Two and a half years ago I started down a path to a new degree. I had reached a kind of glass ceiling that didn’t allow me to move up in the working world and experience new challenges. I tried changing jobs to take a promotion but that didn’t work out so well, and that in itself is another long story. But one of the things that hit me hard was an experienced division manager looking me square in the face and asking me point blank why I didn’t have a four year degree. That was embarrassing. But what followed hurt me more, he asked if I thought I could run the local office. He was from another division and was most likely going to fire the manager who had hired me, and this was a way of telling me I might have had the chance at being the office manager if had a four year degree.
I told him I’d like to think I could do a good job, but was realistic enough and perhaps a bit humble enough to also tell him I wasn’t ready and didn’t have quite enough experience. He thought that was a good answer and we got along very well. He had me work with one other person in the office and between the two of us we managed the end of the critical project we were working on. All this after our direct manager resigned, probably seeing the writing on the wall. But it all got me to thinking… maybe I need that four year degree.
At the time, I recently had a friend who graduated the accelerated continuing studies program at Whitworth College, obtaining a degree in Organizational Management. Since that was the direction I felt my strengths were in, I contacted him, got the details and then contacted an advisor at the college. The rest is now history.
Twenty classes, two and a half years, a name change from Whitworth College to Whitworth University, and I’m done.
When I started, I had a goal to just get through with passing grades, obtain my degree and be satisfied with the accomplishment. A good portion of the program was in a cohort setting. Cohort 21 started with 11 students but was whittled down to 10 in the first class. Five men and five women from all sorts of industries created a balance in the classroom that was second to none. We all got to know each other, helped each other and worked with each other to make the experience the best possible. Before the end of the cohort, some had new promotions, others were looking at new promotions and some were looking at even better jobs. The group of us were constantly encouraging each other, even through our personal differences we saw value in the diversity and we relished it. I would not have wanted to go through this program with anyone else, this group was perfect.
Now at the end, I find myself graduating with straight A’s (with a couple A Minuses sprinkled about). What an accomplishment. Nights of reading, writing, studying, having to put off work on the house, work on the cars, all over now. I had to put some of my relationships on hold, not being able to pay as much attention to my wife or son. But that is all behind me.
Already at work I am more focused on my job again. At home I’m starting to catch up on the things that matter most, my wife and son. Odd jobs that were lingering about are now getting done little by little. I again feel the freedom to do or not do insignificant things like watch movies or play games. Add to that, life feels a little different now, I have a new confidence, a new outlook, a new degree to show I have tenacity to finish long and difficult projects (not that building our house didn’t show that), that I am willing to expand my education and horizons and become more than I am.
As for work, I’m very satisfied with where I am currently, yet still know that I will move on. My present manager has challenged me sufficiently and the things I’m doing are giving me great experience. More opportunities have already presented themselves and I do plan to carefully consider each one and move up as time goes on, but for now I’m gaining more experience and more knowledge as I work through the daily challenges I already have.
The people at Whitworth were wonderful. By the time I finished my coursework, I had created new and lasting relationships. They really care about the students and the educational environment. They work hard to give us the best education and the best setting to give to us in.
There really isn’t much more to say about it. We graduated last Sunday on May 18, 2008. I started in January of 2006. Two years of constant dedication, I feel like it’s something I’ve never accomplished before in my life.
Asa Jay
Entries (RSS)