{"id":3054,"date":"2015-10-09T11:00:02","date_gmt":"2015-10-09T16:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/?p=3054"},"modified":"2016-12-20T09:50:31","modified_gmt":"2016-12-20T15:50:31","slug":"graduate-tarishia-martin-shares-flexpath-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/graduate-tarishia-martin-shares-flexpath-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"I Didn\u2019t Go Back\u2026I Found My Way Forward: Tarishia\u2019s FlexPath Story [video]"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cI didn\u2019t go back because I didn\u2019t think it was the right time.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Tarishia Martin is a Transportation Engineer for the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation. She received her Bachelor\u2019s in Business Administration<\/a> in 2015 through FlexPath<\/a>, Capella University\u2019s self-paced learning format.<\/p>\n

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Martin earned an associate\u2019s degree in engineering in 2008\u2014at the same time her daughter graduated with a bachelor\u2019s degree. Martin wanted to go back for her bachelor\u2019s, but it never seemed like the right time financially. First her daughter, then her son\u2014when would she have the chance?<\/p>\n

\u201cEach year I put it off. When my son went to school, I put it off that year, and then a year again. Then I finally decided I can no longer put it off because there\u2019s never going to be a right time. It\u2019s just going to be opportunity that I have to take.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMothers always seem to do that. We put ourselves last and everybody else first. It\u2019s just something that it\u2019s part of our makeup as a mom. I did that for a while and I thought about it. \u201cHow can I put myself in the front for a change?\u201d I was grateful that my husband said, \u2018You have supported me and you supported the kids. Everything that we wanted to do, you always were there. This is your time.’ That was a door opening.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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She knew from the start that an online program would be her only option.<\/p>\n

\u201cTraditional education, though it\u2019s wonderful and has its benefits, didn\u2019t really fit into my work or family schedule. I\u2019m also heavily involved in the ministry at my church. With all of that I could not, absolutely, go into a brick and mortar traditional setting for school. Online was definitely the way to go.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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Martin began her program\u2014in the GuidedPath format\u2014at Capella in 2013. She was glad to be back in school, albeit a bit dismayed about the amount of time it took to do assignments and discussion. So she talked to her advisor about her concerns. That\u2019s when she discovered FlexPath.<\/p>\n

\u201cI told my advisor I wanted to complete my degree before 2016. I explained how many courses I had left, and asked if it was possible to complete them if I switched to the FlexPath program. She said, \u2018Looking at it, yes, it\u2019s possible.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSo I spoke with one of the FlexPath coaches. We went over my academic schedule. We went over my study habits. She said, \u2018You seem like the best candidate for the program.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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She made the transition to the FlexPath format, and didn\u2019t look back.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only regret I really do have about FlexPath is that I didn\u2019t start it sooner.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe FlexPath program gave me flexibility. I had a choice. I\u2019d give up a weekend to complete three assignments. Then the following weekend I could spend with my hubby.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe speed is determined by you. You can complete it in six weeks, or you can complete it within three weeks, depending on the work; you can do it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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But that doesn\u2019t mean it was easy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was not able to balance work, life, and school that easily. I\u2019m an ordained minister. Work, ministry, family, social life and friends; no, it was not easy to balance. But it was important to me. I wanted it bad because I deserved it. When I looked at it that way it became easier to balance, and the balance is much easier with FlexPath because you have the option to wrap your education around your lifestyle.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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