Campus Locations

A Creative New Career

Jeffrey Mayer arrived at the Columbus Campus in 2009 looking for a new direction in life. As an unemployed single father who had struggled with long hours and poor pay as a truck driver, security guard, and fast food manager before attempting his hand at working from home, Jeffrey had almost given up. He had tried going back to school at other colleges before and would quickly lose motivation when it seemed like no one in the college cared whether he showed up or not. At the end of his road, he figured he would try National College’s just-opened Columbus Campus, a school with a reputation of dedication to student success. Within a few months of enrolling in National’s business administration associate degree program, Jeffrey found that his life was turning around.

After his first classes, Jeffrey could tell that the faculty, staff, and students at National were invested in his education and enthusiastic about his success. The small class sizes created a community for him where he received one-on-one attention from his instructors and connected easily with his peers. He started to dress more professionally and even looked forward to coming to class. He studied hard and soon was one of the top students in his class. By the end of his first term, he was giving back to the National community that had strengthened him by helping other students in his preparatory math and Microsoft Office classes.

Jeffrey’s transformation and his success at helping his classmates were so impressive that in his second term he became a paid tutor. His dedication and hard work continued to impress the faculty and staff so much that they extended his opportunities at National – employing him in a work study as a liaison for student services and financial aid.

Career Center Director Winnie Silva has watched with pride as Jeffrey has evolved to a true professional and making a difference in other students’ lives: “Jeffrey is a very dedicated, loyal student, and I feel he will go a long way,” she shares.

For Jeffrey, National College has given him a new confidence and a second home. He looks forward to completing his degree and taking his success into the business world, hoping to eventually come back and serve National as a faculty or staff member. Until then, when he’s not in class, you can find Jeffrey tutoring one of his eleven students or completing his work study duties. If you need him, look for the man in a pin-stripe suit who’s walking with a new purpose and direction in his life.