MPA Essay
The Seven-Year MPA
My Journey Through Life and My Master’s Degree
December 7, 2012
Nine years ago, I completed my Bachelor’s Degree at Baker University and decided I would pursue the Masters of Public Administration program at the University of Kansas. At the time, I was working in the non-profit sector and felt the business themes, combined with the government and non-profit specifics would be a fantastic fit for my interests and future. Following two semesters of classes at the University of Kansas Medical Center to quench my taste for the medical connection, I ultimately completed the application process and was accepted to the MPA program. I looked forward to the two-year program and to learning about public service, leadership, perseverance, strength and more.
Today, as I complete my final class in the MPA program, over seven years later, I’ve indeed grown and learned a tremendous amount, through both the academic exposure and through my life and career experiences during that time. There have been semesters I didn’t think I’d graduate or ever complete the program requirements, but I have and I am convinced the MPA program has made a difference in my ability to succeed.
The Mission of Public Service
As I mentioned, at the on-set of the program, I was working in the non-profit sector, at the Kansas City Free Health Clinic. I was not married then, and was able to dedicate all of my time to work and school. I felt a huge sense of pride in the work we were doing at the Clinic. As the second-oldest free clinic in North America, the history is impressive and the patient’s stories are nearly unbelievable. The Clinic was my first exposure to the idea of public service; the idea that working toward a mission meant more than the bottom line in the financial statement.
Although my Clinic experience was indeed eye-opening to the world of nonprofits, I came into it with the knowledge that when I looked at those
My Journey Through Life and My Master’s Degree
December 7, 2012
Nine years ago, I completed my Bachelor’s Degree at Baker University and decided I would pursue the Masters of Public Administration program at the University of Kansas. At the time, I was working in the non-profit sector and felt the business themes, combined with the government and non-profit specifics would be a fantastic fit for my interests and future. Following two semesters of classes at the University of Kansas Medical Center to quench my taste for the medical connection, I ultimately completed the application process and was accepted to the MPA program. I looked forward to the two-year program and to learning about public service, leadership, perseverance, strength and more.
Today, as I complete my final class in the MPA program, over seven years later, I’ve indeed grown and learned a tremendous amount, through both the academic exposure and through my life and career experiences during that time. There have been semesters I didn’t think I’d graduate or ever complete the program requirements, but I have and I am convinced the MPA program has made a difference in my ability to succeed.
The Mission of Public Service
As I mentioned, at the on-set of the program, I was working in the non-profit sector, at the Kansas City Free Health Clinic. I was not married then, and was able to dedicate all of my time to work and school. I felt a huge sense of pride in the work we were doing at the Clinic. As the second-oldest free clinic in North America, the history is impressive and the patient’s stories are nearly unbelievable. The Clinic was my first exposure to the idea of public service; the idea that working toward a mission meant more than the bottom line in the financial statement.
Although my Clinic experience was indeed eye-opening to the world of nonprofits, I came into it with the knowledge that when I looked at those