How did you fit your education into your life?
When I first started this journey five years ago, I was newly-ish married, I had no kids, and my life looked a lot different than it does now. I had a lot of free time and there were a lot of evenings I had to myself. I thought utilizing that free time to invest in myself with Harvard Extension School would be time well spent.
During COVID, we had two kids within five years and things got very, very busy. Investing in my learning at HES became a lot more challenging, but it was work I was excited to do because I was passionate about the journey.
I took two semesters off to have my children. But after that, I got right back into it. Luckily, my husband was really supportive, especially with childcare during my classes. I tried to schedule my class times in the evenings while my kids were asleep.
I made the most of my limited time by being intentional about the classes I took — HES has such a vast catalog of courses. The ability to learn remotely was also amazing.
My on-campus requirement was waived due to COVID, which was bittersweet. As a parent of two small children, getting to campus would’ve been challenging, but I had really looked forward to that experience. I was still pleasantly surprised by how high-quality the courses were, even without being in a classroom.
How has your HES experience helped you throughout your career journey? How do you expect it to impact your next steps?
The company I worked for at the time offered an annual education stipend that helped me pay for this program — nearly in its entirety. It offers a little more than $5,000 a year for education related to your role, and the HES program in liberal arts with a focus in management fit that perfectly. That made a huge difference — I didn’t have to take on loans or debt, and I’m incredibly thankful for that.
I actually started the HES journey before I even knew I was going to pursue a full master’s. I took my first course in negotiation because the skill is a huge part of my daily job. It hooked me. I could immediately apply what I was learning to my work. That was really powerful.
Other courses like Organizational Behavior and Strategy & Management Essentials stood out, especially because I aspire to a formal manager role. Studying management theory, simulating case studies, and collaborating in groups gave me practical insight I can use when I step into that space.
This master’s degree gives me an edge and allows me to brand myself as someone who’s invested in learning and leadership. I’ve also had opportunities to bring valuable insights into team meetings, helping support our business goals.
I learned so much more than I expected — not just about management, but about myself. As graduation approaches, I find myself wanting to continue this momentum. I don’t want this to be the end and I want to keep learning for as long as I can. This journey truly changed me.
Was there a turning point or moment during your experience at HES that changed how you see yourself or your future?
When I was pregnant with my first son, I had to seriously think, “Do I want to continue this?” But I realized this was a gift I was giving myself: a chance to invest in my career and my growth.
I kept thinking about what story I’d want my child to be able to tell: that their mom showed up, committed, and finished what she started. I also imagined my son watching me graduate from Harvard. That vision pushed me to keep going.
In a few courses, I experienced academic challenges. Financial accounting and economics both pushed me particularly hard. There were moments where I’d look at the material and think, “This looks like gibberish — how am I going to get through this?”
The biggest turning point was deciding when things were about to get a lot harder, to stay committed. And that decision carried me through.
Describe your Extension School experience in one word.
Revelatory.
