A Request ...

I was asked by the Dean of the School of Business at George Fox University to tell my story. And I thought I would post. Enjoy!

Amber,
I know this is a little longer than expected, but I really needed to tell the whole story. My education has been a lifelong journey for me and my MBA has brought that journey full circle. And you will be happy to note that I write just as much as I talk. Now I just hope the story has flow and doesn’t make anyone nod off. 
Thanks for the opportunity.
~Amy

I began my endeavor with the GFU MBA program because I wanted more for me. In my own secret view an MBA held a higher level of need and importance for me than my undergraduate degree. I was raised in a single parent household and my mom was a teacher with a Masters degree at the time. She has since completed her Administrative Certification and is a retired elementary school principal. Her parents graduated from college and both had Masters degrees. I was raised that a college education was next after high school. So, I went AND promptly flunked out.
After that experience I vowed never to go back until I was ready, but I always knew I would go back. What I didn’t know was that one day I would be nearing the end of my Masters degree and truly believe I was finally becoming the person I knew I could be. I have always had the intelligence, but I was not very good at applying myself. My mom tells a story of moving me from a regular English class to AP English my senior year and I quickly went from an A student in English to a C student in AP English. The suggestion was that I move back to the regular English class, but I refused. My reasoning was that I loved the content of AP English, but did not like to complete the homework and so I stayed in AP English, and ended the class with a C.
My mom’s parents both passed away in the fall of 2002. Both from differing aliments, but after 65 years of marriage I suppose they just could not bear to live without the other. After their estate was settled several months later, my mom made an offer to all her children. (There are four of us and at the time only the youngest had graduate from college.) My mom offered to pay for college. Whoever took her up on the offer still needed to work and pay their own living expenses, but she would cover tuition, books and fees. A month later I was enrolled at Portland Community College. I was 30 years old and had taken on the task of fulltime work/fulltime school. My first term was fall of 2003 and I had enrolled in five classes.
I had many warnings from co-workers and family that I would burn out with such a load, but that never happened. I enjoyed every minute, well maybe not EVERY minute, but I loved the learning. Some terms were harder than others and my heaviest load was 23 credits at two schools and working fulltime, but I realized I could handle anything for four months. After fulfilling most of my generals, I moved to Warner Pacific College and their Degree Completion Program. I am thrilled to say that I graduated with a BS Business Administration in December 2006.
Months before graduating I began the debate of law school, MBA or a concurrent program. After studying for the LSAT and struggling, I decided to take the MBA route and see how life was when I was done. And I am so glad I did.
Directly after beginning the GFU MBA program I was offered a position with American Express Business Travel. At the time I was told that the reason I was chosen, even though I was extremely overqualified for the position, was my MBA enrollment. I was quickly put on a management track and looking forward to a lifetime career within the American Express family. Then came the economic downturn and I was laid off several months ago. My management team was disheartened to see me go, but they had nowhere to put me.
After several months of job hunting and realizing that I was applying into what was becoming ‘the electronic black hole’ I began to look for different avenues for my future. And this search brought me back to the Peace Corps. I had tossed around the idea of the Peace Corps before completing my undergraduate degree, but was excited about new job prospects and had other things in my personal life holding me back. Suddenly I realized that now is the perfect time for me. The GFU MBA program has taught me to utilize my education in every way possible in both my professional and personal life. The Peace Corps provides me the opportunity to do both and make someone’s world better. I may not change the world, yet, but I can make a difference in people’s lives. I can take my advantages to others and make a community better. I am still a week away from my nomination and hoping for Eastern Europe/Business Development/Russian speaking placement.
My interview for the Peace Corps was held at the George Fox University Newburg Campus and I had the opportunity to share this thrilling experience with Amber Russell, Marley Brown and Deborah Sepich right afterward. One of the questions Amber asked was, ‘What happens if your dream job comes along?’ My answer was that I had my dream job at American Express and one day I went to work and it was gone. Dream jobs come and go, but the opportunity to volunteer with the Peace Corps is a once in a lifetime thing. This lasted until March 31st. A close friend who is a COO with a resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina called with birthday wishes and a fabulous job offer. It was a job that would incorporate every facet of my education and provide me with an amazing opportunity. I turned him down with the reasoning that I was not going anywhere until school was complete, but in that moment I also realized that perhaps I would take a dream job over Peace Corps service.
For years my mom has taught me that staying out of debt means having choices with you’re your money when that paycheck arrives in the mail. What my MBA does for me, is offer me more choices, no matter what direction I choose. The MBA program at George Fox University has been one of the most rewarding of my life. I have now been in school for six years and I am completely different person. The GFU MBA program has taught me how to think strategically and to use my intelligence. I can now, with confidence, declare that ‘I am an intelligent woman’ and no one can take that away.
I used to say that I spent my twenties finding myself, but I can honestly say that I found myself in my MBA program. I found my passion for strategic management and an understanding for people who think differently than I do. I have no idea where my MBA will take me, but I am excited to take it out for spin.