INVEST IN YOURSELF
The Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University is Worth the Investment!
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By Robin Simpson, Community Bank President, BancorpSouth, Rogers, AR he best time to invest in yourself is today! I want to encourage everyone, but especially women who have overlooked the program and hesitated due to scheduling and family commitments. This program is for you! I can’t guaranty it will be easy, but it will be worthwhile.
The Graduate School of Banking at LSU (GSBLSU) is an intensive program of study with two weeks on campus for three consecutive years in addition to self-study projects for the two intervening years, so it is a commitment, but I know families can make it work. I want to share information about scheduling, family concerns, and home study which are often among the reasons that fewer women enroll versus men.
SCHEDULING
I encourage you to call the GSBLSU office to discuss possible scheduling conflicts. Many issues can be resolved…since the program is held in late May it commonly coincides with graduation ceremonies or other work obligations. For example, my roommate had to miss afternoon classes and fly home to attend her children’s high school graduation. She flew back the next morning, and had a private proctored exam on Sunday, before the session resumed Sunday night. Another classmate began GSBLSU with me in 2017, but was not able to attend in 2018 due to work commitments. The school gave him permission to join a later class in year two, moving back his graduation, but allowing him to retain credit for the work he had already completed. As a class officer, I am aware of some new “classmates” we gained, who re-joined our class to graduate in 2019, after sitting out for at least one year. It can be done!
Most working parents, but especially moms, have learned a key survival skill for life……RELAX. Your house doesn’t have to be magazine photo-ready all year. You don’t have to make an “A” on every paper (though some think you do). Balance is the key to the success of the program. The materials covered and the experience gained is the journey and the investment in your career.
FAMILY
You will have some free time during the weekend between the on-campus weeks. It is possible for family or friends to come and see you for a few hours, which helps minimize homesick feelings. This may not be possible for some, but the break between classes is a welcomed rest! As a mom, you can find value in your children bonding with dad. Personally, mine enjoyed a mini-vacation while I was gone, which included a major league baseball game and a helicopter ride. With technology, you can see your children’s sweet faces while they tell you about their day. On a few occasions, I stepped out of an evening social so I could connect with my family. I was still able to be a part of important moments with my girls. You can also connect with family during breaks between classes or during the long lunch break each day. The impact on children seeing their parent (especially daughters who see their mom) setting a goal, committing the time to make it happen, and completing a professional certification is impactful. Children will see the importance of education and life-long learning.
GSBLSU 2019 Class Officers: (left to right) Ben Burton, Mitch Gay, Robin Simpson, Cliff Kilpatrick, and Miguel Garcia. (Photo on opposite page) GSBLSU Graduating Class of 2019.
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The Arkansas Banker n Summer 2020
