Invest in Yourself: Advice From Master’s Alum Beverly Herring

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) hosted an alumni event in Atlanta for graduates of its online programs to connect with their peers in person. One alum in attendance was Beverly Herring '18G, who earned her Master of Science (MS) in Human Resource Management.

While celebrating with the SNHU community, Herring shared her experience earning a master's degree and all that she's accomplished in her career since then.

Deciding on a Master’s

Herring said she had some hesitation about pursuing an advanced degree before she enrolled in her program at SNHU. "I will say, I was a little nervous of making the decision," she said.

She had been out of school for a while at that point and said she was worried that she wouldn't succeed. But after going back and forth, Herring said she realized that her indecision was the only thing holding her back.

"All of a sudden, I'm like, 'You know what? By the time I make this decision, I could be finished,'" she said. It was time to make a move, so she went full-steam ahead into her master's program.

"I never looked back," Herring said.

That leap of inner-faith paid off, and in the end, she learned that she had no reason to doubt herself. Herring said she went on to finish her master's in human resource management with a 4.0 GPA, and noted that the program was flexible enough to fit into her life.

The Best Kind of Investment

Herring credits her master's program with giving her the confidence she needed to propel her career forward. "It has afforded me so many wonderful opportunities," she said. "I'm now an HR manager for an international law firm."

She said for the last four years, she's also been on the board of directors for the Atlanta Association of Legal Administrators and has attended professional conferences all over the country. And she said that none of that would have been possible without her experience at SNHU.

"It gave me affirmation, and I'm not afraid to take on other challenges in my career anymore," she said.

So, to anyone who's considering getting a master's? Herring said it's worth it. "As Warren Buffett would say: Invest in yourself. You won't regret it," she said.

Mars Girolimon '21 '23G is a staff writer at Southern New Hampshire University where they earned their bachelor's and master's, both in English and creative writing. In addition to their work in higher education, Girolimon's short fiction is published in the North American Review, So It Goes by The Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library, X-R-A-Y and more. Connect with them on LinkedIn.