Brianna Murray’s 16-year-old son is watching. There are times when they sit side by side, both with work to do. Ordinary moments, like doing homework together, that feel small but carry meaning. In those moments, Brianna is not just studying. She is showing him what it looks like to commit to something, even when it is difficult. To return to a goal that once felt out of reach and move toward it anyway.
- Program
- Bachelor of Business Administration
- Industry
- Education
- Current Location
- Fredericton, N.B.
- Graduation Year
- 2028
When life changed the plan
Brianna was in her final year of high school when she found out she was pregnant.
“My plans changed, and I put education completely on the back burner. I have a support system. I have a wonderful family. But I didn't have a partner. I didn't plan on having a baby.”
In that moment, everything shifted. Her plans for higher education were no longer the priority. Stability and responsibility were more important at that time of her life.
Brianna stepped into the workforce, building a career in administration and learning through experience. Over time, she found herself interested in the bigger picture of how businesses operate—how decisions are made, how teams function and how growth happens.
She wanted to be part of that. She wanted to grow into it. But for years, education remained something she carried in the background. Not forgotten, just set aside while she focused on raising her son.
Starting her studies
The turning point did not come all at once. It came gradually, as her son grew older and began contemplating university himself. She wanted to show her son something important. Not just through words, but through action.
“Honestly, I think I'm most proud of the fact that I actually started the program and I kept with it. It would be so easy to just not have done my bachelor's. I had a good, decent job. My kid is almost grown. But it was a goal of mine. It was something that I wanted to set forth and do.”
Going back to school was not easy. It meant stepping back into something unfamiliar after years away.
But Brianna does not hesitate when she says going to the University of Fredericton is “the best decision that I made, 100 percent.” Her decision to begin became the foundation for everything that followed.
Making it work, her way
No two days look exactly the same for Brianna. She balances a full-time career, responsibilities at home and her son’s life too. There is no perfect window for studying, so she has learned to create one.
It's so flexible, I can switch things up and I'm not going to crumble.
“I've got a pretty good schedule down for myself.” Early in the week, she works through lectures and readings, then takes a bit of a break. Later in the week, she finds time to complete assignments.
“I can really pick my hours, whether that's doing it 30 minutes in the morning while my kid is getting ready for school, or whether that's working at 11:00 at night, because that's when I had the time that day. It's so flexible, I can switch things up and I'm not going to crumble.”
UFred’s flexibility helps Brianna keep going because her education does not compete with her life. It fits within it.
Growth you can feel
The impact of returning to school showed up in other areas of her life quickly. She was not just gaining knowledge. She was applying it.
Brianna began to notice changes in how she approached her work. She communicated with more clarity, handled challenges with more confidence and developed a stronger understanding of how to navigate team dynamics. “You really learn how to negotiate and manage different personalities.”
Even in an online program, Brianna has found a sense of connection. Through discussions, group work and shared experiences, she built relationships with other students and professors. Those interactions became part of how she grew and how she saw herself. She had new tools, new language and a new perspective to draw from.
Her education became something Brianna carries into every part of her life.
Leading by example
For Brianna, this is about more than earning a degree. It is about proving something to herself, and to her son. Life does not have to follow a straight line. Plans can change without being abandoned. Progress can happen in its own time. And it is never too late to begin again.
For Brianna, success is not defined by when she started. It is defined by the fact that she did. And every day that she continues, she is setting a positive example for her son. Not just in what she says, but in what she does—in the choices she makes and the goals she refuses to let go of.
“I want him to be influenced by me and what I've been able to accomplish. I think he appreciates and hopefully admires what I'm doing.”
