International Tennis Professional, Mashfia A. is Thankful for Flexible Online Education

Born and raised in Bangladesh, Mashfia A. is a former Billie Jean King Cup (World Cup of Tennis) player and a national champion. She has now switched her career to tennis refereeship. She is a JTI (Junior Tennis Initiative) coach from her country and has recently been awarded an International Tennis Federation white badge to serve as a referee and chief umpire internationally. Mashfia happens to be the only Bangladeshi woman to have qualified for these positions and takes her sports ambitions very seriously.  

The life of a professional athlete can be quite hectic. So, how does she manage her education with all the sports prep and travel? “In high school, I had to face a lot of trouble with my low attendance as I was aggressively involved in sports, but I somehow managed to pass my exams. I joined UoPeople immediately after high school and am now earning my bachelor’s degree in business administration. I am thankful for online education. It allows me to get a college education without becoming a roadblock in realizing my bigger ambitions in life,” she replies.   

What motivated Mashfia to join UoPeople? “I was initially planning to go abroad to study at a traditional university. During my research about universities in the USA, I got to know about UoPeople. I was fascinated to know about the wonders of asynchronous online education. I enrolled in a business program because entrepreneurship has always been my larger mission in life. UoPeople’s education system is a perfect match for me! No need to buy books, no need to sacrifice my professional life, no need to relocate, no need to go into big debt, and I still get the opportunity to earn a world-class education with remarkable flexibility! My course instructors and program advisors are just one email/text away. I am so happy I joined here,” she shares with a bright smile on her face.      

Mashfia’s big aim for the near future is to establish her own business. She also aims to stay academically sound and wants to earn a PhD. “But the larger goal is to give back to society. I advocate for women’s empowerment and will continue doing so. I want to be able to work toward educating future generations of women because I see education as a fundamental human right. Anyone’s financial status should not be a barrier to attaining higher ed,” she says.

Mashfia’s overall approach to education aligns quite closely with UoPeople’s mission to educate learners all over the globe—removing geographical and financial barriers. We are super proud of her and wish her all the best for everything she wants to achieve in life.