Graduate Programs Archives - ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ /news_tag/graduate-programs/ Knowledge for your Journey Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:55:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.2 /wp-content/uploads/2022/05/aufavicon.png Graduate Programs Archives - ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ /news_tag/graduate-programs/ 32 32 Mother With an MBA: Hannah’s Story /news/mother-with-an-mba-hannahs-story/ Thu, 12 Mar 2026 13:43:55 +0000 /?post_type=news&p=46410 A quest to pursue further education while seeking balance between home, work and studies led Hannah Reynolds back to ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½.Ìý Reynolds, now a mother of five, recently earned her […]

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A quest to pursue further education while seeking balance between home, work and studies led Hannah Reynolds back to ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½.Ìý

Reynolds, now a mother of five, recently earned her MBA from ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ while giving birth to two children during the program.Ìý

“I think part of me wanted to prove to everyone that you can go to school and have children at the same time,” Reynolds said. “It’s hard, but you can do it if you want to. You don’t have to pick one.”Ìý

Reynolds graduated in December 2025 with her Master of Business Administration from the ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ College of Business and Economics, aÌýmilestoneÌýthat’sÌýbeenÌýyearsÌýin the making. Her journey began with an undergraduate degreeÌýin graphic designÌýfrom the South Carolina School of the Arts—also at ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½â€”but life took her in a different direction before she could pursue graduate studies.Ìý

“I always wanted to go back to school,” Reynolds said. “I had my undergraduate degree, but I wanted to continue my education.”Ìý

Reynolds’ faith was integral to her commitment to see her MBAÌýthroughÌýto completionÌýwhileÌýshe wasÌýraising her growing family. She points to 2 Timothy 1:7 as their family verse: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power,ÌýloveÌýand self-discipline.â€�Ìý

Reynolds said, “For me and my husband, we honor God’s command toÌý‘be fruitful and multiply,’ andÌýthe degree came second. My first mission for God is my children and family—theÌýcareer was always to support what God blessed us with.â€�Ìý

Finding the Right FitÌý

When Reynolds decided to pursue her MBA, she needed a program that could accommodate her demanding schedule. ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½’s online format provided the flexibility sheÌýrequired.Ìý

“I worked a full-time job while doing the online degree, so I had to just work around those two things,” she explained.Ìý

Reynolds heads into the office four days a weekÌýat Fujifilm in GreenwoodÌýand works from home on Fridays.ÌýBalancingÌýwork and familyÌýcommitments with graduate courseworkÌýrequiredÌýsome strategicÌýtime management.Ìý

“I dedicated time to my classes within the window of time after children went to bed every night,” Reynolds said. “I would also read on my lunch breaks, and if there were any apps that would read your textbooks, I would listen to them on the drive to and from work.”Ìý

The Art of Being PresentÌý

For Reynolds, successÌýwasn’tÌýjust about findingÌýtime—it was about being fully present in each moment.ÌýIt was also about prioritizing motherhood and choosing to bring two lives into the world during that time.ÌýWith three children in diapers and her older sons willÌýunderÌý10, itÌýwasn’tÌýeasy,ÌýbutÌýshe persevered.ÌýÌý

“Focus and discipline require that you dedicate portions of your life to specific things,” she said. “If I’m with my family, I need to be present with my family. If I’m at school, I need to be present at school.”Ìý

This philosophy was tested when life’s unpredictable moments arose. Reynolds recalled times when she had to request deadline extensions, including spending an entire day in the emergency room with one of her children when a paper was due.Ìý

“They were understanding,” she saidÌýofÌýher professors.Ìý

A Culture of SupportÌý

What stood out most to Reynolds during her MBA journey was the family-friendly culture sheÌýencounteredÌýamong ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ faculty.ÌýThis support system proved invaluable as Reynolds navigated the challenges of graduate-level coursework while managing the demands of a growing family andÌýaÌýfull-time career.Ìý

“Certain professors I really connected with because they were happy that I had children and a family,” Reynolds said.Ìý“They were so supportive of family.”Ìý

WhenÌýReynoldsÌýwas givingÌýbirth to herÌýyoungest daughter, she shared the news with her professor, letting her know when to expect the delivery.ÌýShe sent the professor a photo of her new baby, receiving the reply, “That makes myÌýday.â€�ÌýÌýÌý

ReflectingÌýon her experience,ÌýReynolds said,Ìý“This past May we welcomed Elizabeth to our family of nowÌýseven, and I took some time off work to heal and take care of her. Then shortly after that I was able to finish my MBAÌýwhile being able to talk about my faith in God in every class! Only a little over a year ago, while in the middle of my MBA studies I had another beautiful girl named René and right before I started my MBA program I had my first daughter Catherine.â€�Ìý

Lessons in BalanceÌý

Reynolds’ experience taught her important lessons about managing multiple priorities simultaneously. The key, she discovered, wasÌýmaintainingÌýfocus on whatever task was at hand, especially when trying to manage many things at once.Ìý

“You have to be present at the time,” she emphasized.Ìý

Reynolds’ÌýjourneyÌýat ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ crossedÌýtwo different academic worlds, butÌýsheÌýfound value in both experiences. The MBA program offered her the opportunity to develop new skills whileÌýproving toÌýherself—and others—that major life eventsÌýdon’tÌýhave to derail educational goals.Ìý

A Message of PossibilityÌý

Reynolds hopes her story will inspire others who may be hesitating to pursue their educational dreams because of family commitments.Ìý

“You can go to school and have children at the same time,” she said. “It’s hard, but you can do it if you want to.”Ìý

Her successÌýdemonstratesÌýthe quality and flexibility of ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½’s MBA program, designed to accommodate working professionals and parents.Ìý

For Reynolds, earning her MBA while raising five children—including welcoming two more during the program—wasn’tÌýabout proving she could do the impossible. It was about showing that with focus, discipline,ÌýsupportÌýand determination, theÌýseemingly impossibleÌýbecomes achievable. Receiving her degree this past December stands as proof that, with the right mindset and support system, you truly can have both.Ìý

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