Evelyn Vedasto
Biography
Often in life, you must overcome your greatest fears to achieve your greatest successes.
Evelyn Vedasto knew her path to success would require a college education. She鈥檇 earned her associate degree in 2011 but kept delaying her bachelor鈥檚 degree, partly because of her busy schedule but also because she was afraid of online learning. Before she knew it, time had slipped by.
鈥淭he next thing I knew, it was 2014,鈥 she recalls.
One day, she found information about Ashford University* in her mailbox. She was skeptical at first, but after talking to an advisor over the phone, Evelyn chose to confront her fear, and she enrolled in Ashford鈥檚 Bachelor of Arts in Applied Behavioral Sciences program.
Evelyn began her Ashford journey while working two jobs, and she admits it was more challenging than she anticipated.
鈥淎t one point it became overwhelming to juggle [responsibilities],鈥 she says. 鈥淚 ended up dropping one job and had to be smarter when balancing my bills.鈥
Not too long after, she was spotted by a director of a large financial firm and was asked to join the team.
This turn of events took Evelyn鈥檚 life in a fantastic new direction. Not only was she joining a global financial conglomerate with great potential for advancement, but her role as a compliance analyst 鈥 which involved onboarding for new clients 鈥 also turned out to be a much better fit for her degree program.
The applied behavioral sciences program includes a combination of courses in business, psychology, communications, and sociology, among others. Through her studies, Evelyn was able to perfect her negotiation, budgeting, analytical, and coaching skills. Today, she .
鈥淚 have evolved tremendously as an individual,鈥 she acknowledges. 鈥淢y wisdom has expanded in multiple ways, and I find myself understanding things easier now.鈥
Her confidence and knowledge continues to open doors. Evelyn finished her degree in 2016 and earned a promotion to a post investigations analyst position the following year. While she loves what she does, she wants to keep learning and growing.
鈥淲ith every new class I started, I fell in love,鈥 Evelyn says of her Ashford experience. 鈥淚t was an adrenaline rush throughout the program.鈥
The excitement she felt while earning her bachelor鈥檚 degree prompted Evelyn to return to Ashford and pursue a Master of Arts in Psychology. As she works her way through the program, she feels more inspired and is looking forward to having yet another success story to share with others.
Like so many Ashford students, Evelyn wants to become a role model for someone else in her life. She鈥檚 happy that earning her degree made her parents proud, but more importantly, she wants to inspire her younger sister.
鈥淪he is 16 years old and she looks up to me,鈥 Evelyn says. 鈥淪he came to my undergraduate commencement in 2016 and was so happy to be there, she was smiling the entire time.鈥
After her sister graduates high school, Evelyn hopes she鈥檒l follow the same path she did. All it takes is dedication and the confidence to overcome your fears.
鈥淣ow I know [my fear] was a fa莽ade, and just like any other school, Ashford requires the same amount of focus and dedication,鈥 she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been the best decision I made so far in life.鈥
* Ashford University is now the University of Arizona Global Campus