Meet Sara

Name: Sara Johnson

Class of: 2022

Program: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration w/conc. in Human Resource Management

"...by receiving financial aid and scholarships, I am able to continue my education, and work towards a better future!"

What do you like most about SNHU?

I love that school enables me to learn in my own environment, and that it allows me to complete my schoolwork at my own pace all while providing a great freedom that helps me to incorporate work into this busy school schedule! SNHU is a blessing... and I am so proud to be apart of this amazing university.

How do the scholarships and financial aid you receive make it possible for you to attend SNHU? Specifically, how have scholarships made a difference?

To be completely honest... if I did not have scholarships and financial aid, I would not be able to attend college. Our family has struggled greatly with money ever since 2007, and by receiving financial aid and scholarships, I am able to continue my education, and work towards a better future! This will be my first ever scholarship received, and I am so very thankful for this added bonus.

What would you say to those who donate to support student scholarships?

I would say... "thank you" for providing this financial help for those who need it the most. You are helping us all to continue our education, and to work towards a better future. You are helping us to reach our goals, and to follow our dreams. Without the possibility of a scholarship, many of us would be anxious and frantic when it comes to figuring out how to pay for our schooling. Thank you for donating to these scholarships... it is truly a blessing.

Why did you choose Southern New Hampshire University?

I chose SNHU because I was looking for a school that would enable me to gain quality learning online, as this style of learning is what works best for me. I needed to find a credible university that offered me the flexibility that I needed in order to complete my degree and SNHU fulfilled those qualifications perfectly!

What was your hope in receiving a college education? How has your experience been different than what you imagined?

Ultimately, my hope in receiving a college education was to better myself. I wanted to continue learning in order to help gain more perspective in this world. By continuing my education, I am able to grow as a person and become more accustom to what life has to offer. I have learned more about myself in various areas such as: which career would work best for me, how I manage my time most effectively, and what causes the most stress in my life in regard to school. This whole experience is still quite terrifying to me - I still worry about failing or the possibility of losing my motivation to finish. But I know that I have a wonderful support system here at SNHU, and I know that I CAN do this... I will NOT fail... and I WILL get that degree! This is all for a better "me", and I cannot wait to see where this journey leads me.

What inspired you to choose your area of study? What is your dream job?

In all honesty, I began school with no passions, and I was not 100% sure of any degree choice. I decided to choose business administration as my area of study mostly because this was the most versatile out of all of my options. As school continued on and I began to learn more about myself, I started to really love my decision of business administration! This love grew even further when I chose my concentration of human resource management. Of all of the jobs I have had in the past the HR teams seemed quite... disconnected. They did not communicate well with us workers and they rarely seemed to care enough to help us. This is where I come in... I am someone who cares so deeply for others and I would do anything I could to help those who need it. I think that the field of HR needs more people like myself, who will advocate for their workers and help them with all of their needs. I am so excited to see what the future holds for myself within this field!

Who at SNHU (professor, coach, advisor, etc.) has been the biggest influence on your SNHU experience? What lessons did that person teach you?

My academic advisor, Matea, has definitely been the biggest influence on my experience here at SNHU! She is constantly reaching out to ask how things are going and she never fails to let me know that she is always here for me if I need anything. She is what reminds me that I am never alone here and that I have various routes I can take if I ever need any support. She has taught me to continue pushing for what I believe in and to never give up hope! Matea has definitely been a huge help in motivating me to always do my best and for that I will forever be thankful!

In what ways have you been involved at SNHU (campus organizations, job, sports, etc.)?

I have joined a couple of online groups/clubs affiliated with SNHU. These clubs are a great way for us online students to connect with those who are on the same journey.

What do you find most challenging? How do you deal with this?

The most challenging aspect of online learning is finding the time (and sometimes motivation) to complete schoolwork each week. Considering we are in the comforts of our own homes, it is easy to just want to remain in bed all day and watch television or play on our phones. It takes great motivation and dedication to remove ourselves from those distractions and to focus on our schoolwork! I have found that making a schedule for myself every single day helps me to stay on track. I make sure to incorporate breaks in between to allow myself and my brain to "take a break" and relax! This greatly helps, especially if you are involved in a heavy reading-based course.

What are you proudest of?

I am very, very proud of my 4.0 GPA. Grades have always been important to me, and I am that one student who keeps track of points missed, and "how many more points I can lose before I drop down to an A-". My grades are important because they reflect my learning and how well I have grasped the course material. By continuing my 4.0 GPA, I am so happy to announce that I have made a spot for myself on the President's List three times! This would most definitely be my second-most proudest moment here at SNHU.

In what ways do you want/hope to stay involved as an alumnus/a?

I just hope that I can continue to become closer to my University and my fellow classmates through the available clubs and organizations that SNHU has to offer. Being remote, it is hard to connect in-person. However, as I am continuing to learn, there are various ways to connect us online learners with those from all across the nation attending this school! As I continue on this journey, I hope to sport more SNHU gear to rep this amazing institution... and to pass down to future little ones, of course! Finally, after graduation, I plan on becoming a donor and contributing to student scholarships, as I feel this is something extraordinary, and it is such a blessing to so many students who are struggling financially. I would love to continue supporting those chasing their dreams! The future seems so exciting and bright... I can't wait!

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