Stephen Burks:
CLASS OF 1973
Sumner High SchoolClass of 1973
St. louis, MO
Stephen's Story
I finally reached my education goal, at the age of 57 last Saturday when I graduated from University of Phoenix with a Master's of Administration in Business (MBA). I was inspired to further my education by many of my friends, class "ÂÂ73" Classmates, and family members that had already obtained advanced college degrees. Some of the class "ÂÂ73" members that I was inspired by include Grover Turner, Pierre Blaine, Albert Gardner, Johnny Furr, and in particular, Earnest Hill. In 2009, while I was visiting family members and friends in St. Louis, I expressed to Earnest that I was thinking about getting into a master'ÂÂs program but with my age and family commitments, I did notÂt think that I could pull it off. Earnest not only gave me encouragement, he also told me a masterÂÂs program isn'tÂÂt necessarily hard if I put in the time and that if I needed help during research or papers to just give him a call or email him. That was the encouragement I welcomed and needed. This past February I received my only C+ in the MBA ...Expand for more
program and was ready give up. In addition, I had 4 tears in my right rotator cuff that happened when I fell in my office at work and was scheduled for surgery this past April. I was planning on using the excuse of my pending surgery and not having enough time for family/home to quit the MBA program. Three of my family members made sure that I did notÂt give up. First, my brother Calvin, who lives in St. Louis, told me I should manage my time better and that if I fail to plan than I plan to fail. Secondly, my daughter Sharonda mentions to me that I had always told all of my daughters that quitting or failing is not an option and now I am using that excuse. She also told me that if I needed help with my typing after surgery, she would come by the house and help. Lastly, my wife told me not to give up and she would do some of the chores that I normally did around the house. I would like to say thanks to all friends of class"73" that inspired me, those that gave me encouragement and family members that wouldnâÂÂt let me give up.
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