Hometown: Phenix City, Alabama

Major: Recent General Studies graduate with minors in human resources, marketing, and criminal justice

Graduated: Spring 2024

Why did you choose to attend GSW?
I chose GSW because I was looking for an affordable online college that offered a human resources degree. I liked GSW because it was about an hour drive from my home, so I have been able to drive to the school on occasion and participate in some student activities, like Family Weekend and photoshoots.

Please list your University highlights, achievements, leadership and awards.

• The National Society of Leadership & Success (NSLS) Honor Society, 2021

Why did you choose your major, or what do you love about your major program at GSW?
I chose to minor in human resources because I currently work as a human resources director, have my Professional in Human Resources (PHR) Certification, and have worked in this field for 16 years. This is an ever-changing and complex field of study, so I wanted to gain as much knowledge as I could in it. I chose the marketing minor because I have 5 years of experience working as a marketing manager and love how marketing can be used when working in other roles, such as HR. I market the positions I’m recruiting for, the company I work for, and the brands we offer to get candidates interested in working for our company! I chose the criminal justice minor because I wanted to understand people from every aspect. Some come from homes with criminal backgrounds, some have criminal history themselves, and I felt that understanding people’s behaviors would help me in the HR field. I love that GSW offers the General Studies degree, so I could choose three different fields of study that I felt related to the career I am in. I got an interdisciplinary understanding of different fields so I can apply them to my current career.

Tell us more about something you’re involved with off campus.
I am a job coach and mentor with Georgia Center for Opportunity. I assist candidates who are seeking employment and mentor them through the job search process. We work on confidence building, resume writing, proper dress attire, mock interviews, strength assessments, planning a career path, and preparing for employment.

If you had to choose a discipline to study other than your major, what would it be? Why?
I have an interest in psychology and really wanted to take this as a discipline, but unfortunately it was not offered as an online minor. I think psychology is important for anyone working with people, to understand behaviors and why people think or act the way they do.

I also have an interest in employment law, so I plan to look into law school to see how much more schooling it would consist of after I graduate.  

Why did you decide to take online classes?
I took online classes because I have a busy schedule and needed classes that fit my lifestyle. I work full-time, Monday through Friday, and I am a single parent raising a 10-year old daughter. She has been involved in piano lessons and dance classes, and we are involved in church and small groups throughout the week.  I tried to take as many classes as possible each semester, usually three or four at a time. It was a lot to add to my plate, but I wanted to do everything possible to achieve this goal and complete school. My daughter has supported me through finishing my degree. We have had several years of doing homework together each night, comparing our studies (which in some classes we were learning the same types of things), and sharing our success with good grades. We love celebrating our success together!

What has been your greatest challenge?
My greatest challenge has been the amount of things I have to do in a week. Luckily I am very organized, so I keep everything written in a calendar and that keeps me on track!

What is your plan after graduation?
After graduation I plan to continue pursuing education, whether it be with additional certifications, looking into law school, or a master’s degree. I am also required to attend 60 continuing education classes for my PHR Certification every 3 years.

What is your favorite vacation spot or a memorable trip you’ve taken?
My favorite vacation is traveling anywhere that is relaxing, like the beach, the mountains, or somewhere that I can enjoy nature. I like disconnecting from the world, unplugging from social media, emails, and phone calls and just enjoying the peace and quiet. If I’m unable to vacation, I at least try to do activities to reduce stress throughout the month such as getting manicures, pedicures, or massages.

Posted May 22, 2024