Caleb Newburn, a junior management major, gets the most out of his education and time this summer with two part-time jobs and five summer courses at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business. However, only a year ago, his attitude for school looked completely different.
“My first year when I was doing all general courses, I was having a hard time seeing the point, so I wasn't motivated, wasn't putting in the study time and I really didn't care about what I was studying. I didn't want to put in the effort,” explained Newburn, a Lincoln, Nebraska, native.
Caleb balances between roughly 25 hours of work, five courses and an additional part-time weekend job this summer.
Feeling downtrodden with school, Newburn turned to his father, Dr. Stephen Newburn, a chiropractor who owns and operates Restore Health in Lincoln, for advice. Conversations with his dad, who attended Nebraska, helped Caleb keep his head up and spirits high.
“Talking to my dad about my academic struggles, why I was frustrated with it and hearing his perspective on things helped me understand why I'm here, what I'm doing and why it's important,” explained Caleb.
With motivation for college lacking, Caleb started a new part-time job as a program technician at Haberfeld Associates in Lincoln. Through his work at the financial consulting firm, Caleb began to look at school differently.
“When I started this job, I noticed at work I was putting in 110 percent, trying to get my work done on time and learn. However, for school, I would just slack off. I wouldn't put in the study time and didn't really care about it. Once I applied the work ethic I put in at work to school, I recognized I did better at school. That’s what made the turn and showed me I had that work ethic and could do it if I set my mind to it,” explained Caleb, who also works at Best Buy on weekends.
Along with his renewed spirit about college, Caleb found a new major in management better suited him. He brought what he learned in class to work to share among his peers.
“I noticed a lot of parallels to what I was learning in school and what I was learning at the company. That was cool and motivated me a lot more, both in school and work to apply those things, and recognize those opportunities and different positions around the company,” he explained.
Caleb’s academic vigor resonated at his job as well and Elise Rempel, consulting program specialist at Haberfeld, witnessed Caleb’s growth since he started at the company. She and other associates discussed the importance of a positive mentality for development with Caleb when he joined Haberfeld.
“As a team we place a great deal of weight on having a growth mindset. Believing we have the ability and responsibility to grow and develop beyond our current skill level can be a major turning point in a person’s life. I believe furthering one’s education, specifically through college courses, is a great way to push yourself and develop a growth mindset,” explained Rempel.
Listening to what Caleb learned in classes during Haberfield meetings excited Rempel. She noted back to when he first told her about his plans to adjust his work ethic in class, and she immediately noticed a shift in his energy and attitude.
Newburn, working alongside Elise Rempel (left), turned his attitude around about school after finding motivation and connections in his work to class.
“From the beginning Caleb had a great work ethic at the office, and I recall the day he told me he intended to apply that same level of commitment to his classes. As he increased his focus at school, he began to be chosen as the leader of more group projects. Through these experiences, he gained confidence and an even more polished presentation style. I certainly noticed this in his work – specifically in his ability to manage and lead initiatives on our team,” she said.
With a new mindset for college and a new major, Caleb appreciates the culture of Haberfeld and the emphasis of importance they place on higher education. He continues on this summer with his courses and looks forward to the fall semester where he can continue to learn about the management field.
“Haberfeld wants me to take full advantage of my college time and they want me to put that as a priority. They give me opportunities to speak and give presentations in front of my coworkers to help me grow. It is cool to be able to take what I'm learning in class and witness the real-world application at Haberfeld. I see it every day,” he said.
To learn more about the management major, visit:
https://business.unl.edu/management.
Published: August 14, 2019