"Sticking With it" is Important for Seymour Johnson Grad

MOUNT OLIVE- For many working adults, life can be too complicated and time consuming to even consider going to college. This is not the case for 34 year old Drew Carson. For Carson, the choice to attend college was just another challenge in his already busy life. As a husband, a father of four, and as a soldier serving at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base (SJAFB), Carson has been able to juggle all these responsibilities while pursuing a BAS degree in psychology from University of Mount Olive at Goldsboro on SJAFB. Carson is now only days away from reaching his goal of graduating.

Carson enrolled at University of Mount Olive in 2005, after eight years apart from higher education. He wanted a degree so he could improve himself, help others, and build on his military career.

“A lot of military people take classes to simply earn a bullet on their Enlisted Performance Report,” he said.

“Don’t get me wrong, that is a bonus to taking classes.  However, that was not a contributing factor in my decision.  Getting a degree is worth so much more than receiving a positive statement on my yearly evaluation.”

In the military, Carson had many educational options, but he chose University of Mount Olive because of its flexibility, affordability, and the College’s willingness to work with deployed military personnel to achieve their goals.  While pursuing his degree, Carson was deployed for four months to Southwest Asia.  During that time he was able to take online classes.

“University of Mount Olive was very accommodating while working with me through my deployment,” Carson said.  “The professors and staff answered emails quickly and were understanding of any issues that I encountered.  University of Mount Olive provides flexibility for students that have multiple obligations in their lives.”

As an E6/TSgt serving as the security manager for the 4th Maintenance Operations Squadron, Carson has found that his degree is already making a difference in his work.

“There is a significant amount of stress facing military personnel, and through my psychology degree I have been able to help individuals through their fear and stress,” he said.   “My degree has also made me more competitive.  I am in the process of applying for a position as a military training leader at the United States Air Force Academy.  After that, I plan to become a First Sergeant.  My degree will definitely give me an advantage in these endeavors.  University of Mount Olive has transformed my life by helping me to become a better, more rounded person and military professional.”

Reflecting on his achievement, Carson says, “I would not have been able to earn my degree without the support of my wonderful wife, Sabrena, and my children. I am thankful that God has blessed me to stick with it, and I hope this degree enables me to give back to the world as much as possible.”

University of Mount Olive will graduate approximately 350 students at its 57th spring Commencement set for Saturday, May 7, at 2:00 PM in Kornegay Arena on the campus of University of Mount Olive.

University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The College, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Goldsboro, Research Triangle Park, Washington and Jacksonville.  For more information, visit www.moc.edu.