What colleges have you attended?
While in high school, I had a couple options for sports. Considered Doane College because I was offered a football scholarship. And the great Tommie Frazier was the current coach. But the school was $30k+ a year, even with the scholarship. Passed on that.
Could have attended Peru St. College in Peru, NE to play football and baseball and basically have my education paid for. But, I got scared of college in a small town and elected to take my chances elsewhere.
I went to the University of Neb. Omaha to try my luck at baseball. The coach invited me to tryout, and my brother was going there at the time for baseball and would have loved the chance to play with him again! Unfortunately, did not make the team. Only 1 freshman did that year.
I spent the year at UNO and felt God leading me to do something different with my life. I’ve been involved in church and ministry my entire life, and I also knew I needed to develop good study habits for myself when it came to my knowledge, understanding and application of the Bible. I then transferred to Nebraska Christian College in Omaha.
In my two years there, I grew immensely, even though it was a very difficult two years for me personally. I played basketball for two seasons, averaged 15 points a game in my second season and won a free throw contest at our national tournament in Oklahoma City. At the end of two years, I graduated with an Associates degree in Christian ministry and was seeking what to do next.
I was offered a position at a church in my hometown of Grand Island, Ne and moved back there to work and continue school. I started an online program through Peru St to pursue an education degree. But after a semester, I felt it wasn’t for me.
After that semester, I decided to try my luck at a local school where I could commute easily. I started the spring semester and soon learned very few of my credits would transfer, and I’d be coming in as a freshman, instead of jumping right into my degree.
This was a setback and very frustrating. At that point I was trying to decide whether or not I wanted to finish my bachelors degree. I received workers comp each month for my education because my dad passed away at a young age.
Knowing I had most of my school paid for, I met looking. I discovered the University of Phoenix online and they had a program that interested me AND they accepted all my credits and I could jump right into the program I chose: Business Management.
My wife and I got married young, so we both were finishing school, working and being newly weds. I worked delivering furniture and finished my bachelors degree in 15 months from Phoenix online.
5 and a half years later of being full time, I had enough credits for a masters degree, but I completed my bachelors degree in Business Management and had the associates degree in Christian ministry as well.
Thankful for all I experienced and did in my education. It all worked out in the end, but there were low moments of course and I would probably do it differently if I went back and did it again. Regardless, I completed my degree and am so grateful I stuck it out!
