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Online Learner Profiles: Angela M.

Profiles of Real Online Learners

Guide to Online Education > Online Education In-Depth > Meet Real Online Students > Angela M., Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education

With two boys and two girls under the age of six — "one shy of a basketball team," as she puts it — it's no surprise that Angela Mullen uses humor to balance school and family life.

"You want to know about my life? Can't you just tell everyone that I'm this really cool, collected chick who makes great art?" asks Angela.

Angela Mullen is working to complete the bachelor's degree she started years ago at a traditional university, where in order to get a Master's in Art Therapy she had to choose among three different avenues for a bachelor's; either fine arts, crafts, or education with emphasis on the Arts.

"Back then, I just didn't have the motivation or the confidence to seriously pursue fine art by itself, so I went with art education and thought, 'Well, no matter what happens, at least I'll be able to teach,'" explains Angela.

Then, in 1998, Angela decided to pack up and move to California. For financial and other reasons, she postponed her education while settling into a new life. Before she knew it, she was grounded in a career as an account manager for a magazine and had met her future husband.

After her first baby was born, she confesses, work suddenly took a back seat. "I was kind of turned off to everything for a little while," she says. As her family grew, she quit her job to be at home with her children.

It was not too long, however, before Angela had what she describes as a "total awakening."

"One day I told my husband that I wanted to go back to school and I wanted to go back right now, sooner than now, like yesterday," says Angela.

A teacher himself, Angela's husband had always encouraged her to pursue her original goal of teaching. He had taken a couple of classes at National University, and recommended it highly.

"He suggested that, what with taking care of the kids and the time frame I wanted to finish my degree in, that I should do it online," says Angela. "But I was scared—I hadn't been to school in 10 years!"

Working for a magazine, she'd gained administrative experience but felt disconnected from student life. However, knowing that working in an office wasn't what she wanted to do when her kids grew up helped solidify her decision to return to school.

And with that, her husband was on the case.

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