Nadisha wanted to work and study at the same time… no problem!
“I worked at a small IT company in Kingston after I moved back home after my undergrad finished. Working there I had a realization that I wanted to upgrade my education in order to help people. At the time I was still working full-time, and living at home with my mom, so studying in person was not possible. I considered that I needed to prioritize work and only online could deliver that flexibility.
I was very lucky to have a few special instructors who gave me such wonderful feedback during my courses at Algonquin. When you have assignments due, and the distance separating you from campus, having an open line of communication available is so important.
Having the option to disconnect is really important too. I lived on campus for my university undergrad and with in-person classes I found my life revolved around school even during my off-time, but with AC Online, I didn’t have to feel that my life was only school. I could shut my computer off, and give myself a mental break as well. Managing my own schedule was extremely helpful (as I needed to work) so once I was done work at 5 pm – I would turn on my laptop and get school started. I enjoyed that because I had something to focus on outside of work which was school.
Online classes allowed me to take more time for myself. I always thought school was meant to be done in person, but I was proven wrong because much of what I learned has stuck with me. Education is priceless and I’m grateful we have the option to learn online especially when you need to continue working. As a more introverted person, I found having discussion boards helped me improve the way I communicate, and that helped with my confidence when speaking with my peers.”