Since 2019, Zachary Badon has earned his bachelor’s degree and master’s degrees online through the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration at UL Lafayette.
The hardest part? Getting started.
“I fully believe that the phone call I made in 2019 to start back to complete my educational journey was the hardest part of the whole process,” says Badon.
Up to that point, Badon’s educational experience had been obstacles and setbacks. Now, it’s one of accomplishment, self-motivation, and support.
Back to the Beginning
Badon’s foray into college life after high school was rocky, but a car accident ultimately derailed his progress.
When he learned he could earn a BSBA in Management 100% online through UL Lafayette 10 years later, he took the daunting step of picking up the phone and then enrolling in the online bachelor’s degree program.
In 2021, Badon became the first person in his immediate family to earn a college degree.
“At that moment, I knew I was on a roll,” he says. “So, I moved forward with starting my master's degree to be the first person in my family to ever have a master's degree.”
Just two years later, Badon is celebrating once again; he just earned an MBA with a concentration in HR Management.
Motivation on Standby
Working toward a graduate degree can be a grueling process. Badon pushed through by curating a collection of motivational talks and quotes he could pull from as needed and by focusing on his own motivations, including better career prospects, becoming the first in his family to earn a graduate degree, and his children.
“This will help them to realize if their dad can do it while working, building a home, raising a family, and everything else, they can do it as young adults,” he says.
Badon also kept two important women on his mind: his wife and his late grandmother.
Badon’s grandmother was among his biggest supporters when he initially enrolled in college and was heartbroken when he stopped out.
“She would have been very proud of the accomplishments I have achieved in my educational journey as well as my career,” says Badon. “I can say my only regret would be not going back to school sooner to allow her to be there to celebrate with us.”
Over the past four years, Badon’s wife, Trisha, picked up the banner to cheer him to the finish line.
“I couldn't have done it without my wife,” he says. “She kept me going with her positive reinforcement and love throughout the process.”
For their 10-year anniversary, she gifted Badon an illustration of him and his grandmother with Badon clad in his cap and gown.
New Opportunities and Challenges
In step with Badon’s academic progress have been new professional opportunities.
While he pursued his bachelor’s degree, Badon also worked full time as a training coordinator for oilfield services company Delmar Systems. A few months into his MBA coursework, he transitioned to personnel manager. Since then, he’s taken on even more responsibility regarding Health, Safety, Security, Environment and Quality.
And he’s not stopping.
Having checked off his MBA degree, Badon is planning to obtain several industry credentials in the next year, plus expand his skillset by learning Spanish.
“Completing the MBA program opened my eyes to the myriad of opportunities available in today's dynamic business world,” says Badon. “Before returning to school to finish my degree, I felt immense pressure to excel for my family. However, I lacked the necessary knowledge and credentials to access better opportunities. Now, armed with both a bachelor’s degree and an MBA, I believe I have expanded possibilities to showcase my personality, skills, knowledge, and experience. I am confident in my intellectual talent, and I am eager to explore new avenues aligning with my aspirations and career goals.”
Open the door to new opportunities by earning your MBA degree 100% online.