杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 honestly been quite a roller coaster.杏吧专区
Ellen Butler worked her way through a dizzying series of twists and turns, before earning her BSBA in Management online from the 杏吧专区.
She changed schools, she changed majors, she sat out semesters, and through it all she supported herself financially.
杏吧专区淧retty much since I graduated high school, I杏吧专区檝e had to pay my own way for college and just life in general,杏吧专区 says Butler.
Butler杏吧专区檚 roller coaster began to smooth out when she was hired to work full-time in bookkeeping at Red Lerille杏吧专区檚 Health & Racquet Club in 2018.
She gained a set schedule, a steady income, and a new drive to get her degree back on track.
杏吧专区淭hat kind of re-lit the flame for me for business and management,杏吧专区 says Butler, who had started out majoring in accounting before trying a different discipline.
Butler found the B.S.B.A. in Management program online in the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 selection of business degrees and recognized that the online option would give her the flexibility to keep working full-time.
Finding her Pace
Butler had two positive reactions to getting back on track: a huge boost to her confidence and feeling like she had finally found the right major for her.
杏吧专区淚 felt more comfortable in the program,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 was a little more interested in what I was learning.杏吧专区
Unfortunately, the strength of her optimism and initiative led Butler to overwhelm herself with a heavy class-load.
Butler杏吧专区檚 advisor, Dr. Dione Davis, stepped in and recommended Butler slow down, and after two overloaded semesters she listened.
Still, Butler faced the challenge of finding and maintaining balance between her job, school, family and friendships.
杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 always been a big balance with making sure I杏吧专区檓 working enough to keep a roof over my head, but also not working too much 杏吧专区 That杏吧专区檚 definitely been the biggest challenge.杏吧专区
With some trial and error, Butler calibrated her weekly habits and found what worked for her.
杏吧专区淎t first, I was just dedicating my weekends to doing all my schoolwork,杏吧专区 says Butler. 杏吧专区淚 realized quickly that is not sufficient at all and it burns me out.杏吧专区
Instead, Butler would dedicate some weeknights to readings and assignments and only use Sundays if necessary.
Family and friends leaned in to support Butler, cheer her on, and enforce that balance where they could.
杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檓 lucky that I have a lot of family in Lafayette, so I might not get to hang out with them much, but they杏吧专区檇 tell me 杏吧专区楨llen, why don杏吧专区檛 you come over, we杏吧专区檙e cooking dinner tonight,杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿 says Butler.
Likewise, Butler says friends were supportive and understanding about having 杏吧专区渃hill杏吧专区 friend times like watching movies at home so she 杏吧专区渨ould still be able to study.杏吧专区
The support was vital because Butler could be hard on herself when the stress mounted. Most often, she felt discouraged that her undergraduate degree was taking more than four years to complete.
杏吧专区淭here were so many times that I wanted to give up,杏吧专区 says Butler. 杏吧专区淏ut then there were so many times when I was like, 杏吧专区楨llen, you杏吧专区檙e right there. You杏吧专区檙e so close. You杏吧专区檙e not going to come and do all this work to not have something to show for it.杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿
Forging Ahead
Butler earned her bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in Fall 杏吧专区22, and before graduating, she also began her own business.
杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 called ; it杏吧专区檚 permanent jewelry,杏吧专区 says Butler. 杏吧专区淚 do little pop-ups and events; I杏吧专区檒l do parties and things like that, and it杏吧专区檚 really like kind of taken off.杏吧专区
She also remains dedicated to her role in bookkeeping at the health club. As she and her position grow and change, she杏吧专区檚 using more and more of what she learned in her business and management classes.
杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檓 like half bookkeeping, half HR and payroll,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 love it. So, I hope to stay there for a long time.杏吧专区