Maria-Teresa King was born in the Philippines and grew up in California, but fate 杏吧专区 in the form of the U.S. military 杏吧专区 brought her to Louisiana.
杏吧专区淭hank God,杏吧专区 she says.
In Louisiana, King met her husband and found a community at the 杏吧专区 that was as close-knit as what she had come to know first in the Navy and then as an Air Force medic.
杏吧专区淚n the military, you have this bond, but in the civilian world, it杏吧专区檚 rare,杏吧专区 King says. 杏吧专区淏ut you can have it here in Louisiana at UL Lafayette.杏吧专区
Achieving Personally, Professionally
King moved to Washington, Louisiana, with her husband and started looking into local opportunities to complete her bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree. King needed to consider her commute and her schedule as she worked as a funeral coordinator, organizing military honors. 
The bachelor杏吧专区檚 in Health Services Administration fit the bill. The program杏吧专区檚 online coursework allowed her to maintain her full-time job and, later, care for a newborn daughter, as well.
杏吧专区淓verybody is so helpful,杏吧专区 King says. 杏吧专区淚 mean, they genuinely wanted to help you 杏吧专区 the faculty, staff, and especially the professors. When they said, 杏吧专区業 have an open-door policy,杏吧专区 they meant it. It's a great program, which helped me explore my options and then helped me achieve my goals.杏吧专区
As she neared the end of the health services administration degree program in 2015, professors helped her connect with employers and prepare for an interview with an area billing company.
杏吧专区淢y current employer tried to hire me before I even graduated,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淭hey were specifically looking for a quality coordinator, and I thought, 杏吧专区業 can杏吧专区檛 do that; I杏吧专区檓 just starting.杏吧专区 But I went to my professor and he helped prepare me for that interview.杏吧专区
King is now a policy and incentive coordinator, working with multiple medical practices in and around St. Landry Parish.
Growing as a Ragin杏吧专区 Cajun
When King decided she wanted more professional growth, her experience with the online bachelor杏吧专区檚 program brought her back to UL Lafayette. She enrolled in the MBA online program with a concentration in Health Care Administration in January 2020.
As an online graduate student, King balances her full-time job, coursework, and everything that comes with parenting 11- and 4-year-old daughters.
杏吧专区淚t's great because I can set my schedule. Family comes first 杏吧专区 I have to tutor my child, I have to work, I have to do those daily activities. But at nighttime when everybody sleeps, I can pop open my computer and read and do my courses,杏吧专区 King says. 杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 very flexible.杏吧专区
That flexibility requires students to be self-motivated to stay on task. King says having a military background has helped her stick to a consistent study schedule. Once it杏吧专区檚 time for coursework, she says, she turns off her phone and puts everything else aside to focus.
杏吧专区淵ou have to motivate yourself, you have to pace yourself, and you杏吧专区檒l do well,杏吧专区 King says.