Project Manager Education

The Art and Economics of the Graduate Admission Essay

Tuesday, January 8, 2013 by Susan Gagnon

Occasionally, I meet up with a potential graduate student who has a touch of anxiety about writing their statement of intent, one of the application components for Granite State College's Master's Degree Programs. I gently explain that it is 500-1000 word statement which includes professional goals and aspirations, motivation for applying for the degree, and relevant formal or informal experiences. I suggest that they start by predicting their career future. Where do they see themselves in a few years? What narrative can they bring to the program? Review the course descriptions carefully, envision the skills taught in GSC graduate classes, and apply them personally and professionally. Review the Granite State College practitioner based graduate faculty. Where do they work? What can you gain from their real world experience? After these brief suggestions to the applicant, I sense relief on their part.

The greatest presumed anxiety on graduate essay writing is marketed to the upper tier and ivy b-school applicants. You can hire an editor, work with a coach, or just purchase one. I found a multitude of options on the internet. What is most alarming is that, if you think you are darn good enough for an elite school, one would hope that penning the perfect picture of your business acumen would be YOU. A well thought out and perfectly written statement about YOU can only come from YOU.

The GSC Office of Graduate Studies understands that you are who you are. You want to succeed and we're here to see that you do. Our degrees are concise, focused, and applicable to numerous businesses and industries.

Project management is the application of knowledge, skills and techniques to execute projects effectively and efficiently. It’s a strategic competency for organizations, enabling them to tie project results to business goals - and thus, better compete in their markets--according to the Project Management Institute (PMI).

The Master of Science in Leadership program focuses on an action-learning approach, intended to leverage the interdisciplinary backgrounds of participants and help build leadership competencies. We believe that the principles of leadership, when mastered, are applicable in any environment – whether commerce, education, health care, government, or social services.

To find out more about GSC's programs, give us a call at 603.513.1135 or visit www.granite.edu. And, relax about writing our essay, we know you can do it.

Reflecting on "Nashua's 50 and the next 20"

Friday, December 14, 2012 by Jacqui Lantagne

This week the Nashua Telegraph published this special feature:

Image source: nashuatelegraph.com

What we think is especially compelling is the section that profiles the business leaders of the next 20 years. We were proud to read about Nashua Community College's President, Lucille Jordan, and honored that GSC was mentioned as part of her story:

"Forty percent of [NCC] students transfer to four-year institutions to earn their bachelor's degree.

Making that easier is this year is the fact that Granite State College, part of the University System of New Hampshire, is now 'co-located' at NCC."

We are new to Nashua and this feature served as a great inspiration for what we can accomplish with their community. For example...

We have the opportunity to provide a convenient pathway for NCC students to expand their education goals and pursue a bachelor's degree with GSC

We can help business leaders retain their best employees with our master's degree programs like the M.S. in Leadership and M.S. in Project Management

We can engage with the healthcare community through our RN to BSN degree program

K-12 educators can pursue teacher certifications in the critical shortage areas in education and help to make a difference in the Nashua School District

These are just a few of our current goals in Nashua and we can't wait to lay our roots deep and explore the possibilities.

Congratulations to ALL who were honored in the "Nashua 50 and Next 20." Thank you for all that you do!

Science is Magic

Monday, May 28, 2012 by Heather Carter

My teen daughter says that she "hates" science. She won't believe me when I tell her that, as Kurt Vonnegut said, "Science is magic that works."

I didn't like science that much when I was in high school either. I think it was because of all the memorizing and rules. It seemed so disjointed and unconnected to my life. It wasn't until I was older that I could appreciate the field better. It's all about the context really and it's too bad more teachers don't present it that way.

Because science is really just a way of figuring out the world, the universe, and life itself-- the mysteries of everything we know. It's like science is Sherlock Holmes and we're the less capable Dr. Watson who serve as simultaneous bystanders and assistants. When you think about it that way, it sounds so much more fun! This is how I started to try to make science more interesting for my daughter, and it does help that Robert Downey, Jr. has made Holmes more current, but she still didn't really buy it.

She is a huge fan of the Harry Potter series though, so I tried to draw a correlation between wizardry and science. Potions class is like Chemistry, Herbology is Botany, Quiddich employs physics, broomstick-flying involves understanding gravity, genetics can be explored to create three-headed dogs and giant spiders, inventing flying cars involves engineering, learning about space took place in Hogwarts' Astronomy Tower, and you can't study the Care of Magical Creatures without Zoology.

