Cori MBA '18

How does the prop you brought represent you?

This is my mom’s prayer bear. The bear was the last thing she held before her passing. It reminds me of how courageous my mom was. She was strong and held a strong belief that God would answer her prayers.  

For me, the bear reminds me to be strong and face the fears that life may bring and having the courage to keep moving forward. Holding it again brought back memories of my mom, it reminded me of her always telling me that you can do anything you put your mind to.

How would you describe courage in one sentence?

Courage is not only facing your fears but doing the very things you’re afraid of; then you will know there is nothing to fear.

How did getting your degree require courage?

All I know is how to be a nurse; to care for others' physical and emotional needs. I am not business savvy but realized; I needed to understand how a business functions, as well as I knew how a human body functions, to maintain, sustain, and grow.

Enrolling for this degree was utterly out of my comfort zone. I wanted to quit before the start of the first class. I was learning a whole new language of finance, business, enterprise, sustainability, etc. I went from calculating medications to stabilize a patient to calculating a balance sheet to sustain a business.

Courage has been required throughout the process. At age 44, I decided that I was going to change careers. It has taken courage to continue my quest to become a successful business woman. I am crossing over the bridge from the clinical side of medicine to the business side of enterprises. There have been times where I wanted to turn around and run back to what is comfortable and familiar. It takes courage, at any age, to continue on an unfamiliar path.

How does your current job or career path require courage?

I think it takes courage to follow through on your plans, especially when you meet up against unfamiliar or difficult challenges. I know my chosen career path will challenge my endurance and reveal my true character. My current job and my chosen career path require me to be courageous enough to take risks. I am a conservative person, and I need the courage to continue; the courage to be a little daring and try to think outside of the box; the courage to think of the unreal and make them real. Most of all, I need the courage to stand for what I believe and show others they can believe in me too.

How did EU help you become more courageous in your thinking and actions?

EU helped me to become courageous in my thinking and actions through the support and guidance received from the faculty and other students. When times are tough, it is comforting to know you are valued and supported. EU supports forward thinking and encourages students to be innovative while supporting collaboration. Strength and courage come from within. EU’s Christian commitment supported the values I hold dear and has helped to strengthen my commitment to myself and this new life path. The nurturing of the mind and spirit gave me the strength and courage to continue and persevere.

Where do you hope courage will lead you in the future?

I hope my courage will help me to continue my new quest of becoming a successful businesswoman within the healthcare industry.  The measurement of my success will be determined by the works I will have done.

I hope courage will lead me to my end point of making healthcare more consumer friendly.  To take the mystery out of where to get care so that people can receive the services they require.  I want to be able to help people live a quality of life at all stages of life. I don't want to limit it to just women and children; I want everyone to benefit.

I know I can be overly optimistic at times but I hope courage will help me make my optimistic ideas into reality.