As most of you know, I think...December 8th I met with an admissions counselor at The University of Tampa to find out information about the programs offered at UT for someone considering a Masters Degree, especially someone looking to stay in the nonprofit sector. Well, on December 8th I found out that the application deadline for a program I would LOVE to do was December 15th...so I went to work. I bought a GMAT book (I am plugging my way through it) and I started to apply for the program. It is not much of a secret, I made my college decision based on being in North Carolina--and being close to Camp...so, it is conservative to say I was scared whether I would be accepted to the program. I have not been a student in 6 years...I have not written for other people to read what I was writing for 6 years...but if I don't apply, I will never know...So, I submitted all of my material by December 15th (in a week, yeah...I know...considerably less time than I took writing college essays the first time around.) and frantically contacted 2 prior supervisors to write me letters of recommendation.
January 18th the committee met. (about acceptance and a scholarship opportunity)
January 24th I received online notification that I was accepted to the Certificate Program in Nonprofit Management.
January 28th I received scholarship notification.
January 29th I received "the big envelope"
Today, I share with you my personal statement submitted for entry. I hope it gives a little picture for all I don't speak with as ofter about the program, what I hope to do...and what the next few months of my life will look like.
If you would like to take a look at the actual program...you can find the information
http://www.ut.edu/graduate/nonprofit/
but...without further ado...
"As a Youth Director working with 3rd through 12th grade students in a nonprofit setting, I see firsthand how the programs we provide help enrich the lives of our students. We live in an increasingly complicated and challenging world. There are electronic forces that infiltrate every second of every minute of our waking lives. I am proud to offer a respite from the fast-paced world in which teens live and have been raised. I have witnessed the struggles our teens face and I want to better equip myself to provide an opportunity to serve these teens, many of whom fall through the cracks, because they are not “problem teens.” The programs offered at The University of Tampa are paramount in accomplishing this goal. The interactions I have with my teens regularly afford me an opportunity for personal educational moments; however, the next step on my journey is the participation and completion of the cohort-based Certificate in Nonprofit Management ultimately partnered with the Masters of Business Administration.
I expect the courses, cohort-based group education and project-based learning offered by The University of Tampa throughout the duration of the Certificate program, to increase my ability to function in an ever-changing nonprofit workplace environment. I have experienced the practical aspects of nonprofit work on various levels in my years since completing my undergraduate degree. I have managed budgets, promoted programs, developed connections with members of the community and empowered members of our programs to give back to the organization from which they have grown. It is now time for me to fortify my practical work experience with a strong graduate level business education. The University of Tampa program is the only one I have found that would allow me to continue working in my current capacity while taking advantage of classes in both non-profit management, a true passion of mine, and learning the practical business know-how that will only further my success in the field.
Working in a youth-centered nonprofit environment I have been presented with unimaginable situations in which I have had to quickly make critical decisions. I have had to evaluate the most effective methods of communication for parents as well as teens and adapt my understanding of professional correspondence to address the current social norms. I bring skills and understanding of social networking and developing media to the table and a willingness to explain the use and benefit of said platforms. I am the first one to admit I do what I do because I learn from my teens every single day. The lessons I learn from the parents of participants have truly afforded me even more opportunity for growth. My years of experience in the field have given me countless opportunities to interface with lay-leadership and volunteer boards. I understand the the reality of balancing the desires of volunteers and lay-leaders versus the practical day to day operation of a nonprofit program. I bring a practical knowledge of large-scale event planning from initial brainstorm through execution for groups from 5 to 1500 participants. I have aided and assisted in programming and fundraising from the ground level and I am willing to to put the work into a project to ensure success.
I consider myself most fortunate to have worked in the nonprofit world and to have experienced the volunteer side of nonprofit organizations as well. Growing up attending a YMCA summer camp and ultimately serving as a summer staff member afforded me opportunities in more recent years to volunteer as a coordinator for local Annual Fund call drives and to serve as a liaison to ‘young alumni’ in the Atlanta and Metropolitan DC Communities. I have learned from this volunteer experience that there are many ways to be a part of giving as a volunteer in the nonprofit sector and I would love to capitalize on this understanding in a more professional capacity as well. The reality, in the challenging economic climate in which we live, is that donors are not always able to give in the same capacity and as nonprofit organizations we need to think differently at times and accept gifts of time and talent as well as treasures, in the means of monetary donations.
My experiences as a volunteer and professional staff member are the result of serving different organizations, however I am thankful to have had varied levels of involvement that provide a more complete picture of the social sector. I am certain the opportunity to study as a part of the cohort in Nonprofit Management at The University of Tampa and ultimately as an MBA degree candidate will help fortify the experiences I have had to date. I am excited for the opportunity to interact with new people and to learn from their dynamic experiences in different nonprofit settings while offering my experience and unique perspective. When I graduated in 2004, I knew I would eventually pursue a degree on the graduate level. At 22 years old I was unsure of what I wanted to do and I could not articulate the desires I had for the future beyond accepting my first job and entering the work-force. I am certain I would have traveled down a different path if I had forged through directly to graduate school. Taking time away from formal education and experiencing the “real world” work environment has left me certain that the nonprofit sector is my passion. I have spent time in the field and I understand my need to fully grasp the practical business behind the services offered from nonprofit organizations and I know it is time for me to return to the academic environment to fine-tune my skills. The programs offered at The University of Tampa are the key to my continued success. I look forward to having an opportunity to contribute to this academic community and to give as much as I gain from the courses and programs offered."
Fabulous!
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