Barbie Levan’s Experience at American National University
For Barbie Levan, returning to school represents more than pursuing a degree—it represents moving forward after a difficult chapter. A Business Administration Management associate degree student at American National University, Barbie has continued working toward her goals following a car accident that left her unable to work for two years. As she navigated a long road to recovery and adjusted to a new chapter of life, she found an opportunity to invest in herself and her future through education. Her story is one of perseverance, resilience, and the determination to keep moving forward, no matter how unexpected the journey may become. Her dedication to her new venture had professors nominating her to become a Term Trailblazer for Term 260!
Barbie had twenty-six years of patient care work as a nurse prior to her accident. When she decided to return to school after recovery, she had decided she wanted to work behind the scenes of an office as a change of pace. She began in the administrative medical assisting program but felt stalled. “Halfway through that, I realized that I wasn’t really learning anything I hadn’t already known. And, in order to do what I was looking to do, I need to have more of the business aspect of it,” she explained. She transitioned to the Business Administration Management associate degree program to fulfill what she wants in her career.
How she initially came to American National University is from research. She needed something she could do at home while she wasn’t driving, and something where she could connect to other students and professors. “I was looking for remote schooling, I’m too old to sit in a classroom, and I didn’t want to be in there five days a week,” she said. “There aren’t a lot of programs out there anymore that do the synchronous classroom – it’s all like you’re teaching yourself. And I didn’t want to go through that because I tried that once before and it didn’t work for me. So that is primarily why I went with [American National University] because they have that synchronous classroom teaching and additional help if you should need it!”
Barbie’s experience with American National University was only enhanced by the way her professors and support faculty aided her during the aftermath of her car accident. “I was getting really frustrated. I was having a really difficult time trying to understand what I was reading, what was being said. So I asked about accommodations and got some,” she said. “Those have helped me tremendously so far. I’m still having a hard time with processing things… I rely heavily on my professors to fill in the gap.” But one professor that has stood out has been Dr. Dominika Falsey, who also nominated her for her Term Trailblazer recognition. “She was always very professional. She was personable.
She belongs being somebody who interacts with a lot of students, because she has done so much – she’s the reason I’m still here, still in school… she was more than a professor to me.”
Her future goals include being able to move out and on with her life after recovering from her personal struggles. “I definitely want to be in charge,” she said of her future career. “So either running an office or somehow opening my own business of some kind – I think that’s the goal when you have a business degree.”
Would Barbie recommend American National University to others? “Definitely! I think the once-a-week, or once-every-other-week, actual classroom is more beneficial for people. You get live 1-on-1 time with your professor, and you get to mingle and run ideas by your peers,” she explained. She goes on to say that meeting with her fellow classmates allows her to learn something new in conjunction with the material she learns in her classes.
“I just think the way that [American National University] is set up is helpful to people like who can’t teach themselves.”
Her advice for new students joining the university includes “make sure you show up for class!” She has not missed class since she started – and she advises if you miss, you could lose out on a lot of material. “And don’t procrastinate!”