Photo credit: http://memoirmode.com

She's starting to come around a little, but I still have some convincing to do. It doesn't help that as a teen, she's naturally inclined to doubt most of what I say.

Eventually though, I hope to foster her curiosity about the world so she continues to want to learn beyond high school and into college. I want her to be personally invested in taking college classes, not just because it's the next step in her life, but because higher education, whether it's through taking weekend college classes in science or online college English classes, connects everything around us and enriches our life experiences. In addition to career advancement education, I want her to be inspired by the joy of learning itself.

Who knows? Maybe she'll eventually find the value in learning science and find herself majoring in psychology or astrophysics. Or maybe she'll find her passion by pursuing a Masters degree in Project Management or English Literature. Whatever path she decides to take, hopefully she'll see it as magical.

On set at a GSC photo shoot!

Tuesday, May 1, 2012 by Jacqui Lantagne

In the past year, Granite State College has launched Graduate Studies and celebrated the newly formed School of Education. With these two exciting initiatives, GSC needed two exciting sets of promotional material for prospective students!

Where to begin? Like many other journeys GSC has taken, the process always starts with the students.

In our Graduate Studies brochure, you'll find two students from the Project Management Master's Program and you may even recognize their classroom at the Rochester campus! They are joined by the Dean of Graduate Studies and several other staff members from Granite State College that prospective students will actually see and interact with when they enroll.

Our School of Education photo shoot featured students from the Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification program. We had a dynamic venue filled with energetic 3-7 year old children who are the same age as the students these future educators will teach!

It means so much to us to have real live members of the GSC community in these photos and we had a blast spending the day with the students.

Special thanks to Leslie Bowering, '10 ,B.A. Liberal Studies: Self-Design in Language Arts. She opened the doors of her business, The Reading Room for Kids, in Rye, NH, for our School of Education photo shoot.

Exciting times in the Office of Graduate Studies at Granite State College

Friday, March 9, 2012 by Scott Stanley

Since arriving in New Hampshire in June 2011 to serve as the Dean for Graduate Studies at Granite State College, graduate education has emerged from an initiative to a norm. The Master of Science in Project Management was launched in September 2011. We had a great response to this launch evident by the number of students enrolling in the program. Students have commented on the applicability of what they are learning in their courses to their jobs. I have heard from students that they are able to make an instant impact at their employer by applying the principles they learn in class to their work the next day. Kudos to our GSC instructors. The Project Management Program at Granite State is deeply aligned with the Project Management Institute's Body of Knowledge. The Project Management Body of Knowledge can be found in the PMBOK Guide. These knowledge areas are considered the standards for project management.

If you have an interest in trying out Project Management college courses or "testing the waters" before you formally apply, visit our website to find out more information.

Scott Stanley, Ed.D

Dean of Graduate Studies

Granite State College

Action Learning

Monday, February 20, 2012 by Todd Leach

Adult students bring a wealth of both personal and professional experience to the classroom. This experience can be leveraged by faculty to enhance the overall learning experience of students by drawing connections and providing students with more opportunities to apply their knowledge to situations they have experienced for themselves. At Granite State College we promote an androgogy that embraces student experience, not only the prior experience students bring upon entry, but also the ability to take the skills and knowledge they obtain in the classroom and apply it to their current professional or community environments. This "Action Learning" approach is incorporated throughout many GSC programs, and is most particularly evident in our graduate and post-baccalaureate programs (including our new MS in Leadership) where students work on applied projects or in practicum environments.

Having taught for many years, I know from first-hand experience that students tend to gain the most understanding when theory is contextualized and when students have the opportunity to apply concepts and achieve measurable results. The Granite State College MS in Project Management incorporates Action Learning throughout the program in a way that connects core professional competencies to actual projects. Students in our MS degree programs find that the skills and knowledge they are gaining can be applied to actual needs that exist in either their work or community settings, and feedback from students so far has indicated that applying what they are learning to the actual project challenges they face is a win-win for their own learning—and for the organizations they are supporting.

As Granite State College continues to develop new programs, Action Learning will remain an important component of the educational experience. By providing greater context through opportunities to apply knowledge as it is learned, Granite State College students should prove to be better prepared for professional success.

