How Yashika’s BBA helped her fulfill a long-held dream

Saving a year through transfer credits

Yashika began searching online for a university that would allow her to keep working. When she discovered the University of Fredericton, she searched LinkedIn for people who had studied there and contacted several graduates about their experiences at UFred. Their reassurance helped her feel more confident about choosing an online university.

“They all gave positive feedback and said, just get started and you will realize that this will work out perfectly.”

Yashika discovered that her Saskatchewan Polytechnic diploma qualified for transfer credits toward her Bachelor of Business Administration. The transfer credits recognized the effort she had already invested in her education — and shortened her degree by a full year.

With a practical route forward, Yashika began her BBA while continuing to work full time and support her family back home.

Making school part of her routine

When she began the BBA, Yashika was unsure whether she could balance university with everything else on the go. Completing the degree changed that uncertainty into evidence she could handle anything that came her way.

“I think I had proven to myself that I can manage, I can take on difficult challenges and work through them.”

Studying soon became part of Yashika’s existing routine. After finishing work at the bank, she often went directly to the Starbucks across the street. She knew that if she returned home first, it would be harder to regain her focus, so the coffee shop became her regular study space.

At Starbucks, she worked through course materials and discussion posts. She began researching larger assignments early in the week and created outlines before sitting down to write, which helped her avoid feeling overwhelmed as deadlines approached.

“All it took was a couple hours every night and then it was all manageable.”

The routine carried her through three years of study and significant changes in her personal life, including getting married. Rather than waiting for her life to change, Yashika found a way to pursue her education within the life she already had.

Inspiration from her classmates

Yashika had wondered whether an online program would feel isolating. Instead, she found herself learning alongside classmates from across Canada who brought different careers and experiences to the education experience.

Yashika was particularly moved by the mothers raising children while working full time and completing their degrees. Their ability to continue learning amid so many competing demands left a lasting impression on Yashika.

“They motivated me to think I should also be able to do this.”

The example of her peers helped make perseverance feel possible. Yashika was not comparing her life with people who had unlimited time to study. She was surrounded by students who were building education around work, family and other responsibilities.

Bringing a wider perspective to her role

Yashika’s studies were closely connected to the work she was already doing professionally. Her International Business specialty stream helped her look beyond the perspective of one workplace or community and consider how decisions could affect an entire organization or industry.

“I gained confidence at work and I pursued further opportunities at work while studying. It gave me a broader business perspective too.”

Yashika began bringing ideas from her courses into conversations with colleagues and banking leaders. Her capstone projects focused on her own organization, giving her opportunities to consult people at work and connect learnings within a real business environment.

Over time, Yashika became more confident contributing ideas and speaking up in professional settings. The ideas she presented to leadership succeeded, giving her tangible evidence that her perspective had value.

Turning confidence into action

Yashika now had the confidence to act on the ambition she had carried for years. She applied to law school and was accepted by multiple universities. Yashika chose the University of Manitoba, where she will begin studying law later this year.

The BBA courses Yashika took at UFred strengthened her research, writing and critical-thinking skills — things she knew law school would demand. Feedback from her professors helped her become a more capable writer, while assignments gave her experience examining evidence and communicating ideas clearly.

For years, Yashika worked while helping the people she loved, steadily preparing herself for a different future. Now, her BBA from the University of Fredericton is helping her move toward her dream job in law.