Derek Walker
Biography
A high-achiever and determined student, Derek Walker made the choice to return to higher education with hopes to expand the scope of his future career opportunities and strengthen his personal brand.
鈥淢y decision to go back to school was just to advance myself, to become more well-rounded as an individual, and to build on some skill sets and my knowledge base to become a better leader in the future,鈥 Derek says
The ideal opportunity to go back to school and earn a master鈥檚 degree presented itself at work one day. A T-Mobile employee for more than seven years, Derek first heard about Ashford* when a coworker mentioned the company鈥檚 participation in Ashford鈥檚 Full Tuition Grant program. With this program, T-Mobile鈥檚 tuition assistance benefits combine with a grant from Ashford to cover the cost of tuition and other associated costs of earning a degree.
鈥淚t was exciting to have an opportunity to go to a major university to pursue a master鈥檚 degree and do it in a way that [was] very affordable,鈥 says Derek. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 say no. I couldn鈥檛 pass up the option of getting my master鈥檚 degree at almost no cost.鈥
Derek enrolled in the Master of Arts in Organizational Management program. He found the online format fit with his hectic schedule. Derek is a Social Media Trainer at T-Mobile, so he travels often and has to work unusual hours.
鈥淚 needed something that was going to be flexible to my schedule,鈥 Derek explains. 鈥淚n my line of business, I could be up at 5:00 in the morning working with Maine or I could be up until 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning working with Honolulu. I travel quite a bit, so attending a university that鈥檚 only located on a campus wasn鈥檛 going to work. With Ashford, it allowed me to be anywhere. Whether on a boat in the Caribbean or buried in a blizzard where I live in Colorado Springs, I was able to take classes on my time.鈥
To stay on top of all his responsibilities at work and school, Derek adhered to a strict schedule. 鈥淚 always made sure Sundays and Mondays were reserved for my major assignments that were due,鈥 Derek says. 鈥淭uesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays were my discussion posts. I just had to stay disciplined.鈥
All of that discipline paid off in 2017 when Derek graduated and attended Ashford鈥檚 commencement ceremony in San Diego. He reports that his new master鈥檚 degree is already paying dividends.
鈥淏ased on what I learned while I was a student here, I鈥檓 actually interviewing for a senior management position,鈥 Derek says. 鈥淚 continue to grow and develop within the company. I love T-Mobile!鈥
He also offers some advice to anyone who鈥檚 thinking about going back to school to earn a new degree.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not easy, but it鈥檚 worth it,鈥 Derek says. 鈥淣ever stop learning because someone else isn鈥檛 passing up the opportunity and is learning and you want to be sure you鈥檙e keeping pace with those who are driving to succeed.鈥
* Ashford University is now the University of Arizona Global Campus