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Meet Tara: Working Mom and Online Student with a Love of Traveling and Learning

Tara Brown, 41
Dalton State College
BS in Organizational Leadership: Healthcare Administration Concentration
Expected Graduation: May 2017

What classes are you currently taking with eCore/eMajor?
Currently I am enrolled in US History, Intro to Criminal Justice, Technology for Organizations, Reflective Seminar 3, and Capstone.

Are you currently employed? If so, where and what do you do? 
Yes I am currently employed full-time for Adventist Health systems.  I am a Practice Manager for a busy Orthopedic practice.  I also try to take a pretty full class load when I can.

Why is completing your college degree important to you?
Since I was a little girl I loved school and I loved learning. I always had big plans of going to college and becoming something great. I became a Mom at a very young age so my desire to have a college education was put on hold. I attempted classes on and off for almost 20 years and finally got to a good place in my life that I could take the time to finish. 

Why did you choose to take online classes?
I really like the on-campus, face-to-face classes but working full time and being a wife and mom did not leave much time for that. I was so skeptical at first because I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to keep up with the course work. I am also a very social person so sitting behind a computer didn't seem like my thing. However, after the first semester of eCore I knew that choosing to take online classes was the best decision I had ever made. It was flexible for my schedule, and yet I don't feel like I have missed out on learning anything that I would have learned in the classroom environment. I am still able to interact with my fellow classmates and learn so many "real life" scenarios.

What have you enjoyed the most about your online classes?
I have really enjoyed the eMajor classes. They are not just general courses that may or may not apply to what you currently do or would like to do in the future. The classes for my program are tailored to the healthcare field and are relevant to what happens daily. I have learned so much regarding things that I deal with every day and it has given me major insight on how to handle certain things differently than I have in the past. 

How would you describe the instructors you’ve had in your eCore and eMajor classes?
My instructors have been great to work with. They seem to understand that we have so many things that we are juggling and they are always so eager to help us be successful. The knowledge and experience that they bring to the table is very beneficial.

When you're not doing schoolwork, what are you doing? 
I love spending time with my husband and our kids. We have a 13 year old still at home, and a 20 and 23 year old that both have babies of their own. So we love spending time with our grandbabies ages, 6 months, 1 year, and 3 years. I also love seeing new places and meeting new people so traveling any chance we get is my favorite thing to do. Otherwise, I am looking forward to graduation in May so I can read a book for pleasure or go home at night and watch TV again. Those are things I don't get to do much of these days.

What is something interesting about you that your classmates might be surprised to hear?
I think when most people meet me the one thing they are surprised about is that I am a grandmother. I definitely don't fit the description and don't "feel" like I am old enough to be one, either. 

How and when do you make time to spend on your schoolwork?
I make a point to log in and review assignments daily. This usually happens in the evenings after dinner, and weekends are when I am able to work on bigger assignments. It is not always necessary to log in every day but this helps keep me focused on what I need to do.  When you are taking multiple classes at one time it can be very overwhelming to keep up with when things are due. I have a planner that I write everything in....school, work, and personal. This is great way for me to visualize my day or week and keep track of overlapping assignments, or when other things may interfere. 

Who or what inspires you and why?
I am inspired to always strive to be a better person. To learn something new, try something new, or just improve what I currently have. I worked very hard as a single mom years ago to gain skills that provided me with jobs that made me feel like I made a difference and made me a better person. The only thing that has ever been lacking was my college degree. That has been my inspiration to keep going and to never give up. I hope that I will leave that legacy for my kids to see - that it doesn't matter how long it takes or how old you are, that you can accomplish your goals, and to always try to be a little better than you were today.

What would you say to someone who is considering taking their first online class through eCore or eMajor?
Just do it! Be organized and stay on top of your work and you will be successful.

What do you plan to do with your degree after graduation?
After graduation I hope to be able to advance within my organization and utilize my skills that I have learned in the program as well as my years of experience. I love healthcare and plan to continue doing this for as long as I can.

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