Eileen Tighe
Human Resource Specialist III
Moog Inc.
West Seneca '05
Why did you decide to pursue your bachelor's degree with P.A.C.E.?
In order to advance in my career, I was told by my supervisor that I needed to have a bachelor's degree. It was also a personal goal that I always wanted to achieve. Additionally, the accelerated program fit into my busy life perfectly. The speed was important to me as I balanced a full-time career, a family with two children (ages 8 and 11), and a full course load through P.A.C.E.
Describe your P.A.C.E. experience.
When I first signed up for P.A.C.E., I was dreading attending class one night each week for the 16 month program. I thought that I would be bored and tired after working all day, but I quickly discovered that class time was my favorite part of the program. Surprisingly, I looked forward to going to class every Tuesday night! I particularly liked the cohort concept of going through the entire program with the same people. We became friends and supported each other through the program and through life's ups and downs. It was a thrill to attend graduation with these folks. We had accomplished so much together; it was only fitting we should graduate together. Overall, the professors were interesting and knowledgeable. They had a knack for engaging the students and bringing our real life experiences to the classroom, which was appealing to me as an adult learner. The P.A.C.E. staff was always very supportive and helpful.
What do you value most about your time spent in P.A.C.E.?
I was very fortunate to be chosen by my cohort members and the faculty to represent my cohort by speaking at graduation. Before attending P.A.C.E., just thinking about public speaking terrified me. The P.A.C.E Presentational Speaking course not only helped me conquer my fear, but it taught me how to be an effective speaker. I never dreamed that I would be able to write and speak in front of hundreds of people…but that is exactly what I did at graduation! As a direct result of P.A.C.E., I now conduct training workshops at work. This was a huge growth opportunity for me.
What would you tell a prospective student considering enrollment in P.A.C.E.?
I would tell prospective students that if I can do it, you can do it. There will never be a perfect time to go back to school. You can always find an excuse why you shouldn't go. I say go for it; you will never regret it! It's not always easy to balance work, family, and school, but you just need to take it one day at a time and before you know it, you’ll be done. The sense of accomplishment when you graduate is very rewarding.
