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Being a night shift worker and a father of two young children, Fred needed a flexible option to complete his bachelor’s degree. With the flexibility of online classes and the support from ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ Global’s advisors and student success resources, Fred is well on his way to completing his B.S. in Project Management!

What do you do for a living? What is your schedule like?
Fred Vigil:  I am a night shift plant Supervisor at CordenPharma Colorado, a chemical production site in Boulder, Colorado. I currently work a 12 hour night shift of a 2-2 3-2 2-3 rotating shift schedule. Simply put, I will only have Wednesday and Thursday night off in the first week and in the second week I will only work on Wednesday and Thursday night.

What inspired you to go back to school to earn your bachelor’s?
Fred: I began my college career at Pueblo Community College, but at the time I was not able to complete my bachelor’s degree. I was inspired to go back to school by watching my colleagues achieve success in my workplace by earning a bachelor’s.  I was impressed by how they evolved into leaders and wanted to see that same transformation in myself. I chose ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ Global because it caters to students like me, is affordable, and because of the positive feedback I had received from others who had or were attending ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ Global. I needed a flexible option that allowed me to work around my complicated work schedule.

I also wanted to earn my bachelor’s degree to set a good example for my children.  I want them to value education and know that they can do anything that they set their minds to.

Why did you choose the B.S. in Project Management program?
Fred: I chose to enroll in the Project Management program because so much of what we do at my company focuses on projects both big and small.  As recently as last year, a project management office opened at my company due to the high number of projects that were coming through.  With my experience on the production side of things, I felt that earning an education on the management side would fit nicely and improve my value to the company.

Are you applying what you are learning to your job?
Fred: Absolutely. Though I am early along in my ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ Global journey, I am beginning to see the big picture and starting to understand how and why business decisions are made.  I am gaining confidence professionally and getting a better understanding of what it takes to become a leader within my field.

What do you enjoy most about ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ Global? What has been your favorite class so far?
Fred: I enjoy being part of the learning community and knowing that I am not alone in my journey. The discussion boards are great and I enjoy meeting other students and reading their stories. Most of my classmates are in similar situations to myself, working full time while balancing family life and other priorities.

Although I am a project management student, my favorite class so far has been Earth Science.  Every week I was amazed by the information in the course.  It almost made me want to become a scientist!

What advice do you have for someone who is considering going back to school?
Fred: Just do it!  With the ability to study anywhere and at anytime, education has never been more accessible.  Talk to a counselor, tell them your interests and you will be on your way!

In my experience, the courses fly by and it’s easy to focus on the 3 credits you’ll receive rather than what you are learning day-to-day. Read, research, reply to more than two of your peers’ discussions, correspond with your instructors.  In the end it will be a more rewarding experience.

We love hearing from our students and learning more about their personal ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ Global experiences. We hope they inspire you as much as they inspire us!