Project Management for the Holidays

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 by Mary Young

It's Christmastime, the decorations are out, the carolers are warming up, the shopping season is in full swing, and it's time to reflect on the challenges and accomplishments of the past year.  If I were making a list, the first item in both the Challenges column and the Accomplishments column would be the pursuit of a Masters Degree in Project Management.

The challenge lies in the fact that I haven't been a college student in, oh, let's just say, a very long time. Not only am I enrolled in the very first graduate degree program offered at Granite State College, I am in the very first cohort scheduled to graduate in 2013. I am so proud and excited to be part of such an illustrious group of bright, dedicated and funny people...I really like this thing called adult higher education!

In the accomplishment column I proudly include the completion of the first of ten terms in the project management masters program. This term was made up of two six-week classes - PM 804 Project Management Seminar and PM 804 Leading Teams; both were excellent courses.  My preferred delivery method for instruction is face to face, on the ground at our Manchester NH campus. Of course, for those of you who would rather operate completely in the digital world, you always have the option of taking any of our adult college courses online.

It is interesting now that I am immersed in the world of project management...all that we do in life is a project in one way or another. I see it all around me. The applications, tools and techniques of project management can be applied to everything from planning a holiday party to putting a man on the moon.

Now there's a thought...how might I apply what I've learned so far in my project management classes to make my holiday season just a little less stressful and a bit more organized?

Project Scope: Just what do I want to accomplish this holiday season? I certainly don't want to bite off more than I can chew so I had better define exactly what I will and can commit to this year.

Project Team: My family...who is responsible for what and can we accomplish everything we have identified in our project scope?

Project Planning:  Creating a task list (work breakdown structure in project management speak) that includes all of the typical activities (cards, gifts, parties, decorations, food, etc.) around the holiday would be helpful.

Project Risk: Have you ever had your heart set on a particular gift for someone only to find the gift is not available, or that the cost exceeds your budget? Contingency plans are always a good idea.

Project Close: The holidays are over; now is the time to assess what worked and what didn't...lessons learned are a very valuable tool at the close of any project, but only if you use them.

So as you think about everything you have to do for the holidays, remember these four easy steps to help you along: plan, execute, manage and close.  Wishing you a very merry and stress free holiday season!

GSC Factoid: Granite State College offers the most affordable continuing education in the state and is the University System's leading online provider.

Responsibility and Online Education

Saturday, December 3, 2011 by Beth McKenna

So you are thinking about getting a degree on line? Well, as a professor of an on line course I have to ask you a few questions first. Are you motivated to get things done on your own? Are you comfortable manipulating your computer? Do you enjoy reading and writing on line? If you can answer positively to each of those questions then go for an online degree at Granite State College. There are so many on line courses to choose from, such as courses in Early Childhood Education or Project management college courses, or even courses in health care and psychology. But not just anyone can successfully manage on line courses. If you hate being on the computer then an on line course will frustrate you. If you have trouble motivating yourself to do your work without someone standing over you then the on line course is not a good idea. On line education can be an awesome experience if you are willing to take the responsibility. So be honest with yourself. We all have different learning styles. If your style is as an independent learner then you will love on line education. Check out the Granite State on line list of courses to find the perfect ones for you.

A new baby

Thursday, November 3, 2011 by Gail Gifford

Yes, I am a Grammy once again. A little girl entered the world at 7:46pm weighing in at seven pounds even. She was embraced by her daddy and mommy at time of arrival. Oh what a joy, oh what a delight and blessing from above. My young son and his wife wanted to be surprised and never found out the sex of their baby. I have always thought it is the one thing in life that should be a surprise. After all, you don't put in an order for a Boy or Girl, you get what you are suppose to have and really folks, we are not sending them back!! I am glad they waited and I know that surprise was wonderful and one they will never forget.

I remember one surprise I got when I received an A on a Business Statistic test I took while attending Granite State College when I was attempting to get my adult education degree. It was such a nice surprise though as that class kicked my butt everyday I was in it. It was one of my hardest classes throughout my education but I did it, I made it through and live to tell about it.

So whether it be babies or grades, surprises are a nice part of life. I am seriously thinking about going back to school and getting my Master of Science Project Management degree. At work I see how project management is a huge part of big businesses these days and I enjoyed school so much, this just may be my next goal. My children will be surprised again if Mom goes back to school. Oh well, surprises are good!!

