Courtesy of Janelle Jones
- I enrolled in Full Sail University's master's program, which is entirely online.I thought it would be easy, but I struggled to build community and manage my time.It became even more difficult when I got pregnant, but it was all worth it in the end.
I always knew I wanted to earn a master's degree, but as a mother of one, I recognized the need for flexibility in my studies. I was working from home and had to care for my toddler son, so when I began researching my next level of education, one of the requirements was an online program.
I enrolled in Full Sail University's digital marketing online program in 2019. Since I didn't have to attend school in person, as I did for my bachelor's degree, I thought my master's would be easier.
But I quickly encountered hurdles: The online program lacked community, and I had to learn new time management skills. It became even more difficult when I became pregnant with my second child. But it all worked out in the end.
The online program sometimes felt isolating
Completing assignments online felt very isolating at times. I no longer could tap my neighbor in the seat next to me and ask them what they thought about this week's chapters.
I relied heavily on getting to know my classmates through the discussion board. Luckily, I loved engaging in lively debates there.
But to build solid relationships, I had to put in a lot more effort. After a group project, I decided to stay connected with one of my classmates. I wanted to work with her on a deeper level because I craved building camaraderie with my classmates. We exchanged phone numbers, and we quickly became close.
My fellow students also used apps like GroupMe, WhatsApp, and even Snapchat to stay connected with one another. We were all eager to make connections and network, but we just had to go about it more creatively.
I had to juggle a lot, especially when I became pregnant
This online program gave me a new level of time management skills. I had to practice self-discipline to ensure I fulfilled all my responsibilities.
This wasn't like my bachelor's degree. When I completed that degree in person, my professor would remind us in class when an assignment was due and that a test was coming up. But at Full Sail University, I was entirely responsible for completing my degree.
When I became pregnant in the middle of my program, I knew I had to learn how to work hard under pressure. Since I was juggling being pregnant, taking care of a toddler, working, and completing my degree, I knew I had to learn to prioritize my well-being while still getting everything else done. I had to be adaptable, self-direct, resilient, and know how to use digital communication.
Luckily, these are all skills I acquired through an online master's program and are highly valued in the workforce.
I'm glad I did my master's program online
Completing my master's online wasn't easy, but the pros outweigh the cons.
Many people think that online school is easy and that it is a way to get a degree quickly. I learned that this wasn't the case for me. I had to learn new skills while juggling a hectic personal life. But it all made me stronger and a better hiring candidate.
If I could balance grad school while pregnant and raising kids, then perhaps the future of education is flexible enough to meet anyone where they are.
