WGU Indiana Helps MBA Student Follow His Passion

WGU Indiana MBA—IT Management student, Jeff Lee, shares how he is pursuing his degree at WGU Indiana while balancing work, family, a career at Eli Lilly and pursuing his passion for community service:

Back in 1987, I went to Bible College on a whim. A friend called me on Saturday night and asked if I wanted to go to college with him. I said, "Sure. Where?"

He said, "Baton Rouge."

I said, "When?"

He said, "The first day is tomorrow."

So naturally, I packed my '72 Mustang with all my world’s possessions and drove from Lafayette, Indiana, to St. Louis, picked him up and then drove to Baton Rouge, arriving just as the doors opened for registration.

I ended up, five years later, with an A.A. in Broadcast Journalism, B.A. in Pastoral Ministry. So with a gleam in my eye, and the optimism of a newly married graduate, we traveled back to Indiana to work very hard doing things I was not taught in college, e.g., how to work five jobs to make ends meet; how doing what you love, when it doesn’t pay well, needs to be planned out better. I experienced many pitfalls.

So life moved on. Two kids, and a dozen jobs later, I found myself pastoring a church in 2002 and working full time as a computer guru at a pharmaceutical (that is a whole other story) company. In short, the pieces had come together to have a good job where I got paid to do a mission that didn’t pay so well (if at all).

In 2008, I got a new job with Eli Lilly that took me out of pastoring and into a more hybrid role where I could serve in new ways, such as teaching classes on weekends, leading a small home church group, and doing various volunteer projects including my latest drive in helping Gleaners Food Bank feed children every month through their back sack program.

So, you ask, where does WGU Indiana fit in to this busy schedule?

I began my MBA—IT Management six months ago and have completed 13 credits. I am not back at school for increased job security or because I am bored. I am actually preparing for the second part of my life after I retire in 20 years.

When I leave my company, I want to teach here or abroad in either a high school or college setting where I can deliver life skills that will help that next generation hopefully avoid many of the pitfalls I experienced along the way. WGU Indiana fits perfectly with my rather busy schedule and coincides well with what I do on a daily basis. The ability to work at my pace and yet have Karen, my mentor, keep me moving is invaluable. The freedom and flexibility lets me fill the gaps in my life with school as opposed to letting school run my life.

I absolutely recommend WGU Indiana to anyone who thinks they are too busy to go back to school.

Jeff Lee
MBA—IT Management
WGU Indiana