Student Success: Samantha Andrew

Samantha Andrew, who graduated from Northern Kentucky University in May of 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, reflects on her time at Education at Work as she gets ready to begin her teaching career as a 4th grade elementary school teacher.

Samantha began working at Education at Work for a U.S.-based multinational financial services company in April of 2019 and continued with that same company throughout the entire time she attended college. As she reflects on her time at Education at Work, Samantha is most grateful for the friendships made and the invaluable knowledge gained about financial products and financial planning that she will be able to take with her and apply through the rest of her life. Not to mention, all while earning enough money to afford college and graduate debt-free.

“During my time at Education at Work, I was not only able to gain financial knowledge to prepare me to set myself up early to save for my future using financial products, but I was also able to make so many friends during my time with the program.”

An additional key benefit, Samantha pointed out, to her time at Education at Work was the ability to have a flexible work schedule – working part-time while a full-time student with the opportunity to increase her hours when she didn’t have classes over the summer. This helped Samantha afford college and complete her degree with no student debt.

“The flexibility offered by Education at Work allowed me the opportunity to fit extracurricular activities into my schedule and earning wages and tuition assistance while still a full-time student.”

“I liked that fact that I was able to work for a large corporation that worked with me around my classes and activities, and then in the summer could pick up more hours to help pay for school,” she says.

Samantha concludes, “Overall, I cannot thank Education at Work enough for the amazing opportunity it provided. It was an incredible place to work, a place where I forged meaningful relationships, developed lifelong knowledge and skills that will help me in my future, and able to earn enough money to graduate debt free.”