Meet Jamalynn
Why did you choose CCU?
I chose CCU because there is such a heavy focus on the integration of faith and learning. God was calling me and I wanted God to be at the center of what I was learning.
How did CCU make it possible?
Before coming to CCU I was a ninth-grade drop out with a GED and a certificate that said I could type. I have gone from working minimum wage, dead-end jobs to being a top performer with a Fortune 500 insurance conglomerate. My degree has opened doors for me that I did not even know were possible. Since graduating with my undergrad, I am now in a graduate program, I have moved across country, my earning potential has quadrupled, and I am living my best life.
What inspired you to go back to school?
I was four months into recovery from drugs and alcohol and realized that God had bigger plans for me than what I could do without an education.
What do you plan to do with your degree?
After I finish my master’s degree, my goal is to open a private counseling practice where I can follow the call to help others become the best version of themselves.
How has your degree assisted you in your life and career?
Obtaining my undergraduate degree from CCU has allowed me to follow the call God has placed on my life. That call is to help people become the best version of themselves. I am beyond blessed by the doors that my degree has opened.
How would you describe the value of your education?
The value of education I have received is priceless. Yes, it came with a cost. I have student loans I have to pay it back, however, there is no way I can ever pay back what CCU has come to mean to me and to my family. The way my children and grandchildren look at me now — I am a completely different person now than I was day one — that is priceless.
How did CCU help you integrate faith in your life?
I was taught many things at CCU. However, the most valuable lesson was learning how to understand the world from a Christian worldview, which has allowed me to operate from a Christian worldview in every area of my life.
What challenges did you face during your time as a student?
I faced so many challenges as a student. My husband went to prison, my daughter and grandchildren moved in, my son moved in and then moved out, my husband got out of prison once again changing my daily activities, and I got a new job. Through it all, God was steadfast and the support I had from my SSA, my enrollment counselor, my professors, and the prayer groups of other students kept these challenges from feeling like too much. I was able to make it through all of this because I was a student at CCU.
What are the things that helped set you up for success at CCU?
- Daren Mitchell - My enrollment counselor walked me through an eight-month process of rehabilitating my student loans from a certificate I received in 1999.
- The transfer credit policy helped set me up for success. I was able to bring over 36 credits from that certificate program, saving me both time and money.
- I worked full time the entire time. I could not have done any of this with a full study load. I was able to succeed because of the flexible structure of the program. It was huge.