Robert Truchon re-learned how to be a student after 30 years away from school
At 70 years old, Robert Truchon from Canada found his way back to school after 30 years away. Armed with new technology skills he learned through the Covid-19 pandemic, he felt drawn to enroll as an online student at
Gospel-centered learning

For most of his life, Robert was a music lover and composer. “Before I met the gospel, music was my life,” he said. “I was traveling to Quebec City and to Montreal to see shows of progressive rock and progressive jazz.” After he met the missionaries, his love of the gospel overshadowed his love of music. “I stopped most of my music time, and I devoted all my time to learning the gospel and the teachings of the Church."
Robert loved how BYU-Pathway combines gospel teachings with academic learning. One of the ways BYU-Pathway brings the Spirit into education is through monthly devotionals. “I never missed one [devotional] and I took a lot of notes,” he said. Then, Robert would discuss the teachings in his gathering, which helped him remember each speaker’s words.
Student support
As Robert worked toward completing
Learning and growth mindset
At BYU-Pathway, Ƶ learn how to learn, and Robert was excited to discover a new way to think. “I like [having a growth mindset] very much,” he said. “[I like] that you can learn at any age and you can learn all your life.”
Robert’s new growth mindset gave him the capability to do more than he ever imagined. “I learned that I can do hard things,” he said. When faced with problems using Excel, he persevered with help from service missionaries, student support, and Microsoft IT support to get it working properly. Even a difficult assignment to go job searching didn’t keep him down. Robert relied on his strengths and used his new networking skills to find a job as a translator for a company that specializes in culture and the arts.
Advice to BYU-Pathway Ƶ
Robert loved his time as a student. When asked what advice he would give other Ƶ, he said, “You are going to have hard things to do, but it's worth it. You're going to be proud of yourself when you finish and get your certificate or your degree . . . There's no reason for you not to succeed if you try to do your best.”
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