I entered the program with high expectations, and I’m happy to say that they were exceeded. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many hard-working professionals that continue to inspire me and cultivate my passion for continuing education. The technical abilities that I brought to my courses would’ve been ineffective without the careful application of educational theory, pedagogy, and learning principles. Time and effort rewarded me with in-demand professional skills and an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.

Were I to choose my degree path again, I’d enroll in the Instructional Technology program albeit with some key differences. For instance, I wish I had taken project management or learning analytics. Luckily, the foundation I’ve built will enable me to pursue these vital aspects of instructional design through other avenues. My ability to speak the language of instruction gives me access to the wealth of resources that I accrued during my studies. I’d like to further develop my programming skills and transition to back-end application development.

Finally, I want to share a moment of unguarded honesty: I wasn’t supposed to be here. Nothing in my past would indicate to an outside observer that I was going succeed in my pursuits. The road has been clear for many years now, but it wasn’t always so; the thought that I was stuck, broken, and unchangeable was enduring. Perhaps the most poignant lesson I learned in my program was that the hope of education isn’t intelligence, grades, or professional success; it’s the ability to transform hearts and minds.