Firsthand Experiences
Meet Rodger Jones
U.S. Air Force
Bachelor of Business Administration
Military Student
Thanks to a career in the military and AIU Online, Rodger Jones has come a long way since high school. "If you had met me in high school you probably would not have believed that I would continue on to earn an Associate's degree with a 3.91 GPA and enroll in a Bachelor's degree program. I did not think I could either. I joined the military because I thought I had no other options. After two years in the military I decided attending college would be a good idea for me. My mother, however, did not agree and I had to wait another year before I could obtain financial aid independently."
Rodger discovered AIU Online through the recommendation of another military student. "I asked how he balances work with school and he mentioned how well AIU Online works with military personnel. I contacted AIU Online and asked how the hectic schedules of military students are accommodated and an Admissions Advisor told me that the staff at AIU Online understands that military students are expected to make their duties their top priority. After I enrolled through AIU Online I was still a little skeptical, but not anymore. Even though I work long hours on construction projects, every time I had a duty that conflicted with coursework my instructors were very accommodating. I would recommend online learning through AIU Online to anyone in the military who is considering continuing their education."
Rodger believes online learning through AIU will help him achieve his goals. "I want to complete my education before my separation from the military and have the opportunity to have a rewarding career in civilian life. I was very impressed with AIU Online's degree programs because they proceed at a pace that will enable me to do that. I enjoy working with others in a business environment and human resources seems to be a rapidly expanding field. I would like an opportunity to work in that field and advance to a director's level or upper management position and having a degree in business should be very helpful with that. I believe earning a BBA through AIU Online can open the door to rewarding career opportunities in human resources."
Rodger remained motivated and did not give up on his ambitions of earning his Associate's degree, despite facing many obstacles while serving as an E-4 Senior Airman in the Air Force. "I was required by the military to move to Nevada from California during one of my classes. I completed the last class required to earn my Associate's degree while serving in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Even though I had to deal with little or no support from anyone outside of AIU Online -- while moving, working construction, and serving overseas -- I stayed motivated to continue my education. When I returned from Iraq I immediately enrolled in the Bachelor's degree program through AIU Online and I earned an "A" in my first two classes!"
Rodger discovered other benefits with online learning through AIU Online. "Although classes through the Virtual Campus are very flexible and convenient, learning through AIU Online is also very practical and personal. There is a lot of interaction with instructors and other students that helps with feedback on my work. The written projects helped me improve my writing skills. The group projects teach teamwork and my class in organizational behavior has taught me concepts I will immediately apply in my career." Some of the other lessons Rodger learned were also of immediate value in his military career. "Learning to balance school and work improved my time management skills. The way I handle my responsibilities and prioritize tasks led me to get recognized as an irreplaceable asset, which prompted my superior officers to allow me to complete my training in Quarry and Demolitions. When I graduated in the top ten percent of my class it helped lead to a promotion."
After completing his Bachelor's degree program and beginning his reserve duty obligation, Rodger plans on looking for an internship or a position in human resources and continuing on to a Master's degree program in Business Administration through AIU Online. "Online learning has been a tremendous experience for me and I am looking forward to taking advantage of the opportunities that may await me in civilian life, thanks to AIU Online."
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