NECB Alumni Spotlight: Meet Marsela Stoja, a Project Manager, Mother and BSBA Graduate

NECB: Why did you decide to attend NECB?

Marsela: I wanted a college that was both flexible and affordable, while also giving me the opportunity to study online anytime, anywhere. While I was attending classes, I was also working full-time, in the banking industry, and I was still able to get my Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree (BSBA) within 4 years.

NECB: What advice would you give to someone who is considering going to NECB?

Marsela: Investing in higher education is the best decision someone can make if they are looking to excel in their career. NECB gives you the support and tools needed to maintain some balance between work, life and college. If you’re willing to put in the time you can earn your degree quickly and at a lower cost than a lot of other colleges. It’s ideal for working professionals looking to continue their education to help advance in their careers.

NECB: What advice would you give to students to be successful with online learning? Any challenges you had to overcome? Or any misconceptions you had going in that turned out to be untrue?

Marsela: Stick to your goals, keep pushing through and remember that all of this hard work will be worth it once you’ve finished your degree. Be consistent with the classroom discussions! Even though the program is 100% online you are working closely with experienced faculty and classmates throughout your entirety of the program.

NECB: How do you juggle / manage being a student while working and trying to balance everything? Any tips you can share with future / current NECB Students?

Marsela: With online classes, you’re in charge of when and how you study based on your family / work / life schedule and commitments. You don’t have to worry about being physically in a classroom which is a big value add for someone like me who was looking for that kind of flexibility that traditional, on-campus colleges can’t offer to someone who is a working professional.

NECB: What was the #1 thing you took away from your time at NECB?

Marsela: Contrary to what many people think about online learning, it actually allows you to make valuable connections with other students in your classes from around the world as well as one-on-one relationships with your professors. This personal connection with my professors is definitely unique to my online learning experience at NECB.

NECB: What did graduating with your degree mean to you?

Marsela: A bachelor’s degree is a stepping stone to higher goals! It gives you satisfaction, you feel more empowered and a stronger sense of self.

NECB: How did you keep yourself motivated all the way to graduating?

Marsela: To keep myself motivated, I always remembered the big picture. All the hard work was being done for one reason: to achieve my goal of obtaining my business degree so that I could take my career in the direction I want it to go.

NECB: Have you noticed if the knowledge and skills you’ve acquired at NECB have helped with your performance at work? If so, how?

Marsela: My communication and leadership skills have greatly improved! Being able to complete my BSBA while working full-time definitely made obtaining my goal of earning my business degree easier and more rewarding.

NECB: What’s your goal(s) / plan(s) for the future?

Marsela: Recently, I got promoted to Project Manager at Metro Credit Union, so now is the time to use what I learned at NECB and build my project management skills to continue advancing in my career. I am working toward completion of a Master of Science in Project Management (MSPM), preparing for the CAPM exam and always enjoying my beautiful family of three.