JaShondra Kenney, 30
Fort Valley State University

Major: Organizational Leadership
Expected Graduation: May 2016

Why is completing your degree important to you?
It is important to me because it was always one of my biggest dreams to get my Bachelor's degree. Not from just any institution but from Fort Valley State University. My dream was put on hold after I had my son in 2008 and was no longer able to physically attend classes on the FVSU campus. This degree is important for my growth as well as the growth of my children. I want them to understand that even when life throws you curve balls, you can still dodge them and win the game.


What are your career goals?
I plan to start Grad school in about 6 months and get my Master's in Human Resources. From there, I plan to move up with the company I currently work for.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? 
Growing up, I wanted to be a psychologist because I loved helping people with their problems.

Why did you choose to take online classes through eMajor? 
Because it was the perfect opportunity for me to finally realize my dream.

What eMajor class has been your favorite? 
My favorite eMajor class was Desktop Publishing

How would you describe the instructors you've had in your eMajor classes? 
Most of them were easy to talk to and communicate with, but some were hard and made my life a little stressful.

Besides being a college student, what do you spend your time doing?
I work full-time as an Office Coordinator, and part-time from home as a Data Entry Clerk. In my free time I'm spending as much time as I can with my kids, doing hair (when my schedule permits), and just overall trying to enjoy life.

How and when do you make time for your schoolwork?
I do my homework on my lunch break, some weeknights, and on the weekends.

Who inspires you and why?
My mother inspires me because she's strong, hard-working, and a go-getter. As a single mother, my mother worked multiple jobs to make sure her children had and that she had. She was hard on us, but her being hard made us all push harder to be great. She retired, went back to school and got her Bachelor's in Business Administration then turned right back around and got her MBA - all while she was coming out of retirement and returning to work. Her strength inspires me every single day.

What would you say to someone who is considering an online degree through eMajor? 
I would tell them to go for it. It's convenient and it's a great way to get that education that you've always wanted.

As those in the south can tell from the layer of yellow dust coating every outside surface, spring is in the air. And that means summer is just around the corner. For traditional college students summer means a break from late-night studying, a time to travel or maybe make some extra money at a part-time (or even full-time) job. However, there are many benefits for those who choose to continue taking classes during the summer; and with online classes you may even be able to have a little fun while you’re at it!


Here are just a few reasons you should consider taking an online class this summer.


  1. You can shorten your time to graduation.
    Why restrict yourself to taking the traditional 10 classes per year (5 in the Fall and 5 in the Spring)? Taking 1-2 extra classes each summer, along with a regular full load in the Fall and Spring semesters, means you can meet your graduation requirements sooner - sometimes by a full semester.
  2. You can take fewer classes in Fall and Spring semesters, and still graduate on time.
    If a full 15-hour course load is a lot for you to juggle, then stretching those 10 classes per year across three semesters instead of two may help. When I was in college, I always took 4 classes in the Fall and Spring semesters, and then two in the summer. I didn’t fall behind in my degree program, but I did lessen my load so I could devote more time to each individual course (and be far less stressed than some of my classmates).
  3. You can bring up your GPA.
    I don’t know the statistics on this, but I know for me, having less classes to focus on usually meant I could get a better grade in the class. If you need to bring your GPA up, consider taking just one class this summer. You’ll be able to spend all of your study time on that one subject and hopefully pull off the “A” that you need to give you a little boost before classes start back in the Fall.
  4. Keep your mind in “school-mode.”
    Anyone who is or ever has been a full-time college student knows that being in school is a state of mind. You get yourself into the mindset of going to class, working on projects, and studying for exams. If you get yourself out of that routine for a long period of time, it can be difficult to readjust. Taking just one class in the summer can help to keep you on top of your academic game year-round.
  5. You can bring it to the beach!
    Trust me - I love the beach just as much as anyone else. You should definitely enjoy the summer and treat yourself to some time by the ocean or the neighborhood pool. The great thing about online classes is that YOU CAN STILL DO THAT! All you need is a laptop and a wi-fi connection, and you can stay caught up in your summer class wherever you are.


So there you have it; with online classes you can get ahead in school, stay on track to graduate, increase your GPA, or simply keep your mental momentum going without sacrificing your summer. So why not give it a try? The eCore summer schedule is now available on our website. Students at University System of Georgia eCore institutions can register for these courses right in their campus registration system - no transient process required.