Setting a Good Example

Wednesday, October 19, 2011 by Beth McKenna

In a recent class for the early childhood education major at GSC's Rochester NH college campus, we were talking about family strengths. One of those strengths revolved around encouragement and setting a good example. If parents are not only telling children that they care about how they do in school, but are also demonstrating the importance of school by taking a course they might need for work, or starting a new degree in an area that you have always been interested in is the prime way to set the example and encourage your children to value education. Consider taking courses in early childhood for your Early Childhood Certification, or maybe courses in project management, towards a Masters Degree in Project Management, or special education teacher certification. Try showing how much you value education, by getting involved yourself in either online adult education classes or face-to-face courses. Your children will learn from your example.

Rain, Rain go away....

Wednesday, August 24, 2011 by Gail Gifford

Good Morning fans and friends,

I just woke up and saw that Westland is going to be selling Rain Barrels with some of the proceeds going to the cancer foundation. My mum died of cancer so whenever I can give, help promote research, I am in for it. But, it is not just for the cancer research fund, it is for the rain barrel. I have always wanted one to water my flowers, garden and save the water that comes from the sky and recycle it. I think it is a good thing for our earth as well as a good example of conservation. My grandparents had two of them at their cottage in Canada and I can remember at a young age, putting a dipper in and getting out a bucket full of water. The Cottage didn't have running water, so we used it to wash our hair, water the garden and yes, even flush the toilet. I know I won't use mine for all those reasons but I do think it is a good way to reuse our water that comes from the sky.

I have to research it and see where the best down spout to put it under. But, that is no different than researching a subject for school. Learning again is what I am talking about, learning about something new, exciting, is all part of life. I just found out that Granite State College is offering a Masters of Science Degree in Project Management. I am so excited and want to get signed up as soon as I learn my new job better. I want to be proficient in this new position before I put other information in my brain. Taking these classes is a great education and career advancement opportunity. I am so excited about this new class, I have told other colleagues about the program and who knows, maybe a few of us will go to Granite State College and take these accelerated adult studies classes.

OK, I am off to get my rain barrel. I hope you all have a great weekend!!

Changing how we Educate

Wednesday, August 24, 2011 by Todd Leach

The Concord Monitor recently ran a story entitled "Changing the way we Educate" that profiled Granite State College and the unique ways in which we serve undergraduate and graduate students. The focus of the article was largely on how Granite State College balances business and academics, and how we are addressing a 48% cut in state appropriations (the largest cut ever made to the USNH appropriations). While the cut certainly impacts us, Granite State College has been very innovative this past year, launching a new BS in Health Care Management and developing our first masters degree (an MS in Project Management). We also streamlined our admissions processes, eliminated some fees, and adopted a "student-centered" approach that led to schedule improvements and the creation of student success teams.

Granite State College's innovations are leading to record enrollment levels for the college in spite of budgetary cuts. It is our ability to be responsive to student and employer needs that is becoming the college's hallmark. GSC has long been a leader in online education and today every degree the College offers is available entirely online, including our new MS in Project Management. For GSC, having our degrees available online is not enough, we have gone beyond that by building a top instructional design team that includes a media-rich specialist and adding greater support for online students through services such as online tutoring. We also provide our faculty with more tools than just the learning management system, one of the latest tools available to faculty allows them to create animated simulations.

Even with this expansion of online offerings and support, GSC has also continued to invest in technology and innovation at our state-wide campus centers. Our recent campus centers in Rochester, Manchester, and Littleton all offer an array of classroom technology, including wireless connectivity. More importantly, our innovations around curriculum are making higher education more accessible to adults and working professionals. We are launching fast-track programs this year that offer an accelerated and streamlined path to completing a bachelor degree.

State appropriations are certainly key to our ability to offer the best higher education value possible, but equally important is our ability to innovate. While appropriations may be down, innovation at GSC has never been higher.

Substantive Change

Monday, March 14, 2011 by Todd Leach

"Change" is a word that is often overused, but in the world of higher education "substantive change" has very specific meaning. An institution that goes through substantive change is one that embarks on new directions that require review by its regional accreditor. Granite State College has undertaken such a change by moving from an institution offering only undergraduate credit to one that will now offers its first masters degree.

