Eric Jurkiewicz learned early at The University of Baltimore to accept the opportunities that came his way.
He said yes to sitting on a student panel for prospective students, to joining the National Society of Leadership and Success, to auditing a psychology course and to becoming a peer tutor for math and statistics.
“I just feel like I’m in the stage in my life now where I can’t say no to anything. I have to proceed with an open mind, because I just don’t know what it’s going to lead to. And I’m super happy,” Eric said, adding of his choice to become a tutor, in particular: “I feel like it’s been like the best decision I’ve made.”
Saying yes brought Eric to UBalt to begin with.
Eric was among the first students to take advantage of Degrees to Succeed, a unique partnership program with Community College of Baltimore County that allows early access to UBalt’s events and resources for prospective transfer students.
The program made transferring to UBalt seamless for Eric, to the point where he felt like a Bee even before his first classes.
“I didn’t feel like a completely new student when I walked through these doors for the first time, so it definitely was a great decision,” he said. “I think it was better than what I expected, just because I feel like people have always believed in me here.”
Becoming a tutor is when it really clicked for Eric that overcoming any hesitations or fears were going to open pathways he hadn’t anticipated when he decided to pursue a four-year degree.
Now, Eric is a first-generation college graduate, having earned a B.S. in Business Administration. He’s also on his way to a Master of Business Administration degree. And, because of his experience as a tutor, he is weighing a career he had not previously considered—college professor.
“I’ve really enjoyed helping people,” Eric said. “I feel like I’ve always helped people to an extent, but not like I do now, and it’s just so much more rewarding. When I’m done with my sessions, I just feel like I accomplished something bigger than myself.”
When Eric first considered going to college, it was a tribute to his parents, immigrants who wanted more for their son’s future. He didn’t really expect the benefits beyond the finish line.
“My parents both immigrated here. They always worked with their hands, so they wanted the next generation to work with our minds,” Eric said. … “I don’t think I really saw how much it builds you as a person; I more saw it as just a currency enhancer, but it’s much more than just getting a raise.”
As he neared the end of his undergraduate program, Eric realized he wanted more for himself.
“UBalt has a great master’s program—really one of the best ones in the area, because I did do a little bit of research before I made my decision— and I’ve met so many great people here. I’m constantly being given great opportunities. I just felt like it was the obvious choice to stick around at UBalt.”
Through the MBA program, Eric chose to specialize in Leadership and Management because the lessons it offers can be beneficial for nearly any career path. He’s particularly enjoyed his courses in operations management, statistics and finance.
“Whether you want to start your own business, or you already have your own business, or you work for someone, it’s teaching people skills that are going to be transferable to the workforce, which I think UBalt is really good at,” he said. “Another reason why I decided to come here for my MBA is just all the life skills that I’ve learned here that are automatically transferable to the workforce.”
Having small class sizes has helped Eric build strong bonds with his professors and peers, and every first class feels immediately easier when there’s a familiar face in the room.
“I feel like there’s always someone I can ask a question to. If we have a group project, I already know who I’m going to be in a group with, if we’re allowed to decide groups, so it’s definitely a lot easier and a lot more reassuring,” he said. “And I just feel like it’s home. I walk into the buildings, and I just feel so welcome. I just feel like I belong here. It definitely makes the overall coursework a lot less intimidating.”