Navy veteran Darren Scruggs took 28 years to earn a bachelor’s degree. 现在他正在攻读硕士学位. 最近, he agreed to answer some questions about his academic journey, in the hope that he can encourage others to complete their education.

什么风把你吹到澳门金沙博彩娱乐平台来了?

The journey that led me to 西顿希尔大学 began while I was serving in the United States Navy back in 1992. I took my first college credit while on deployment and used videotapes from Coastline Community College in Chicago. IL.  在我1994年光荣退役之后, I took some classes at the University of Pittsburgh and University of Phoenix online for the next decade. I earned about 48 credits and had to put college on hold for a while. 在2017年秋天, I contacted the Diocese of 格林斯堡 because I wanted to be a Deacon in the Catholic Church.  第一步是注册 牧养事工证书课程 和教区有合作关系的人.  

你是如何获得学士学位的?

Since I was interested in finishing my degree, I inquired about the steps necessary to earn my [通识]学士学位 与牧灵部证书同时颁发. I am so thankful that the journey started 28 years ago came to a successful completion at SHU in August of 2020. 

What was your undergraduate experience 在澳门金沙博彩娱乐平台 like?

The wonderful staff, faculty and employees of SHU are the main reason I was successful. The overall experience from the initial advising session, to the first orientation through graduation preparation has been fantastic. 老师们都很棒, the students are enthusiastic and the people working in the book store are incredible. The cheerful demeanor displayed by all has made my experience both positive and memorable.  

Did furthering your education help you to achieve professional or personal goals? 

My entire undergraduate focus was finishing the 80 credits in less than two years so I would be in position to start the graduate program at Saint Vincent if I got selected as a Diaconate aspirant.  The Bishop of 格林斯堡 and the Diaconate Selection Committee did not select me as an aspirant and I found out the same day that my degree was conferred.  毕业后两周内, a position at the Saint Vincent de Paul Society in the Uniontown Area Conference opened up and I applied.  I got the Director of Operations position and my SHU education, including my Pastoral Ministry Certificate was one of the deciding factors for the board of directors to hire me.  现在, I know that my SHU education is going to play a huge role in my new career path as I leave the technical world and delve into social work and helping the local communities where I live. So, 是的, furthering my education at SHU helped me achieve both a personal goal and a new professional goal previously undreamed of.

“老师们都很棒, the students are enthusiastic and the people working in the book store are incredible. The cheerful demeanor displayed by all has made my experience both positive and memorable."  

What made you decide to enter Seton Hill’s master’s program in innovative instruction?

I became a shipboard instructor in the United States Navy in 1989 and I trained others how to do their jobs while serving in the Navy.  I used that training experience gained in the Navy and applied it to every position I had since leaving the Navy in every technical job I held.  In 2009, I became a National Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)-certified transmission system operator and within 6 months of being qualified, 我被提升为技术培训师. I have trained operators to control the electric grid for the states of Connecticut, 马里兰, 麻萨诸塞州, 俄亥俄州, 宾夕法尼亚州和西弗吉尼亚州. As the Director of Operations for the Saint Vincent de Paul Society in Uniontown, a 创新教学教育学硕士学位 能在几个方面帮助我吗. Part of my current role is to teach both employees and volunteers how to do their jobs, 而且要安全. Another way is that I want to become certified to teach others about the Saint Vincent de Paul Society and its history.  I have a combined 30 years of experience in training others, both informally and formally. 而这个研究生项目将进一步提升我.  

Is there anything you’d like to tell adult students who are considering entering college for the first time (or coming back to finish a degree)?

两件事:早期和100%. I would tell anyone that will listen, complete your education early. While I understand that at times it is difficult to determine what to study and commit to something you may do for the rest of your life at an early age; pick something early and do it. 不要像我一样等上10年、20年或30年. Commit early, and it is all right to change your mind several times along the way. 没有教育是浪费的.  Even if you are 3 credits shy of a major and switch, nothing has been wasted.  尽早完成学业.  If you commit, do so without reservation and with 100% of your effort. 学习时，尽量减少干扰，100%投入. 在课堂上，尽量减少干扰，100%投入. 当吹出蒸汽时, minimize school distractions and blow off steam 100% (but do so responsibly and legally). Get your head clear and commit to school the next day after blowing off steam, 重申你100%的承诺.