Tymesha Bland, a Saint Leo undergraduate student who is stationed in Japan with her husband, shares how she is successful with taking classes online and overseas, as well as the business she has started and the book she has written -- all accomplishments she has had by age 22.
Tymesha Bland is just a few years removed from high school. But the current Saint Leo University undergraduate student has already accomplished a number of unique goals for her age. Read on to learn about how she has been successful and what she hopes to achieve in the future, thanks in part to her Saint Leo education.
Age: 22
Birthplace: Detroit, MI (Grew up in Taylor, MI)
High school(s): Henry Ford Academy and Henry Ford Academy: School for Creative Studies
Why did you choose to enroll with Saint Leo University? "Living in Japan, I was doing some research online to find a school that would work best for me. Thanks to Google, I was able to find Saint Leo. Being in Japan, I am 11 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. I got in contact with all of my professors early enough to get information that would help me in school, and they were each pretty helpful."
What are the keys to being a successful online student? "Stay connected to your laptop, desktop computer if you have one and phone to stay on top of your assignments. Always stay on top of your grades. Stay in touch with your professors, and ask for help as soon as possible if you don't understand something. Plus, always be nice to others in your classes because they might be good study partners for you later on."
When did you start with Saint Leo, and what is your major? "I started with Saint Leo in 2017. I'm currently working on my AA in liberal arts and expect to complete this degree by the end of 2018. I plan on getting my bachelor's degree with Saint Leo as soon as I finish this one."
What kind of work have you done in your early career? "I have taught in Japan for DUO. I've taught English from nursery care all the way up through eighth grade. I've also taught adults up to the age of 80. I've enjoyed getting to know the students. I love seeing the kids' faces when we play games together to understand simple things, such as ABCs, numbers, directions, and fruits and vegetables.
What is your husband's name, and what is his rank in the military? "My husband is Daryl Bland Jr., and he is an E4 in the Air Force. He has been serving since 2016. We are stationed at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan.
What has your life been like living in Japan? "We've made some new friends and have had some fun adventures visiting new places. It has also offered some awesome job opportunities. I would say leaving our family in the U.S. has been the most challenging."
I know you started your own business. What can you say about that? "I decided to start my own business because I'm not the type of person to ask my husband for money a lot. I like to make my own money. The name of my business is Tanc's Services. I petsit, babysit, do photography and clean houses. Also, I became an author at the age of 17. My book is called Slavery For a Moment. You can find it on Amazon."
Photo credit: The photograph included in this blog article was provided by Tymesha Bland and is used with permission.
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