A story of perseverance: how MBA Student Timothy Pearce continued his education during trying times
Many people choose to further their education for career progression or further business knowledge, but for Timothy Pearce, it was also about staying busy and doing something meaningful during a difficult time in his life. For Timothy, education became a safe haven and a place to focus his mental energy on something positive. In an incredibly challenging time, with more than a few barriers, Timothy persevered, finding a passion for education and teaching. His MBA was a memorable experience for many reasons, not least of which was what he overcame while obtaining it.
A Dedication to Continuous Learning
Timothy is an excellent representation of a lifelong learner. He began his academic career with a bachelor’s degree in adult education from Brock University and then went on to complete his Post-degree Certificate in Human Resource Management at York University. While at York University, Timothy was searching for his next educational pursuit. Initially, he was looking for a Master of Human Resources program, which inadvertently led him to the University of Fredericton’s Master of Business Administration with a specialty stream in Human Resource Leadership. Although he was not searching for an MBA at the time, he was thrilled at the idea of completing one while continuing to expand his knowledge in human resources.
After researching the admissions requirements and speaking with an advisor, Timothy was happy to hear that there were no GMAT requirements which helped him make his decision. After submitting his application, he said, “I was sitting in the classroom at York University with my group doing group work and I decided to check my email. All of a sudden, I got this email that I was accepted to the Master of Business Administration, I was tickled pink.”
Timothy wasn’t just pursuing his MBA at UFred though. Being the voracious learner that he is, during his program, he was accepted to the Master of Education program at Memorial University. Because of the flexible nature of UFred’s programs, which allow students to take pauses in their studies as needed, Timothy was able to step away from his MBA for a whole year while working toward his Master of Education. He then returned to his studies with UFred and is nearing the end of his program now.
Studying During Difficult Times: Overcoming Obstacles and Finding his Passions
For many, obtaining multiple degrees while balancing everyday life can be a challenge, but for Timothy, it was not just daily life that he contended with. At the same time that he was concluding his bachelor’s degree, Timothy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, an illness he would continue to battle while completing the remainder of his studies.
Balancing his health and studies was a significant challenge but one that Timothy was glad to take on. Education became something that he could focus on that was more within his control, a place where he could dedicate himself to learning and the course content. The experience became a highlight for him during an incredibly challenging time.
“The MBA has been more than an experience for me. When I was going through the darkest and deepest hours of my life, when survival was in question, I focused on the next paper that was due, and I wrote the next threaded discussion.”
Moving Forward: What’s Next for Timothy
As Timothy approaches the end of the MBA program, with one master’s already under his belt, he remains happy with his decision to pursue an MBA. He deems the experience at UFred thus far to have been a significant success in more ways than one.
“I can assure you 100% that I’m a different person today because of the knowledge that I’ve gained in this program than what I was 4 years ago when I started the program. It’s changed my personality, it’s changed my outlook, and I would recommend that anybody that’s sort of seeking something in life to pursuit this as an option because it really is transformational.”
With a passion for education, it is no surprise that Timothy has chosen to pursue a lifelong goal of becoming a lawyer and will begin this next step in his journey this spring.