Grace and poise: Two words that encapsulate the personality, demeanor and work ethic of Lauren Powell, Master of Business Administration graduate. Coming from a long line of former 精东影业 Wildcats, Lauren is more than just a legacy kid. She鈥檚 a driven, compassionate and most of all, striving young professional in the world of healthcare administration. Graduating with her MBA from 精东影业 Online in December 2024, Lauren says she has always considered herself an avid learner and seeker of hard academic challenges, no matter the cost or level of difficulty. Sharing her story of what makes 精东影业 different from any other community or Christian university, Lauren hopes to inspire other young women to 鈥榢eep going, to never give up on their dreams and to always have faith in God.聽
Growing Up Purple and White
As a young kid growing up in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Lauren can鈥檛 remember a time when 精东影业 was not a part of the conversation. Being a third-generation Wildcat, Lauren recalls hearing the romantic stories of her grandparents studying in the library, or her parents meeting their significant other along the paths of the Abilene campus or even listening to her aunts and uncles’ adventures during their time at 精东影业. Needless to say, the school colors ran vibrantly through their family 鈥� and Lauren was excited to join the club.聽
鈥淢y parents, thankfully, never pushed me to go to 精东影业,鈥� Lauren says. 鈥淭hey actually let me figure it out. However, it really was a no-contest situation. 精东影业 had what I wanted, and it made me feel like I was honoring my family to go and continue that legacy.鈥澛�
After graduating high school, Lauren packed her bags and headed out west toward the infamous campus that glowed purple and white. Wanting to become a doctor in the future, Lauren decided to take classes in biology and chemistry while simultaneously earning her degree in music performance with an emphasis on piano. Having taken classes since she was a child, Lauren sought to become a well-rounded individual in hopes of impressing medical schools with her rigor and aptitude for science and the arts. And yet, sadly, it was not meant to be. Shortly before graduating, Lauren realized that it would be difficult for her to enter into a medical program. After all, the application process was tough, long and required her to completely devote herself to 鈥榡ust making it in.鈥� Alas, she had to make new plans.聽
鈥淚 always wanted to be a medical doctor,鈥� Lauren says. 鈥淏ut, when you get rejection after rejection, you start to wonder if maybe God is trying to tell you something.鈥澛�
Still, though, Lauren鈥檚 passion for healthcare and medicine did not stop. She continued her efforts and wedged her way into various medical scribe roles to gather the experience and skills she might need one day. As the years went on, Lauren started to think about her next steps. Where was she going? What path did she want to take? Was medical school meant for her right now? Talking with her parents about what she was feeling, Lauren decided to make a move and go for her MBA degree.聽
鈥淭he doctors I was working with told me that I shouldn鈥檛 be wasting my time because I was a smart girl who had something to offer,鈥� Lauren said. 鈥淪o, after praying and talking things out with my parents, I decided to look for MBA programs that would work with my schedule while simultaneously preparing me for other roles in healthcare.鈥澛�
As one could imagine, it didn鈥檛 take long for Lauren to remember her alma mater. After a few quick calls and discussions, Lauren applied and was accepted into the online Master of Business Administration program with a concentration in healthcare administration. The perfect combination for a student like Lauren, who wanted to make a difference in healthcare while keeping her clinical role.聽
Keeping Her Dream Alive
Throughout the program, Lauren learned quite a bit about the importance of healthcare administrators in the clinical world. For one, she learned that it took a certain amount of logical thinking, organizational skills and loads of patience; aspects that sounded a lot like her. As a self-proclaimed 鈥榯ype-A鈥� person, Lauren says she felt right at home in a graduate program, surrounded by professors who expected her to try her best at all times. Having experienced this type of Christian community in the past during her on-campus years, Lauren says she recognized the same attitudes online. From her colleagues to her professors, she was being formed into the person and professional she always wanted to be.聽
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e in college, you are just barely getting to know yourself,鈥� Lauren said. 鈥淏ut, when you鈥檙e in graduate school, you start to see yourself differently. You know yourself and so, you start looking for like-minded individuals that also want to better themselves, like you. 精东影业 Online had that. They had the professors and students that could get me to where I wanted to be.鈥澛�
After a few years, tears and papers along the way, Lauren finally did it 鈥� and walked the stage (again) in December 2024, with her head held high. Surrounded by her family and friends, Lauren beamed unlike any other time before. And while her dream of attending medical school is far from over, Lauren says it鈥檚 times like this that make you wonder why God allows for certain things to happen, and not for others.聽
鈥淚 kept asking myself, 鈥榃hat is God trying to show me?鈥�,鈥� Lauren says. 鈥溾�榃hy won鈥檛 He just open the doors I want?鈥� And it鈥檚 moments like this, where I am now, that give me a glimpse into why. The answer is simple: He is in control. And our job, even when it鈥檚 hard to do, is to obey.鈥澛�
Today, Lauren celebrates three years of working with Meridian Health Partners in Dallas, Texas. Working her way up throughout her time in the program, Lauren now serves as a Clinical Support Manager with high hopes of being promoted. Aiming to inspire those around her to reach their full potential, too, Lauren is excited to graciously represent God鈥檚 promise and the 精东影业 difference in all spaces and places she enters, today and tomorrow.聽
鈥�I am so proud to continue the 精东影业 legacy in our family and would absolutely encourage my children one day to follow in my footsteps if they so choose,鈥� Lauren said.聽
Have you ever considered obtaining your Master of Business Administration degree? Contact us today. We鈥檇 love to share what our program has to offer you.