Syuzanna B. Believes Her M.Ed. Degree Has Made Her A Critical Thinker

Say hello to M.Ed. student Syuzanna. She is quite the world traveler, having been born in Germany, raised in Armenia and currently living in China. In addition to exploring the diverse cultures of these countries, she has also experienced other parts of the world. “I enjoy exploring global cultures and traditions. I have made friends all over the globe. Personally, I don’t feel like a native to a particular country. I consider myself a global citizen. I am a product of cultural and intellectual influences from all over the world and I am so grateful for it,” Syuzanna says with a smile.

It’s with this adventurous spirit that she decided to join University of the People. “UoPeople has given me the opportunity to know and work with a global community of learners. I get to interact with people from different corners of the world. It’s beautiful to know such a large variety of students. Learning from their experiences makes me feel more capable of solving a variety of everyday challenges,” she adds.

Why did she decide to join UoPeople? Syuzanna told us that the effects of the pandemic pushed her to enroll in a fully online program. “My husband encouraged me to explore the various options available for online higher education and didn’t let me give up. I took my time to understand the benefits of different programs. I found UoPeople from a YouTube advertisement and decided to give it a shot,” she shares.

Syuzanna finished her M.Ed. degree full-time and leads a busy professional and personal life. “I am married and have two kids. To be honest, it’s tough to pursue a degree for a busy woman juggling many roles but it is do-able. It takes hard work, grit, and a great amount of time management. Don’t lose patience when it gets tough. I pushed myself to devote time every day to my studies and assignments, but it was UoPeople that helped me to develop my skills,” she says.

Syuzanna believes the M.Ed. program at UoPeople has helped her evolve as a critical thinker. “I can see myself solving problems I couldn’t even think of tackling earlier. Speaking as an educator, I love the program. I’ve learned how to use my knowledge to benefit my students. I feel better prepared as an educator now. My degree has helped me get an academic position at a prestigious university. I truly feel prepared with the knowledge and experience attained at UoPeople,” she says.

Teaching others is not only personally fulfilling but a great way to give back. “It’s not only a profession, but you need to have the students’ growth and mental health in mind,” advises Syuzanna.

What piece of advice would she give other potential students? “Don’t aim for perfection, aim to be clever, empathetic, and understanding. Push yourself to keep learning. This is how you’ll grow personally, professionally, and academically.”