Staying sharp with summer courses

Summer sessions are an awesome way to stay on track and even to get ahead on coursework. This is especially true if you’re like me and not only work full-time, but also have a kiddo at home who has decided they need to be in dance, piano, soccer, and whatever else they can come up with. I also have three dogs; but now that Koda is out of the puppy phase, there are not as many vet appointments for them.

For me, the benefits of taking summer courses are that I complete a degree plan at a faster pace, I stay on track with my learning, and I don’t have to take as many fall or spring semester courses. That means spending more time with my family, volunteering, figuring out how to move around schoolwork, or even playing in the yard with the pups, rather than trying to complete more coursework. Prior to transferring to ASU Online, I used to explain that I couldn’t go on hikes because I had a ton of homework to complete. Summer classes gave me the freedom to go on mini adventures all year!

I have a knack for picking summer courses that explore the applications of leadership and project management. Being able to fully assess all this new information has kept me on my toes. This summer session, I learned more about different frames of leadership, and I've been able to apply that knowledge to those around me. I've utilized these tools to change my own approach thus far to my professional, academic, and even my personal life. Because I’m in human resources, knowing how to adjust my own style of work to complement a wide range of employees and applicants is a vital tool.

This summer, I enrolled in my final courses of my undergraduate degree. I wanted to finish up my bachelor’s as quickly as possible and jump into the master’s program. One of my current professors will also be my instructor for two of my next master’s courses, which is great!