Rise above that…
Name: Bailey
Job Title: Credit Bureau Disputes Representative
“My family has always been lower class, working blue-collar jobs, and living paycheck-to-paycheck,” says Bailey Schunn, a Credit Bureau Disputes Representative in our Phoenix office. “My goal has always been to rise above that.” For Bailey, rising above means earning a bachelor’s degree. She believes this is her gateway to a more stable career. “Something my dad always said is that you do the things you have to so that you can do the things you want to. And for me, getting a degree is something I have to do. It’s the next step for what I want to do in life,” she said.
False Starts
For first-generation college students like Bailey, earning a bachelor’s degree is easier said than done. Research shows graduation rates are significantly lower for first-generation students. So with limited exposure to the benefits of a secondary education degree from family, and the contributing factor of cost, pursuing her degree felt overwhelming.
After high school, Bailey started at a local university. To finance the education, she paid $5,000 out-of-pocket and accrued $10,000 in loans in her first year. She ultimately decided it wasn’t financially feasible to continue. She tried again a few years later, enrolling at a lower-cost community college where she was able to earn her associate’s degree.
But, this still wasn’t the goal she set out to accomplish. “For the longest time, it felt like I was never going to be done with school. There was such a barrier to entry,” she said. She asked her grandmother if she could move in with her to save money to try again. That’s when everything changed…
Removing Barriers of Entry to Higher Education
In May of last year, we announced our newest education benefit – The Discover College Commitment. By offering a full ride to select online bachelor programs degrees for eligible employees[1], this program removed the financial barrier to entry that kept Bailey from achieving her goals. “I’ll be honest with you, I think I almost cried,” she said.
Bailey wasted no time applying.
Knowing this was her chance to complete her degree, a few reservations remained. “I had this fear that I was going to be bad at it – not having those study habits or not knowing how to navigate the system. I’d never taken online classes,” she said. She acknowledged her doubts but didn’t let them stop her. “The fear of the unexpected is what creates that scary feeling. Once you’re in it, all of that fear goes away. “Bailey’s now in her third term of online classes at Wilmington University, one of three top-recognized universities offered through The Discover College Commitment. Throughout her experience, she’s found online learning to be more accommodating than traditional classroom learning, and no longer has to worry about commuting to school on top of her already busy schedule. With her sights set on a 2020 graduation date, Bailey’s earning her degree in Software Design and Development – and, she’s well on her way to a promising career in tech. “I haven’t even finished my degree yet, but my education is already opening doors for me to advance my career,” she said. “I can’t even believe that I’m in school, honestly. It seemed out of reach for so long — it’s crazy that it’s actually happening.”
[1] Only U.S. employees classified as a full-time or flex part-time employee (“Employee”) are eligible for this college education benefit, which covers tuition and required supplies, books and fees after grants and student aid have been applied. Employee must be in active status, in good standing with the company, receive a “meets expectations” during the most recent performance rating and maintain a 2.0 grade point average or higher. Employees terminated from the Company are required to refund all covered tuition, fees, and reimbursements received within 24 months prior to the Employee’s last day of employment.
