Mutual Mentoring

November 2024

Mentoring is an important part of the BYU‍-‍Pathway student experience, whether it’s from teachers, peers, service missionaries, or employers. A new group of mentors recently connected with BYU‍-‍Pathway students: football players.

In August 2024, the BYU football team held a Zoom call with 300 BYU-Pathway students in Africa. The mentoring went both ways as football players and BYU‍-‍Pathway students alike shared inspiring stories about teamwork, discipline, faith, and humility.

“The opportunity for all of us to learn from each other—regardless of where we live, regardless of our socioeconomic status—and to learn how to come closer to the Savior is a pretty special opportunity,” says Matt Downs, a service missionary who supports BYU‍-‍Pathway and who helped facilitate the call.

“Looking at their lives, what they have been through and how much faith they have, gives us a perspective knowing that we can also take it a step further and be better,” says Chase Roberts, BYU football wide receiver.

Head coach Kalani Sitake adds: “I saw [the players] showing more gratitude and appreciation for where they’re at and that so many people support them. And I saw them jumping at the opportunity to mentor and be connected with students all over the world.”