An example for the future By Sharayah Le Leux
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n our ever-growing technologi-
California Baptist University has joined this trend through the creation of Online and Professional Studies, the university’s online division. The implementation of distance learning tools allows CBU/Online to attract a broader‑based student demographic. The OPS program, originally designed for working adults, is now also available to traditional students. “One of the reasons they go to OPS is it gives them options,” said David Poole, vice president of Online and Professional Studies. “If they’re working professionals, they are not going to be able to go to school 8–5 during the day and have their full-time job.” The university has always been at the forefront of creating a way for working adults to go back to school and finish their education. In 1990, CBU held its first courses for Evening College, a program that held classes at night so those worked during the day could still work toward obtaining a degree. The Evening College then became the Adult Degree Completion Program, and during the summer of 2010 the OPS program was established. Trying to balance work, family and school is not something new to Malina Gomez: Seeing the same challenge when her own mother, Pamela Gomez, went back to school to get her degree through CBU’s Evening College program. She saw the dedication it took from her mother and recently decided to finish her bachelor’s degree through the OPS communication studies program. She had her daughter young and is a mother before anything else. She said her daughter is her focus and the reason she lives each day. A typical day for Gomez consists of waking up,
getting herself ready for work and her daughter ready entering kindergarten, which gives them time to do for school, dropping her daughter off at school, work- homework together— time they both cherish. ing from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., picking up her daughter CBU has always been in Gomez’s life one way from school, going home and having dinner, homeor another, but also because she wanted to learn work from 11 – 11:30 p.m., and then starting it all more about her faith, since becoming saved two and over again the following day. half years ago. She then made the decision to finish Gomez began working when she was 15 years her education through OPS. Although she has only old at a sports apparel store. She worked for nearly 10 started taking classes, she said she was blown away by years in retail sales and the experience she received. sales management for “I really opened my heart compleI mainly feel that cellular phone comtely and my life to welcoming God,” panies in the Inland Gomez said. “I just felt like he was steerI can’t tell my Empire. ing me in that direction to apply at CBU. 5-year-old that you need A year and a I just felt like that was the thing I was to go to college and that half ago, everything supposed to be doing.” education is important if changed for Gomez. She said she believes education helps She received an oppeople become self-aware, and even in her I haven’t done it myself.” portunity to work short time in the program the experiences at Paychex, a large have changed her. As a result, education payroll company. Her is something that is truly important in training sent her to New York for two weeks. This Gomez’s life. was a big step. She had to leave her daughter and take In pursuing a degree in communication studies, her first plane trip across the United States, alone, Gomez said she has enjoyed her experience, thus far, for training. The time away from home changed her and is excited for what is to come. views and herself as a whole. She felt she grew more What makes the educational experiences than ever and discovered herself more. special at CBU is the belief that Education has always been an important part every person is created for of Gomez’s life. Even while being a single, working a purpose. Students are mother, she continued to take classes when she could taught to understand at institutions such as The University of Phoenix and and engage their San Bernardino Valley College. School was taken off purposes through the priority list when she received training for her a Christ-centered job. However, Gomez’s young daughter and her reeducation. Those same cent marriage have influenced her to return to school. traditional CBU values in education are car“I mainly feel that I can’t tell my 5-year-old that you need to go to college and that education is imried over to the OPS portant if I haven’t done it myself,” Gomez said. program as it encourGomez said she believes people need to be conages students to live stantly changing themselves because without growth their purpose and or knowledge they stay the same person. Along with grow in their faith returning to her own education, she is also gothrough online ing through a similar transition with her daughter delivery process.
Photo: Malina and Aliyana Gomez
Photo by Steven Anderson | Design by Brianna Nelson
cal age, communication has been made easier for us: mak-
ing phone calls, instant messaging, video chatting and so much more.
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