Harper College is closed on Friday, April 18, for Reading Day.
It’s common these days to be skeptical about the value of a college degree. The time commitment, tuition costs, and lack of a job guarantee pose challenges for anyone, regardless of their circumstances. However, we spoke with six adult students in Harper College’s Fast Track Program who, despite these obstacles, believe that a college education is the best path to achieving their career goals. Here’s who they are, what they’re working toward, and why college is right for them.
Emily Dean’s ultimate career goal is to become an HR Generalist, and she discovered that Harper offers the perfect program and resources to help her achieve that. “One day, I went to Harper to talk to an advisor about my possible options on getting a degree in HR or a certificate. While I was there, I learned about the Fast Track Program, which is perfect for students with a full-time job like me.”
Brian Leatherby is pursuing a bachelor’s in business management and administration so he can better support his school district’s students. “I like that the Fast Track program is all online,” he says. “I currently have a very crazy schedule, so it’s nice being able to log in if I have a couple of hours during the day when I can work. I was nervous to do it, but it’s scarier looking at it than actually doing it. You just have to take that first step.”
Kathleen Ulincy-Khatib has been engineering a midlife career change into the cannabis industry. “The supply chain and inventory management aspect has been in the back of my mind for several years,” she says. “It’s a growing industry, and I’d like to grow with it.” The Fast Track program helped her make that change. “I looked at other colleges, but Harper really does simplify things. You do the classes one at a time, then in a year and a half,you’re done. It’sreally easy to slide into your life.”
The availability of Flexible learning options is one of the main reasons Barbara Fontana chose Harper. “It was something I’ve wanted to do for years, but I’m doing it now because it’s the right time and it’s the perfect program for me,” she says. “I hope to be able to grow within my current company, which would require a college degree.” Though nervous to begin, she says it’s been a really good experience. “I’m very happy with my decision to choose Harper.”
After working in a few office jobs, Mona Ochana stumbled upon human resources and thought it looked like something she would enjoy. “With human resources, you can start as a generalist and then grow into a vice president or chief, depending on the company,” she says. She saw that Harper’s human resources certificate would only take one year, which was ideal for her timeline. “And it was affordable and all online, which worked even better because I’m a single mom and can’t really stop working.”
Patricia Rodisch’s goal is to be a Director of Human Resources for a major corporation. “I love working with people. This career gives me the opportunity to make a difference for people,” she says. “I decided Harper College was not only because of the cost of tuition, but because the program allowed me as a full-time worker to further my education without having to commit to a set day and time for classes.”
College isn’t the right choice for everyone. However, for many, it offers the most reliable route to their dream career. Attend a Fast Track Program info session to learn more about what Harper College can offer you.
Originally Published Apr 18, 2024
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