The Master of Science in Project Management is intended to provide students with a highly transferable set of skills and competencies that are in high demand across a number of industries. GSC's first masters degree is designed to provide students with both pragmatic content and high level learning opportunities that can prepare students to advance in management and leadership level positions. A cursory search of job postings lists many positions in which project management skills are specifically identified. In addition, managers in general can gain a competitive advantage in the job market by gaining project management competencies.

Granite State College worked closely with industry experts to develop its first masters program in order to ensure our graduates will be well prepared to compete and advance in their chosen careers. At this point, the Granite State College masters degree is the only MS in Project Management offered by a New Hampshire institution.

We are confident that our new masters degree will meet the advanced education needs of working adults and professionals across the state and beyond. The new program will be offered entirely online as well as at select Granite State College locations.

Benefits of Work Study

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 by Ellen Gagnon

     As I mentioned in my previous posts I do work-study at Granite State College. I am usually in the Portsmouth, NH college or at the Rochester Regional Center. Now, I already have a full-time job, so doing work-study is sort of my second job -- but not really -- it helps support my college habit. It is a means by which I can go to school and still make some money. Regardless of the type duties a work-study candidate may encounter the big pay-off is not the money. I hope that doesn’t hurt when we say it out loud.

     Other institutions within the University of New Hampshire System provide work-study opportunities to their students. A student may find themselves in the dining hall, washing dishes for the 2000 students who come in. One of my personal favorites is cleaning the horse barn; a twice daily ritual reserved for the lucky few work-study candidates who desire a truly hands on approach to learning.

     When I go online and look-up work-study, I often see lists of benefits that college-aged students reap when they participate in the program; earn money while going to college, develop time management skills, build work ethic, etc. But the funny thing is, those are not the benefits I need to reap as an adult learner. The benefits I need to have must be geared towards my goals, incorporate my experiences and enhance my learning. So as a budding student of teacher training education, I NEED to have a place where I can foster examples of new learning for young people; I NEED to practice the skills of implementing the theory I have encountered during my course work. So I was really curious about how Granite State College work-study could benefit me.

     In 2007, when I began looking into utilizing work-study funds as a means of decreasing my reliance on student loans I found that most if not all the jobs listed were in Concord and the surrounding areas. Being from the Seacoast this was a disappointing development. But as I read more I found out I could actually do meaningful work, that would also enhance my studies; utilizing work-study funds I could work in my community where I felt there was a need. This was new information for me. Did you know that work-study funds could be used in the community and not only at the college? A win-win solution.

     With the help of Cortney Henry at the Financial Aid office, and the support of my employer, we created an after-school mentoring program (a desperately needed component when working with at-risk youths).  Together the students and I created a concrete form for a garden bench and then went on to pour it. After the bench was finished, we then went on and created a garden area for our bench to be displayed in. It was meaningful work which fit in nicely with my degree program and it is a project which continues to grow today. It has created a lasting tribute to the students who participated in the program and they now have a tangible connection in their community.   When we make purposeful connections, between people and places in our community, we then share common values which enrich us all.

     Now that’s a benefit you can’t put in a pamphlet -- and after all isn’t that what learning should be about?

Who doesn’t like playing games?

Saturday, June 5, 2010 by Deidre Romeo

I completed my business major capstone last semester at Granite State College and loved it. The course required us to work in teams, one of my worst fears in a school project! As teammates we worked together as co-managers of a camera company competing with the other teams for market share within the simulated camera industry. What made this experience unique was that the decisions each team made changed the market and affected business decisions and strategy initiatives we all made. This class was certainly a true career opportunities education course. This was a great exercise in working together as a team to accomplish the goal at hand. I have always loved playing games, but this was a game that enabled me to utilize all of the business skills I had attained in my adult education courses. I learned so much and had a ton of fun in the process.

The best way to learn about becoming a leader is to.......

Thursday, March 4, 2010 by John Ford

actually lead.

It seems that the best leaders are often the ones who are thrown into leadership positions with little or no preparation for that particular situation. The truth be told, the most effective leaders are the ones who embrace opportunties as opposed to those who try to control the situations.

