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Yasmin Paula
Advanced Certificate in Project Management
Why did you choose to continue your education at CUNY SPS? Why the online Advanced Certificate in Project Management?
CUNY SPS allows for the flexibility and support I need to confidently continue my education after completing my bachelor’s degree four years ago. The Advanced Certificate in Project Management curriculum is in line with the language and practices any project manager is expected to know, and with the completion of this program, I hope to streamline my professional development towards a project manager role.
Did you ever think that you would enroll in an online program?
No, I was such a firm believer that education was only an in-person endeavor and that taking an online course would leave me longing for face-to-face interaction. After completing my first semester at CUNY SPS, my perspective of online learning has changed. The discussion board posts are frequent and dynamic, the instructors are readily available for any questions, and my classmates have created a safe and productive learning environment.
What was your motivation for returning to school for an advanced certificate?
I felt that my career had hit a dead end and I needed something that both was interesting to me and would provide me with some leverage to transition into a more direct career path.
Which aspects of the program have you enjoyed most thus far?
The flexibility and ease of use of the online environment are the most attractive aspects of taking a CUNY SPS course.
What is your relationship like with your classmates and professors?
The courses I have taken so far have been very collaborative and allow for the development of relationships with my classmates and professors. The student body participating in this particular certificate program seems small as I see many familiar names on the roster and, coincidently, has been grouped with the same person for two classes now.
How does the advanced certificate relate to your career that you have OR the career that you want?
I chose this program with the objective of opening up doors to venture into different industries. Project managers are needed in many different disciplines and obtaining this certification will allow for job fluidity.
Which professional or personal goals would you like to achieve during your time at CUNY SPS?
Time management has been the most difficult skill to master in this program, but I believe the juggling of my full-time job, school, and family life have made me a more well-rounded and adaptable person.
What’s the greatest piece of advice you’ve received while at CUNY SPS?
The greatest piece of advice I've received thus far is to use your professors as a resource. They are available and invested in your success. Asking questions and expressing concerns are so important to achieving success in an online environment.
What advice would you offer someone considering applying for admission to your program? What advice can you offer someone who is juggling, school, work, and other obligations?
The best advice I can offer to someone who is considering admission to this program or any type of online learning program is to be aware of your priorities and your time. I have had to put off socializing to get assignments done on time. In order to successfully complete this type of program, you have to be willing to put other things in your life on hold.
What do you hope to do after graduating from CUNY SPS? What does your future look like?
Once I complete this program, I hope to present my employer with a proposal to integrate me into more project management-type programming so that I can put my newly acquired skills to the test and learn in a real-world environment.
Yasmin’s Quick Facts
- Place of residence: Bronx, NY
- Weirdest place you have studied: The hair salon
- Best thing about your community: The accessibility to parks with wi-fi makes for the best studying places
- What are you watching right now? Rosewood on Fox
- What you enjoy doing in your spare time: Catching up on sleep and spending time online shopping for my unborn daughter