Tiffany Foxx
Once I received my associate’s degree, I knew a bachelor’s degree was my next step. My goal was to be more competitive in the healthcare market, so I wanted to begin working toward my bachelor’s degree immediately. Being a full-time mom, wife and employee, the traditional student role just didn’t fit my lifestyle – and with my busy schedule I needed a different setting. I sent my transcripts to Franklin and a majority of my credits transferred from my community college, which allowed me to seamlessly transfer into Franklin's Healthcare Management Major. How did your education relate to your profession? Throughout my studies at Franklin, I worked at the YMCA as a Program Director, managing a large staff. My employer was very accommodating in my pursuit to earn my degree, which gave me the opportunity to utilize in the workplace what I was learning in class. What I enjoyed most about the classes was that the subject matter related to what I was already doing at work. For example, the group work in my management classes was so useful that I often created related projects for my employees. Most of my papers and assignments could be applied to my current position – that really made me feel like I was on the right track! What kind of commitments did you have in addition to school? I am married with two children and am very involved in my community. I am an active member of my church, where I work with young women and sing with the choir and praise team. Three years ago, I also started an infant and pregnancy loss support group for women in our church, which has continued to grow. Now we meet at the YMCA for monthly meetings and have launched a walkathon to raise funds. With so many activities and commitments, I needed the flexibility of a program that would allow me to study when I had time – and Franklin gave me that option. How did you feel about being an online student? While at Franklin, I felt like I had control of my time. I took all my classes online and worked at my own pace. Online classes definitely required self-discipline, but the rewards were great! All my professors were helpful in working with me to prioritize my time and schedule – I didn’t have to sacrifice my life for my education! Any words of advice for future Franklin students? Online classes are the way to go for people with busy lifestyles and young children. They helped me appreciate technology and learn how to communicate in new ways. As a result, I’ve met people from around the globe and gained new perspectives. But most importantly, I never gave up and achieved my full potential. |