Leadership is about collaboration and communication. It is where we apply everything we ever learned (and learn about what we didn't) in our past - whether through education or experience, we all have an inventory of knowledge, skills, experiences, lessons learned, etc. that we can apply to just about any situation we may be facing. The interesting thing about all of this is that good leaders know how to get people to collaborate and bring ALL of their tools and knowledge with them to create solutions.

Education, through whatever means you choose, online classes, adult education programs, weekend intensives, seminars, etc. provide opportunities for you to practice your leadership skills in the classroom with peers who can provide feedback, instructors and teachers who can provide coaching and present new perspectives.

People learn to lead from watching others, past managers and bosses, parents, coaches, teachers, etc. However, they can only learn if given the opportunity to stretch their skills and competence. They must have the chance to practice in a safe environment. They must be a willing collaborator in their own development as a leader.

Now, this is not to say that everyone should be or even wants to be a leader. Many people avoid the opportunity to lead for many reasons, some valid, some not. It is always a personal decision for every individual AT THE TIME when the leadership opportunity occurs. It is about being comfortable in one's own place and with one's peers or classmates.

I use group projects in every course I teach. I watch people step up to lead the groups and create a plan to achieve a result. I watch people gravitate toward individuals who they believe will take charge of the group and let everyone know what needs to be done. I see groups that struggle because no one WANTS to take responsibility for the team performance. Students approach me as the instructor to let me know there is no leader in their group and it is falling apart. I challenge them to do what needs to be done. It is their opportunity to try on the leadership role in a very safe environment. Some say they don't want to risk their grade but if you are in a group without a leader for a course project is your grade not already at risk?

Leaders take advantage of opportunites to practice their skills. Sometimes leaders learn by letting others take leadership roles and watch how others deal with situations.

At some point everyone is a leader....maybe it is just in your pursuit of you education to better position yourself at work or for your future....you are taking a leadership role in your own education......take advantage or the collaboration opportunities in your classes and practice, practice, practice leadership every chance you get.......

You never know when the opportunity to lead will come up and change your life.......

Energized

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 by Jeanne Lester

Like much of America, I got drawn in to watching tv's "The Biggest Loser."

    I began watching one of those marathon sessions running (conveniently) on New Year's Day, and for the first few minutes I was intrigued by watching the contestants struggle through their rigorous diet and exercise regime, spurred on by the hope of a different future. Once I began to see evidence of their progress, in the form of lost pounds and found confidence, I was hooked. I am a bit embarrassed to say that my whole family (ok, not the 4-year-old) allowed this program to chew up the better part of our day, as I sat making food lists with new resolve. We watched together and cheered on these folks who were moving past the beginning struggle of change, toward the goal, and vicariously shared in their victories.

As I am buckling down to complete the assignments due in my next class, it strikes me that the process of furthering my education is a bit like that diet & exercise struggle. The goal is important---finishing my degree, and expanding my knowledge.  Although the day to day steps of studying and stretching myself are most often enjoyable, I sometimes go through a cycle of self-doubt --"can I really do this?". But even in the midst of that process--the struggle leaves me energized.

The first class I took at Granite State College was one of the Concord NH classes "Critical Thinking."  I didn't know what to expect---it had been several years since I had been in school---and actually, I got something I didn't expect ---energy! I had anticipated being tired, drained, and overwhelmed after class; after all I was sitting down to class from 6 - 9:30 in the evening. Not exactly my most productive times! The process of settling into a classroom with no other distractions (no one needed a sippy cup, help with laundry, or input on fundraisers for any committee) but the flow of new ideas, combined with the input from a group of fresh faces was absolutely exhilirating. I came away feeling charged up and eager to talk. I sat down with my husband for a couple of hours and chatted with him, had philosophical debates, and just enjoyed the very non-mundane conversations.

I'd love to say that I came away from that first experience a constantly confident, calm person. Not quite.  There have been a few classes where I still reach a point of doubt, and a couple of times when I have thrown my papers on the floor, marched out into the living room and announced "I am not going to do this anymore!" When this happens my husband grins to himself, looks at his watch, and waits for my little "rain dance" to be over.   He knows that within 5 minutes, I will have calmed down, and have gotten back to work. Funny thing is, after these breakdowns I usually manage to produce a project that turns out very well, and the victory following that initial frustration can't be beat.

Similar to the discovery that through exercise you actually gain energy; the journey through education and career advancement through Granite State College has brought with it an energizing source of new ideas, as step by step I'm achieving my goal.