Hi, my name is Tim Burke. I’m a 27-year-old former restaurant waiter, and I just
graduated from an online university in May 2008. Let me just say: getting my degree
was probably the smartest thing I ever did!
My life today is 100 times different than it was only 18 months ago. I’m making
more money. I work at one of the biggest marketing firms in Atlanta. And I love
my job. Yep, I actually enjoy waking up and going to work in the morning! Let me
explain …
Trapped in a pizza joint, working 50 hours a week.
From age 15 to 26, I worked as a waiter at one of those “upscale” pizza chains in
Atlanta. To be honest, the money was decent (at first)! I was sometimes making $100-$175
in tips in just one night! And when I was 15-18, that was a LOT of money. I always
thought, “Hey, this isn’t so bad.”
But by the time I hit age 21, things changed. My friends (who all went off to college)
got back and went on to interesting jobs in the city – accounting, advertising,
teaching, etc. Meanwhile, I was stuck in the pizza shop, making $6/hr + tips – being
yelled at almost every night by customers, bosses, and the cooks in the back.
That’s when I changed my mind about getting a degree …
After a while, I realized my job wasn’t getting me anywhere. I started thinking,
“Is this really what I’m going to do for the rest of my life?” Plus, the paychecks
that seemed big when I was 15 now seemed like chump change compared to my friends’
salaries. And every night, I came home at 2 a.m. stinking of pizzas, beer, and cigarette
smoke!
I started searching online and found a site that listed all kinds of online degree
programs. I immediately selected a marketing degree program that interested me –
and it all made sense. I realized I could actually get my Associate degree from
an accredited online university in just 1-2 years. And I didn’t have to leave my
job (or the money I was making) while I worked toward my degree!
2 years later, I making nearly $20,000 MORE and I love what I do.
I got my degree in 2 years, and within a month after, I already had job offers.
I couldn’t believe it. I got a job at a huge Atlanta marketing firm – and I was
already promoted last month!
There are tons of “online degree” search sites on the Web, but the one I used was
YourDegree.com.
I checked it out recently, and the process is still the same …
- You can select what degree you may want (Associate, Bachelor’s, etc.)
- You choose a program that interests you (marketing, teaching, you get the idea)
- You put in your name & email and they send you more info
That's all I did … and that's how I first realized how easy (and smart) it was to
get a degree online. I was able to keep my job on the side. And the online programs
were WAY cheaper than going to a regular campus college. I did all my studying from
my apartment – around my other schedule. It was perfect.
When I first searched for a degree program, I didn't realize there were grants and
scholarships for people getting an online education. But now there is SO much more
financial aid available, especially after President Obama announced his big stimulus
plan for education. Here are just a few examples I found just now…
To everyone out there … if you're stuck in a bad job, or just want to move on …
don’t put off your future like I did for so long! Getting a degree really can make
things better.
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