Senior Accounting Major at Rowan University Shares Why He Prefers Taking Classes Online
In this first person perspective piece, graduating senior Joshua Bradley shares how he created a successful, well-rounded, and deeply meaningful college experience for himself. Joshua will graduate with a bachelor’s in accounting summa cum laude (meaning “with highest praise”), which is the highest Latin honor a graduate can receive, signifying the highest level of academic distinction.
Online classes have completely transformed how I balance my academic, professional, and personal life. The flexibility they have offered has empowered me to work at my own pace and complete assignments on my schedule, which has been a game-changer for managing my time effectively.
As a busy college student, I am working to allocate time for other areas of my life.
I launched and run my own fashion brand, Butterfly Effect (IG: @butterflyeffects.us) along with friends Destiny Nwankwo and Malcolm Newman.
I also serve on two executive boards of student organizations: my business fraternity, Phi Chi Theta, and student club Beauty in Distress. Within the business fraternity, I am a member of the founding class here on campus, the Eta Gamma chapter, and have served as treasurer and apparel chair. I served as community service chair for Beauty in Distress.
In addition, work on campus as a photographer for University Marketing, a student worker position I’ve held for two years.
I am also a part of Beta Gamma Sigma, an international business honor society.
To have the time to dedicate to the life I am building, I take online classes.
With online classes, I am able to divert my attention and focus on additional passions. As I am an early bird, I’ve learned to stay flexible by time blocking coursework on my schedule for early mornings, evenings, or weekends. Time blocking is a way to plan out your day or week by setting aside specific chunks of time for certain tasks or activities. It’s basically a personal schedule that helps you stay organized, avoid distractions, and focus on one thing at a time — whether that’s classwork, working out, or dedicating time to student clubs.
For me, who thrives on structure but also values autonomy, online classes are perfect. I’ve learned to curate my own schedule and create a personalized learning environment that works best for me. I value taking my studies and learning to new areas that motivate me to work harder, such as a coffee shop or outside on campus while enjoying the weather. I’m able to stay productive in spaces that inspire me.
While some might say online classes lack social interaction, I’ve found that they’ve actually helped me strengthen my relationships with friends and family by giving me more control over my time.
The flexibility of my online learning experience has never been just about managing academics. It’s about creating a life where you can pursue your goals, passions, and connections while still excelling in your studies. One of the greatest gifts we can give in this life is our time and online classes have helped me spend mine wisely.
Written by: Joshua Bradley, senior accounting major
Photos by: Valentina Giannattasio and Joshua Bradley