The Transformative Power of Online Learning: Juliana’s Story

When Juliana Zambrano '25 set out to earn her degree, online college wasn’t even on her radar. But amidst a lack of flexibility and support from her previous school, she arrived at a critical moment: something needed to change.

“I remember just sitting in my car, saying, ‘It cannot be this complicated,’” she said. “It almost felt like it was me against the school — like I wasn’t their priority. That’s when I decided that there had to be another path forward.”

A Pivotal Moment

At that same moment, Zambrano said she recalled a commercial for online degree programs at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) — and she submitted her application right there in the parking lot. An admission counselor called her shortly after, and she found the tone of that conversation to be a breath of fresh air.

“It wasn’t pushy. It didn’t feel like a sales pitch,” she said. “It was, ‘What’s your end goal?’ No one usually asks you that.”

Support Like Never Before

In September of 2023, Zambrano enrolled in SNHU’s online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration program. After transferring in a significant number of credits from prior college experience and taking three courses per term, she finished her degree in less than one year. She described long, late nights working on assignments, and said that coffee (lots of it) helped her power through.

Zambrano also emphasized that the support she received from SNHU didn’t stop at that initial call with admission; it was a constant throughout her journey. From helpful instructors to a dedicated academic advisor, she had people from SNHU in her corner from start to finish.

“Everyone was so willing to help me,” she said. “That support was something that I never got at an in-person university.”

Closing One Chapter and Writing the Next

Zambrano attended fall 2025 Commencement at the SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire, traveling all the way from her home in Lakewood, California, to be there for the big day. Sitting in a sea of caps and gowns, she pulled out her phone — not to snap a photo, but to take her next step forward.

“I literally got my phone out and applied for my master’s during Commencement,” she said. “I kid you not.”

With a degree under her belt, Zambrano said she felt a renewed sense of confidence at work, and feels ready to keep growing. She wants others who are thinking about going back to school to know they can do it, too.

“I told myself, ‘If it’s not now, then when?’” she said. “I have that itch now. I have the tools. I have the resources. Why am I going to wait?”

Abigail (Abby) Syversen-Mark ’23G is a copywriter, contributing content writer and adjunct faculty member at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). A passionate storyteller, Abby hopes her writing will help prospective students and employees alike see just how transformative SNHU could be for them (as it’s been pretty transformative for her). You can connect with her on LinkedIn.