How I Did It
Marsha Matthews
Graduation Date: August 2012
Degree Earned: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
How I Paid For It: Office Depot offers assistance, and I am using student loans to pay for all my classes.
How Long It Took: I started taking classes in 2008 at the age of 51.
What Else I Was Doing At The Same Time: When I first started taking classes, I worked 60 hours a week as a sales rep for Office Depot, 15 hours a week as a cashier at CVS, and was a sole proprietor of a travel agency. Today, I have celebrated 17 years with Office Depot, I no longer work for CVS, and I operate Gramma's House, a non-profit organization that assists families caring for a loved one undergoing medical treatment.
When I Studied: I live and work in Reno, Nevada, and the school I currently attend is on the East Coast, so as you might imagine, all my classes are online. I typically get up at about 5:00 so that I can get an hour or two of studying in before getting ready for work. On Saturday and Sunday, I sleep in until around 6:00 so that I can complete my school work before fundraising or attending an event. From time to time I also get to hang out with my family.
Where I Studied: I have a loft set up like an office outside of my bedroom and I tried to do all my studying there before anyone else got up for the day.
Most Challenging Part: The most difficult part for me was finding the time to do the reading required. As a person that never found reading to be particularly enjoyable, I had to get creative in order to get all the information I needed each week. I truly appreciated the lectures and other various forms of communication. I don't think I could have made it if I only had a textbook to refer to.
Best Thing My Family Did To Help Me: Although my family worries about me being spread too thin, they support my educational goals that could eventually help me do more in less time. My husband proofreads my assignments, my son is my study partner for tests and quizzes, and my granddaughters make sure I don't go hungry or thirsty and that I take a break every once in a while.
Marsha Matthews with five generations of her family
What Kept Me Motivated: There were many times when I thought I had to give up school because there simply wasn't enough time in the day. But as I drag myself out of bed every morning, questioning why I put myself through this, I remember that I could come out of this with the tools I need to make Gramma's House a viable entity, helping countless people while sustaining a life for myself, my children, my grandchildren and beyond.
Highest Point: I find myself beaming with pride every time one of my grandchildren asks if they can study with me or when I get an A on an assignment. With a current GPA of 3.67, I've already discovered many tools necessary for building my life-long dream organization. I am at the highest point of my life every day!
My Next Big Challenge: I am currently awaiting my final 501(c)3 notification for Gramma's House so that I can promote my vision and build a network of supporters.
It is because of Office Depot's commitment to their employees that I am able to continue towards success in my life.
