Cody Kiser is a student at Eastern Kentucky University pursuing his bachelor’s of business administration in accounting. He’s a stay-at-home dad who is excited to be achieving his goals through EKU’s online programs. He recently shared his thoughts about his EKU Online experience.
How has earning an accounting degree changed or aided your career?
Earning this degree changes the entire course of my future. I spent several years in the retail industry before moving into the automotive industry as a Service Department Advisor. Getting this degree will set me on a path for a true career that will help me support my family.
What motivated you to get an accounting degree?
I spent 2012-2015 in college at Bluegrass Community and Technical College. This ultimately ended with me having a poor GPA and nothing but student debt to show for it. I was unfocused and unmotivated. In 2019 I became engaged to my significant other and I knew my life was going to change. I wanted a family. I wanted to be able to travel. I wanted to provide a good future if we planned to have kids (which we now have a soon to be 6-month-old). All of this led me to the decision to return to school.
What was your favorite part or the highlight of your time as an EKU Online student?
My favorite part of being an online student is, of course, the freedom that online school brings. As a stay-at-home dad, my day is 100% dictated by my daughter. Sometimes I have to get up in the middle of an assignment and it can be two hours before I return to it. Any bigger assignments like exams and reports I can complete once she is down for bed.
How did the EKU Online faculty aid in your success?
The EKU online faculty have been absolutely wonderful throughout my journey here. One of my biggest hurdles was the passing of my dad in February of 2023. During a time when I needed to grieve, plan a funeral, and figure out what to do with everything left behind, my professors at the time allowed me to take a week or two in order to do these things. While I tried to complete the work as best I could, what may have ended up as two poor grades, ended up being Bs because of their sympathy and generosity.
My program advisor Bethany Lewis has also been a rockstar! Anytime a question or concern has come up, she has always provided clear answers. Her academic plan she created for me has given me some very interesting classes that I have taken a lot away from. I am glad I have taken her recommendations over the “easy way” when it comes to electives and general education courses.
What did you find surprising about the BBA-Accounting program?
The most surprising thing about this program for me was the double 8-week class structure. A typical college schedule is four, 16-week courses per semester. Learning that I only had to take two classes at a time was a huge motivating factor. As someone with ADHD, it is less to learn at one time, and it allows me to truly absorb more information. Without this structure I HIGHLY doubt I would be about to enter my senior year at EKU.
What advice would you give to someone who is looking to become an EKU Online student?
My advice for anyone looking into the online program at EKU is to expect they will still have to put in as much time and effort to be successful as someone who is taking in-person courses. My first time in college from 2012-2015, I took some online classes and did terribly. This was due to my lack of respect for the type of classes they were. I took them for granted and assumed it would be easier.
Any additional comments?
My experience at EKU has been full of hardships, but also some wonderful things. Starting school, marrying the love of my life, facing a pandemic, losing both my parents and the birth of my daughter.
A lot has happened in my time at EKU. It has been a hard, tough, and exciting journey. I have truly grown into my own person these last few years and soaked in more life experience than most people get in that time.
I can’t wait to walk across that stage when I graduate in May of 2024!
Interested in achieving your goals and advancing your career?
Earn your online bachelor’s degree in business administration accounting from a regionally accredited university that has been an online education leader for more than 15 years. Our flexible, online format provides students the ability to complete coursework and assignments according to their schedule.
Complete the form to learn more about how EKU’s online bachelor’s of business administration degrees can help advance your career.