The start of a new academic year marks a wave of students who are excited about embarking on their educational journeys through SDSU Global Campus. Meet one of them, Christopher Dela Cruz, a motivated student and professional with more than a decade of experience in event management who is looking to advance his career with a master’s degree. 

His commitment to growth, lifelong learning, and advancing his skills has brought him back to school to pursue a Master’s in Meeting and Event Management online. Dela Cruz is furthering his education to expand his opportunities, advance his career, and broaden his network. 

Christopher Dela Cruz

We asked Christopher about his goals, hopes, inspirations, and potential roadblocks as he works to pursue his higher education in leadership that translates into the real world.

1: What motivated you to go back to college, and why was now the time you chose to resume your academic journey in your respected program?

A: I chose to go back to school because I wanted to enhance my skills and set myself up for long-term growth. Having had over a decade of experience in events, I wanted to challenge myself as a leader, and this felt like the right time to commit to furthering my education in Event Management.

2: What are your academic, career or personal goals, and how do you hope this program will help you achieve them?

A: My goal is to further my knowledge of strategy, leadership, and business while I aim for growth within my organization. I know this program will provide the tools and confidence to bridge my industry experience with the advanced academic education program.

3: What are you most looking forward to this semester?

A: One word: Networking. I’m looking forward to connecting with peers and professors and challenging myself through various discussions and projects. What I am most excited about is that I will be able to apply what I learn from the lessons directly to my current work.

4: What challenges do you think you’ll face?

A: The biggest challenge will be balancing school, work, and personal life. However, I have always been one to learn, but I do plan to manage with time blocking and staying consistent with my priorities.

5: What kind of interactions and collaborations are you hoping to have with your peers or professors?

A: I hope to collaborate authentically, learning from various viewpoints, all while sharing real-world experiences. I really appreciate relationships, and I hope to build lasting relationships with professors who can mentor me along the way, but also build strong friendships with my peers that will go beyond SDSU.

6: How do you see your program impacting your long-term personal and professional goals?

A: This program will give me the business acumen and leadership framework to lead a global team and step into higher senior roles. Personally, it’s also about proving to myself that I can take on this challenge and grow from it. Putting myself out of my comfort zone is equally exciting and scary.

7: What do you hope to be doing immediately after completing your program?

A: After completing the program, I hope that I will be in or stepping into a leadership role in events. I want to expand what I have learned and apply it to the real world. We are better as a team, and if I can provide some insight into my knowledge to the next generation of event professionals, that would be something I would want to be part of.

8: You’re juggling many roles (parent, spouse, work, boss, student, etc.), what’s your plan to juggle it all?

A: I rely heavily on structure and organization. Having discipline is key, and yes, sometimes it’s difficult. However, I’ve also learned to give myself grace and stay focused on consistency over perfection and to not let failure take me down, but see it as an opportunity to grow.

9: What advice might you give to other students who are considering going back to school?

A: There is no perfect time. Start now, trust yourself to figure it out, and know the growth and opportunities will be worth it.