Makayla Dean wants to make the most of her time.
杏吧专区淚 work hard and I like to travel. I want to see the world while I杏吧专区檓 young,杏吧专区 she says.
The soon-to-be college grad found she could achieve those personal goals along with her academic goals by making the move to an online bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree program.
Superior Business Education
Dean, now 22, enrolled at the 杏吧专区 the fall after high school graduation. Her love of math and her natural leadership abilities drew her to study business.
杏吧专区淚 heard great things about the business school at UL Lafayette,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 wanted to get a superior education and to stay in my hometown near friends and family.杏吧专区
She was about half-way to completing her BSBA in Management degree through the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration when she learned the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 business school offers the same degree online.
杏吧专区淚 learned about it through a friend. She did the online program because she was working a full-time job. I was also working full-time, so I figured why not do the online program?杏吧专区 Dean says.
The chance to receive the same degree and have the same career opportunities after graduation convinced Dean to make the switch. The benefits of fitting her education into her life, instead of the other way around, appealed to her immediately.
杏吧专区淲ith online, you get this freedom to just live your life, but you杏吧专区檙e also getting your education at the same time because you don杏吧专区檛 have to physically be there,杏吧专区 she says.
Careful Planning
Dean admits all that flexibility and autonomy requires a great deal of personal responsibility and organization.
杏吧专区淭here are due dates you have to reach and be responsible for. The instructors give you a starting point, and everything else is up to you,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淲hether you succeed or fail comes from what you put into it.杏吧专区
After she switched to the online program, Dean was able to work full-time in her medical office administration position 杏吧专区 the field in which she plans to continue building her career 杏吧专区 as well as travel.
杏吧专区淚 have family who live in the Dallas area, so I have been back and forth quite a few times. I also traveled to Jacksonville, Fla.,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚t was really nice to be able to travel whenever I pleased. If I needed to get away and relax, I would simply pack my computer and go.杏吧专区
Dean feels her business degree has given her direction, strengthened her leadership skills, developed her work ethic, and prepared her to be professional in the face of unexpected obstacles.
杏吧专区淲orking full-time, I had the insight and ability to jumpstart my life as an adult. It has given me an understanding of responsibility and dedication as a working adult. And it杏吧专区檚 helped me to mature and prioritize things in my life,杏吧专区 she says.
Those attributes are among the reasons Dean was named the Moody College of Business Department of Management杏吧专区檚 Outstanding Graduate this semester.
After graduation, Dean has her eye on Dallas. She is looking for roles in medical office management in the metropolitan area and hopes to one day open her own business.