But Carol didn’t exactly have her path mapped out. She had enrolled in college right out of high school, “because it was expected,” but soon discovered that she wasn’t yet ready to pursue an advanced degree. “So I left academia and went to work,” she explains. And although she had earned an associate’s degree prior to raising a family, that didn’t quite satisfy all the goals she had set for herself: “I thought, ‘I need to finish this. I need to finish my education and get my bachelor’s degree.’”
According to Carol, one of her dad’s favorite sayings was “Nobody ever said it was going to be easy”—and she can certainly attest to the truth of that statement. She had three children and was working three or four part time jobs, so she wasn’t sure how earning a degree would be possible. Fortunately, Carol’s brother-in-law, a graduate of the ADCP, introduced her to the program and acted as her mentor and advisor.
“Geneva offered me the best opportunity to complete what I started. It was the best experience of my life” she exclaims.
In addition to the convenient format of the program, Carol points to the encouragement of both professors and classmates as vital in helping her finish her degree. “The instructors in the ADCP were amazing examples of compassion and caring,” she notes. “I credit my primary instructor, Bonnie Budzowski, with helping me through the program, providing an environment where I could be successful and instilling tangible tools for success.” In addition, she says, “The members of my cohort offered support when I didn’t have much support in my personal life.”
After completing the program and earning a degree in human resources, Carol was pleased to find that she had broader career options: “Having a bachelor’s provided me the opportunity to get a job at Development Dimensions International (DDI) in a position supporting their most successful sales team.” Also, the format and structure of the ADCP worked so well that Carol was inspired to take the next step and enroll in the MSOL program.
A few more difficulties were still to come, however. Just two weeks into the program, Carol’s father passed away. Then, the economic downturn made it clear that her position at DDI was not secure. Carol says, “I had just started my master’s, my job was in jeopardy, I was dealing with personal issues and then I lost my dad. It would have been easy to step back and leave the program at that point.”
Carol’s mentor in the MSOL program, Bob Graham, was determined to help her stay in the program, however. “He demonstrated such compassion because of his faith, and that helped me stay in the program and be successful.”
Although DDI did eventually eliminate Carol’s position, she didn’t despair. Another of her father’s favorite sayings was “Good comes out of everything.” Carol was learning valuable and practical skills in her MSOL classes, and she was able to use that knowledge to help her transition into a career as an independent trainer and consultant for employers such as Penn State University and the Community College of Allegheny County until a new employment opportunity presented itself at MEDRAD.
“When negative things are happening, it’s a struggle to see God’s hand,” says Carol. “Looking back, though, I can see how God orchestrated everything. Even though losing my job at DDI seemed like a lost opportunity, I was prepared for the next opportunity because of my Geneva education.”
With the help of Geneva’s dedicated and caring faculty, as well as academically challenging, Christ-centered programs, Carol was able to overcome the challenges she faced and achieve her goals. Now, she hopes to help others do the same. Carol notes, “Because of my great experience in the ADCP, and the knowledge and credibility I gained through the MSOL program, I am able to give back to the current students of the ADCP program. I’ve taken what my professors gave me and tried to incorporate that into my own classes—showing empathy for students and going the extra mile for those who struggle with course work or personal troubles. I am so thankful for this opportunity to give back.”