Making it work

Carden explains his strategy. “As I pursued my bachelor’s I worked full time at Reelcraft. Their educational reimbursement arrangement allows for two full-time classes per semester. I started with two classes and found out that was the right amount for me. Toward the end I crammed in more to speed up finishing. My final semester—the capstone course—was super busy. On Saturdays I’d get up at 5:30 or 6, do schoolwork, take a lunch break, and get back to work. It was like having a full-time job on the weekend.”

“Finding the right balance is an individual thing. It took me a semester to figure it out. Once I did, things went more smoothly. When you make school a priority, you figure it out. At times I felt overwhelmed. But my family kept me going. They were super supportive. I was also motivated. Finishing my bachelor’s was a priority—an investment in myself.”

School led to promotion

School and work nourished each other. “Pursuing a degree can be broadly applicable to work. A B.S. in Business Administration and sales leadership go hand in hand. Students in almost every class were working full- or part-time in a profession relevant to their degree. We bounced ideas off each other, and our real-life experiences enriched discussion.”

“Coursework was relevant and challenging. The biggest surprise: how responsive my professors were. I’d send them questions at random times and on Saturdays, and within three minutes, I’d get responses. They were a standout.”

“I started school in 2021. In 2022, halfway through completing my degree, I was promoted to director of sales and now to director of distribution strategy. When I had to create a forecasting model, my professor of operations management and I discussed how to apply the models we’d examined in class. Professor Kern’s guidance was invaluable at work.”

“I was expecting online work to be tough. It was challenging. But I’ve really enjoyed my experience at IU Online. I’ve met a lot of people, some of whom will be valuable additions to my career network.”