Justin Cooke, a Branch Banker at Associated Bank in St. Paul, MN, turned to LSU Online to take the next step in his career. With a goal to transition into finance and business, Justin enrolled in the online Accounting Fundamentals Specialist Certificate program to gain the confidence and credentials needed to stand out in a competitive job market. Balancing the six-month program with a full-time job required discipline, but the online certificate's flexible structure and robust support system made it achievable.
Learn more about Justin's experience!
Meet Justin Cooke
Why did you choose to pursue an online certificate through LSU?
I wanted to focus my career more on finance and business but didn't have sufficient education to back up my applications. I wanted to receive my certificate and the confidence it would provide me when applying to the jobs I wanted to go out for, and as an official stamp of approval outside of my own studies to help boost my resume.
Before you began, did you have any reservations or concerns about earning your certificate? If so, how did you overcome them?
I knew it would require me to develop and stick to a strict schedule for myself, especially one that was sustainable for the full six months of the program on top of my full-time job. Some weeks were more challenging than others to keep up with this, but ultimately it all worked out, and I even finished a week sooner than I planned to.
Think back to when you were first admitted to the program. How did you feel at that moment?
Excited and nervous. I was excited to study and learn more about the topic. I wasn't sure how I would adapt to a fully online education structure, but after a few weeks I got accustomed to it.
How did you balance work, life, and other responsibilities with your schoolwork?
I had to set weekly goals, and it did take some effort, balance, and sacrifices to make sure I would reach them. It was easy to do though, knowing that it was only for a short amount of time and would ultimately be worth the payoff in the end.
What was your favorite aspect of the program?
I appreciated how accessible the content was. I really felt set up for success. Having multiple avenues to access and practice the material really made the whole program an enjoyable one and kept it exciting.
What advice would you give current online students?
Take breaks! It can be very easy to hit it hard and forget to pace yourself or fear that missing a weekly goal will set you back. Take your time. If you need a few days away from it, take them. Your overall balance and health will sustain you longer than grinding yourself down early on.
What inspired you to pursue your certificate?
I had a lot of experience around the topic, but hadn't studied the material directly. I wanted to learn the language, the thought, and the processes of business and finance. I wanted to zoom out from my customer service experiences and learn more about the bigger pictures I had been a part of. I wanted to gain this perspective to help solidify and enhance my work in the future and obtain future opportunities.
What was your biggest motivator while earning this certificate?
The knowledge that while, yes, it took a lot of time and energy, it was an investment in my future. I knew that focusing now would lead to something good afterwards. That inspired me to keep going and to take it seriously.
How were you supported by your Student Success Coach throughout your journey?
I appreciated the check ins, the phone calls, and the email progress reports after completing various steps in the program! It helped to know someone was looking out for me and cheering for me on the sidelines.
Is there anyone you would like to give a shout-out to for their help while you earned this online degree?
The faculty made math and business content easy to access and exciting to learn. I greatly appreciate the thought they put into their programming and how accessible they were.
How has earning your certificate helped or changed your career or career prospects?
Completing this certificate has already helped in many ways. It has made me more confident in talking about the content with others and applying myself to spaces related to the content. It's also ultimately led me to a new career path and has provided me with a new job opportunity that feels perfect for my next phase of work and learning.
Is there any additional information about your program you would like to share?
I appreciate the thoughtfulness, design, and accessibility of the programs offered through LSU Online. From start to finish, I felt set up for success and supported along the way. It was a healthy amount of challenging coursework, and flexible enough to accommodate my full-time schedule for the entire six months of the program.
A month after completion I landed a dream job related to the certificate's material. I would not have received this job or the career pivot it has provided me without this certificate, and I'm grateful to LSU for helping me get onto a path towards the future I had been hoping for.
Advance Your Career with LSU Online
LSU Online helped Justin invest in himself and his future and now he's thriving in a career that aligns with his goals.
Ready to transform your own career? Learn more about the accounting fundamentals specialist certificate or explore all development programs today!