GRAD SCHOOL GRAD

As a child, did you see yourself pursuing higher education?

In high school, I don’t think the choices I made were the right ones for me and my means of my education. I was not sure on my college choices, I wasn’t focused on what I wanted to do, so I didn’t know where to go. I would have worked harder. The means of my MBA came after, because I had more to offer to toward school.

What drove you to go get your masters?

After college I was working and seeing the path that I would go down, and I realized that’s not what I wanted to do. The quality of life wasn’t that good. My major in college wasn’t that competitive- I couldn’t branch out and do more. So that’s how figured out to be more competitive I had to go back to get my masters. If wanted to get a better job and make more money, I had to go back. It was money driven.

By pursuing your dream to get your masters, do you think it’s put on track for that better life?

It’s not where I thought I was going to go. The job I have right now made me realize more about myself. I thought I was going into marketing- not in the field of real estate. I thought I wanted to do one thing, but after taking all these jobs, I realized there were parts of my pervious jobs with my undergrad career that I liked. So now my MBA has gotten me to a different position that allows me to enjoy those aspects of my previous career, but with a more business focus. And now, I am with a company that values my MBA.

Did you think you had to go back and pursue your masters to get to where you are today?

I think I did, I wouldn’t be in the position I am in today. I don’t think I would be on this career path, I am in an advantage over others because I went back to get my MBA. I think I got hired because I have my MBA.

What will come back to you because of this pursuit of your MBA?

In my interview for my current job, they asked why I went back to get my MBA. You look at upper management and you see those who have advance degrees. I work in a company that has individuals that have the experiences in what I have plus advance degrees, and I see myself on that path.

What went into going back to get this degree? What sacrifices did you make?

The time in life I went back to get it helped. I was 26, I didn’t have kids, a wife or properties. I didn’t have anything I couldn’t stop. It allowed me to set aside two years and go back full time. I didn’t have any debt from my undergrad, so I was pretty much free to stop working full time and focus to the next two years on that degree.