Zechariah Jones is a busy fellow. He works 10-hour shifts at the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, KY. He and his wife, a full-time teacher, have two children, ages one and three. But thanks to the flexibility of online classes, Jones still finds time to go to school. He’s working on his BS in Business Administration through IU Online.
Jones is a natural leader. On the assembly line, he has his role down pat. But he’s also versatile enough to fill in for people who are absent and to step in as team lead. Earlier, he worked his way up to assistant director at Chick-fil-A. “I’ve always worked my way up,” he says. “Now, with my BS in Business Administration from IU Online, I can see myself as a supervisor of people or things in some kind of business setting.”
With his and his wife’s full work schedules, saving every possible minute counts. When he began his program in spring 2022, IU Online’s credit transfer put him ahead. “IU Online accepted my [previous college] credits. So I bypassed all the prerequisites and jumped right into the BSBA core courses.”
Jones is candid about the challenge of returning to school. “It took some adjustment,” he says. “But I figured out how to manage my time and got better at self-discipline. They don’t teach courses in those skills, but they’ll certainly serve me in supervisory positions. That’s a side benefit of learning online. You don’t get grades in those skills, but these skills help you get the grades. And they’ll help me in more advanced positions.”
School is a family endeavor, explains Jones. “My wife used the Canvas learning platform in school. She was a big help in learning to navigate and use the interface. My wife and I are in this together.” His biggest challenge is finding a quiet environment to read with two toddlers at home. “When I don’t want to be distracted and need to really focus on the reading, I go to the local library. It’s a great resource.”
Support from all quarters
Jones is not in a rush to finish. He and his wife discuss the best time to schedule the most challenging courses. They also agree that going at his own pace, one course at a time, works best for the family.
He also gets support from his advisor. “She knows the requirements for given classes and helps me choose courses based on my degree path. I mean, I could try to figure it out myself, but it would be kind of a hodge-podge mess. It’s much, much easier with her help.”
Jones raves about his professors. “I have good relationships with my professors. They’re always open to questions. The detailed comments they leave in my work give me more clarity on what’s expected. I can make sure my work meets their standards. I know I’m improving, and that feels really good.”
Learning more than class content
The online learning format challenges Jones to acquire skills beyond just content. “Discussion boards are an important part of class—they really make a difference. At first, I was a little shy voicing my opinions. I didn’t want to say anything stupid. I wanted to be perfect! So I’d take my time and go over things a lot. In the end I found I was overthinking things! Now I find the boards really enjoyable.”
Jones hails the diversity of his fellow students. “There are people right out of high school, or in their forties, all going back to school together. Even a former Chick-fil-A employee of mine!” The variety of opinions is a plus. “Bouncing ideas off each other was super useful. It’s good to see others’ ideas. They widen my spectrum,” he says.
As an example, Jones cites the benefits of working with an older student who modeled exemplary skills during a semester-long business simulation project. “She was majorly helpful as a group leader and was super organized. She and I also connected on the challenge of going to school while you have kids at home. That was an extra plus.”
Going to school has changed Jones’s work on the assembly line. “I can do that work almost mechanically. But school helps my mental acuity—it keeps my brain sharper. I know it will open doors to advancement, either here or elsewhere. That definitely means improvement for me and my family.”
