was only able to take a couple of college classes, but she never let go of her educational goals. “I had always wanted to go to college and earn a degree and learn new skills,” she said, “But I didn’t see a way that would be possible while I was taking care of five children, living in a remote location, and conserving our already stretched financial resources.”

The day Tenille learned about BYU-Pathway Worldwide changed everything. “When I heard them explaining how the program worked and that I could complete my entire degree online for a very discounted tuition rate, I was so excited!” said Tenille. She immediately leaned over to her husband and excitedly talked with him about her signing up for the program. “He has always been very supportive of anything I wanted to try or do, so I signed up and started in the next available session.”

Tenille now works for the Church’s IT Department as a technical project manager helping to manage the technical side of the Philanthropies department’s website, among other things. Her gratitude for the program and what it has brought to her and her family is evident. “The opportunity to participate in BYU-Pathway Worldwide is a literal gift from heaven. I know that our Heavenly Father is using this program to bring hope, skills, and help to His children all over the world.”

To anyone contemplating enrolling in BYU-Pathway, Tenille offers this counsel:

“Do it! You will not regret it in the end. There will be days that are hard. There will be days you will think you can’t keep up with everything going on in your life and finish school. But please just keep moving forward. You can do it! Your Heavenly Father will help you. Take advantage of this gift and keep moving forward, even if it is just a little bit at a time. I believe in you and your Heavenly Father does too!”