“I haven’t been in school since 2007,” says Sherri Lynn, currently a student in Olivet Nazarene University’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) online degree program, as well as a full-time radio broadcasting host for Shine.FM and a podcasting professional. “After taking my first two MBA classes, I know I can’t skedaddle through this program and do well. Juggling doesn’t work. I have to block off time in my schedule for classes, weekly team meetings, tutoring sessions and doing my assignments. I’ve had this time all along, and now I’m learning how to manage my time.”
A people person in both her professional life and personal life, Sherri is already appreciating the connections she is making with other students in the program. “I’m meeting people from different walks of life and different age groups with different ways of viewing the world,” she says. “I was looking for this in my MBA program. We talk about ideas from the shared perspective of this program and also from our life experiences.”
Team meetings with other students is one of the highlights of the program for Sherri. “We meet together online, and we often text each other in between,” she says. “Honestly, I’m realizing how much I didn’t know when I came into this program and also how much I do know. We are helping one another learn.”
Taking the Bumpy Ride
Returning to education at this time in her life and in our culture has been somewhat humbling for Sherri. “Going in, I knew that this was going to be a bumpy ride because so many things have changed since I was in school before,” she says. “The technology of online learning is challenging. Research is now done online. Group meetings are online. Tutoring is online. But my favorite place to study and do assignments is still my local library.”
Sherri has just completed the classes in Professional Communication, taught by Dr. Jay Martinson ’86, and Accounting, taught by Professor Jason Johnson. Both have been challenging for her because they are giving her access to knowledge she didn’t have before. “I’m growing so much and learning so much,” she says. “Dr. Jay is teaching me how to write academically based on research instead of writing from my heart like I usually do. Professor Johnson devotes time each week to tutoring me so I can build my foundation in Accounting and complete our assignments. They truly care about all their students.”
Heading for the Future
Devotions are a part of the MBA program that surprised and impressed Sherri. “Devotions are a part of the curriculum,” she says. “We hear them in class. We study them in our homework. We talk about them on our student discussion board. These Bible truths are reminding me about the impact I want to have in our culture and in our world.”
Sherri adds: “As a student in Olivet’s MBA program, I’m embracing humility. I’ve realized that I want to learn what I don’t know yet. For my personal growth and for my career.”
Learn more about ONU’s graduate degree programs at Olivet.edu/academics/graduate-programs. For more information or to enroll, email onlineadmissions@olivet.edu or call 877-465-4838.
