Colorado Tech Online Students and Alumni
Meet James Baker
BSBA with a concentration in Human Resource Management
Geared for Success
James Baker, Tech. Sergeant, United States Air Force, is geared for success. With retirement from the military rapidly approaching, James knows he has to make himself more marketable in today's competitive job market. "My goal is to retire from the military and be able to grow in a business career. I want to be able to combine my military experience with an education that qualifies me for a wide variety of positions, so I have more opportunities and choices available to me in the civilian work world. I want to be able to build a better life for myself and for my family after I retire from the Air Force. I feel earning a BSBA with a concentration in Human Resource Management through Colorado Tech Online is a big step in that direction."
James, like many others who enlisted for duty in the armed forces, put his education on hold in order to serve his country, but never lost sight of his educational goals. "I originally enrolled in a traditional college, but had to put that on hold for financial reasons, so I enlisted. I was able to earn an Associate's degree through a program offered by the Air Force, but my true ambition was to earn a Bachelor's degree before I retired. So I spoke with career counselors at my base and began to look into educational opportunities outside of the military."
James did his research and contacted scores of universities, knowing that time could be running out for completing a four-year degree with less than four years until retirement. "I felt that a lot of universities I contacted treated me like just another number. Some did not even return my calls and some would not accept credits I had earned through the Air Force. I began to look into online universities and when I came across Colorado Tech Online it caught my attention because I am from Colorado. So, I contacted the University and I was immediately impressed with the personal attention I received from the Admission Advisors. I was even more impressed with the military friendliness, because I found out all the credits I earned through Air Force would transfer and I could earn a Bachelor's degree in about half the time it would have taken me at other universities I contacted. The choice was easy for me and I would recommend Colorado Tech Online to anyone in the military who wants to continue their education."
James soon earned his Bachelor's degree and although he has not yet begun life after the military, it has already had an impact on him. "I feel more confident and motivated after achieving my life-long goal of earning a Bachelor's degree. When I encounter a project that requires knowledge of the business aspects of the military, I no longer have to seek advice—I give advice. When I have to work on projects with both military and civilian staff, I am more familiar with laws and acts that apply to personnel decisions. When I have to run software applications to get the job done, I am thankful I became more familiar with them through my learning experiences with Colorado Tech Online. When I am up for a promotion in rank, I know that my education will set me above the competition and I think it will do the same for me when I retire from the Air Force. Human Resources is a great field in terms of marketability and my educational success has made me strive to further expand my prospects before I retire."
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