Discovering Motivation from a Life Abroad
In the heart of Japan, a country that inspires her with its beautiful culture, Samantha Nelson is making a name for herself in the world of graphic design. As a military spouse, Samantha's life is filled with frequent relocations and unpredictable demands, but her passion for art and design has found a home in the online program at Sessions.edu.
Samantha's work, showcased on Behance, reflects her versatility and creativity. One of her favourite projects was creating three olive oil products for the fictitious company Olivio in a Graphic Design class at Sessions. The project allowed her to design a logo, choose olive oil flavours, create bottles, labels, and a booklet for the products. She had the freedom to physically make the products and photograph them, or create them digitally using Photoshop/Illustrator.
Living overseas due to her husband's military service, Samantha found the online program at Sessions to be a perfect fit. The flexible schedule accommodates her varying shift changes, enabling her to continue her education despite her unique circumstances.
Samantha's admiration for art extends beyond her work. She has a particular fondness for the traditional Japanese Sumi-e painting style and is inspired by the work of Erik Johansson, a Swedish photographer and visual artist known for his surreal works created from combined photographs.
Samantha's experience at Sessions underscores some significant benefits of online education for military spouses. The flexibility to learn at one's own pace and on one's own schedule accommodates the frequent relocations and unpredictable demands typical in military life, allowing spouses to continue their education regardless of changing duty stations or home circumstances.
Financial support and reduced or no out-of-pocket expenses are also advantages. Scholarships and funding programs such as MyCAA and NIWH Military Spouse Scholarships cover the full tuition cost, enabling spouses to pursue certificates or degrees without financial burden.
Online education also provides access to practical, career-focused programs that equip spouses with marketable skills and credentials suited for remote or freelance work, increasing employment opportunities despite geographic mobility.
Moreover, Samantha found a supportive learning environment at Sessions, offering an educational experience tailored to the unique challenges faced by military spouses. The community at Sessions understands and accommodates the challenges of frequent moves and family responsibilities, providing a nurturing environment for growth and learning.
Lastly, the credibility and quality of education from accredited, military-friendly institutions enhance both the learning experience and career outcomes. Samantha is currently a student in the Senior Director of Admissions Jessica De La Garza's AOS Graphic Design program at Sessions, and her experience exemplifies how online education can empower military spouses by providing flexibility, financial aid, career-relevant training, and supportive learning environments tailored to their unique lifestyle and challenges.
[1] Source: Military One Click, 2021 [2] Source: Sessions.edu [3] Source: Military Spouse, 2020 [4] Source: MyCAA, 2021 [5] Source: NIWH Military Spouse Scholarships, 2021
- Samantha's graphic design skills are not limited to digital creations; she enjoys physically making products and photographing them for her work.
- In addition to her passion for graphic design, Samantha is also inspired by the traditional Japanese Sumi-e painting style and the surreal works of Erik Johansson.
- Online education at Sessions.edu offers reduced or no out-of-pocket expenses for military spouses through scholarships and programs like MyCAA and NIWH Military Spouse Scholarships, providing financial aid to pursue certificates or degrees.
