Student of the Year Spotlight: Joseph Wilson & the Online LSUS BS in Management & Administration

Getting a degree is a milestone in anyone’s life, but for some, it’s the culmination of a decades-long journey. Such is the case for Joseph Wilson, a student in the online LSUS Bachelor of Science in Management & Administration with a concentration in Human Resource Management. After graduating high school in 2005, Joseph returned to pursue his bachelor’s degree years later. His commitment, resilience, and perspective have earned him the prestigious Student of the Year award, and his story is an inspiring testament to the spirit of perseverance. 

Meet Joseph Wilson 

What was your initial reaction when you learned you had been named Student of the Year for your program? 
I was pleasantly surprised. I did not expect to be recognized in such a manner – or at all for that matter. I graduated from high school in 2005, so it took me 20 years to complete my Bachelor’s. Completing my degree became immensely important to me. It allowed me the opportunity to rectify some mistakes I made earlier in my journey, contributed to my personal & professional development, & allowed me to set a positive example for my children. Finding out that I was not only going to finally graduate but also be recognized for such an achievement was somewhat surreal. 

What do you think helped you stand out among your peers? 
While I do not believe I stood out significantly among my peers, if there was anything that caused me to, it was my perspective. School was always quite easy for me, and I took that for granted as a young man. I had many years to reflect on what I should have done, but the “shoulda, coulda, woulda” attitude is not very productive, and I decided to make it happen. When I made the decision to return to school and begin working toward my bachelor’s degree, I wanted to give it the best of my ability. I appreciated the opportunity to return to school. It was more personally rewarding to be there and to do well in my classes than when I was younger because I knew what it was like to not capitalize on the talents you’re blessed with and the consequences that come with that. 

What course, professor, or moment had the biggest impact on your journey at LSUS? 
Confirming with my coordinator that I was entering my last semester and those were going to be the last classes before I graduate was second only to actually graduating. That confirmation was an, “I’m there, I did it!” moment. 

How did you stay focused and motivated throughout your degree program? 
Staying focused and motivated was a feat in itself. I know I am not alone in this, but juggling a career in addition to school and a family can present a demanding workload at times. There is not a better support system than the one I had though. I have an amazing wife that helped pick up the slack when I had to dedicate time to school, which was a daily routine. She kept the household running while I had my nose in the books. Her parents and mine were fully supportive and always helped anyway they could. My daughter routinely told me that she was proud of me. It always makes things easier when you have people in your corner cheering for you and driving you to succeed, especially on the days it was hard to find the motivation to stay on top of your work. I also work for an amazing company, Syrah Technologies. I received unwavering support and encouragement throughout my studies from Syrah. They truly wanted to see my growth and development, personally and professionally. 

What study habits or routines helped you succeed academically? 
I did my best to knock out bits and pieces, multiple times a day. Basically, anytime I had a free moment, I would spend 5-10 minutes working on my schoolwork. Obviously, nights and weekends consumed much longer periods, but I tried to consistently work on it, so it did not pile up and leave me with a last-minute crunch. I have a coworker who always says, “The best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time,” when larger projects loom over us. It just means not to let the overall scale of what you are doing overwhelm you, break it into smaller manageable tasks so the workload can be handled more effectively. I found that the same approach worked for me when applied to my schoolwork as well. 

How has this degree shaped your personal or professional goals? 
This degree has broadened my horizons, personally and professionally. It not only gave me the skillset needed to pursue my professional goals, but the confidence as well. It takes a great deal of commitment to successfully complete a degree for anybody, but especially when you have a full-time job and a family. When you know that you can give that level of commitment to something and complete it while maintaining your life outside of that goal, it makes tackling any goal you set for yourself seem feasible. It has expanded the trajectory of my career, providing diverse pathways and greater flexibility as I plan my next steps. I am now positioned to aim higher, with both the assurance and the skills necessary to turn those aspirations into tangible outcomes. 

What advice would you give to future students—especially those completing their degrees online? 
Like I mentioned earlier, “One bite at a time.” Getting online as often as possible, even if it is 5-10 minutes, made a huge difference for me. Break the workload down and set daily goals to complete; do not leave everything until the last minute. Be consistent. Attending courses online does add a great deal of flexibility to WHEN you attend, but there are also hindrances. Sometimes, when understanding concepts or directions is not completely clear, you cannot simply walk up and ask questions in person. Starting each week early and getting those questions out to the faculty is important because it gives them time to respond and still leaves you time to digest their response and the work. 

Take Your Journey Full-Circle with LSU Online 

Joseph demonstrates how dedication, a positive perspective, and the right support system can turn long-held goals into reality. Whether you’re balancing family, work, or other life responsibilities, the flexibility and resources you find through LSU Online can help you achieve your educational aspirations.  
 
Explore the online LSUS Bachelor of Science in Management & Administration with a concentration in Human Resource Management, which has been made available through LSU Online, and apply today!