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Ready to ApplyKim Point
"You are never too old to learn!”
Kim Point, 51, hails from the small rural town of Goose Lake, Iowa. “It’s the type of town where if you blink, you’ll miss it,” she says. An extremely active member of her community, Kim serves on the City Council, teaches Sunday School, volunteers for Toys-for-Tots and for the Kiwanis Club, and is a member of the Leadership Institute Committee and the Chamber of Commerce’s Events Committee. “I was brought up to volunteer, and I have a real passion for giving back to the community.”
Just 15 miles up the road from Goose Lake is Clinton, Iowa, where Kim works as a Teller Coordinator for US Bank, and where, when we first spoke to her, she attended night classes at Ashford University. “I had no college experience prior to starting my journey with Ashford in 2008,” Kim explained, “but I had always kicked around the idea of going to college. Once I finally decided to enroll, I knew it was the best decision I had ever made.”
Kim chose Ashford because of the convenience of the schedule - she gets off of work at 5 pm and could go directly to class in Clinton before heading home to Goose Lake - and because of the university’s reputation. Three years later, no longer attending Ashford classes on campus but online instead, Kim can honestly say, “Ashford truly wants students to be successful and the University is there for the students all of the time.”
Kim has certainly taken advantage of the opportunities afforded to her, as evidenced by her academic success - she’s been on the Dean’s List every semester, and she’s been inducted into the Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society. “I set high standards for myself when I started, wanting to graduate with honors, and hopefully I will keep up the momentum. So far I have had straight A’s, with the exception of one B+.”
In the spring of 2012, Kim will complete her Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management, with three minors: Accounting, Human Resources Management, and Psychology. She explains that these subjects are all related to each other, and are applicable to her job at US Bank. Expanding her professional opportunities was a major factor in Kim’s decision to return to school, and she’s been met with success. “I have 32 years of banking experience and many connections, but I feel a degree is just as important - it will give me a sense of security and I will be looked at seriously for promotions. I’m already more confident with making suggestions at work, and I can give logical reasons for my suggestions. I feel that using what I have learned has made a lot of things run much smoother at the bank.”
But it’s not just her professional life that’s been impacted - her personal life has benefitted, as well. “My life has changed in leaps and bounds since attending college. It was a huge decision for me to start college so late in life, but I do not regret it one bit and would suggest it to anyone. I also think I am setting a good example for anyone who is thinking about attending college at a later age. Starting later in life actually gave me more of an appreciation for school and good grades - you are never too old to learn!”
Update:
Kim recently joined the Golden Key International Honour Society and reports, "After graduation, I plan to stay at the bank and hopefully become a manager, or if there are other possibilities, I will be able to market myself better when I have a degree. I have had nothing but a positive experience with Ashford and would highly recommend it to anyone. I have really enjoyed school and after a break I will likely pursue my Master's degree."