Mervat Haroun has had a dream of completing her MBA at UTC since the 1990s. Now, thanks to the online MBA program, she has that opportunity.
Haroun lived in Kuwait until the Iraqi invasion by Saddam Hussein in 1990. With the help of the U.S. State Department, she and her family fled the country for the safety of daughter, Sarah, who was later born in Martin, Tennessee, and was an American citizen.
“At the time, we thought it would only take a few months till Kuwait would be liberated with the help of the U.S. However, the situation was far more complicated than we anticipated and we were unable to return,” explains Haroun. “Coming to the U.S. as a refugee was far from a pleasant event; it was extremely difficult seeing as we were completely unaware of what the future would hold.”
Haroun decided to enroll at UTC to pursue her bachelor’s degree in business.
“I worried that my subpar English skills would be a hindrance to my goals. Thanks to the continuous help and support that I received from my professors, fellow students, and the government, I was able to not only earn my Bachelors of Science, but also make the Dean’s List several times,” says Haroun.
While working and raising two daughters, Haroun decided to go back to UTC to pursue her MBA. During this time, Haroun left work at 5 p.m., began her night class at 5:30 p.m. and at 9 p.m., she arrived home.
However, after completing only three classes, Haroun’s husband unexpectedly died at age 39. She had to delay her plans so that she could care for her children, earn a living, and maintain the family business.
She enrolled at UTC once more in 2004, but in the summer of 2005 she decided to relocate for a career opportunity to help our troops in Kuwait. Haroun contacted UTC throughout the years, still hoping to be able to complete her MBA online.
“Even after relocating and successfully supporting my two daughters in college, my dream of completing my MBA never left me,” says Haroun.
Then, when Haroun went on UTC’s website to check her daughter Sallee’s schedule, she saw that UTC offers an online MBA.
“Most MBA students are working during the day, so being able to do this degree online is very valuable. It’s a great opportunity for people that want to better themselves and continue their education,” says Haroun.
Haroun applied and has since been accepted into the program.
“I was absolutely thrilled! I felt like God had answered my prayers and that now I would be able to FINALLY achieve my goal,” says Haroun. “The online program gave me a chance to make the dream come true, to make the impossible possible for me. I’m so happy and so thankful.”
Haroun’s daughter Sarah graduated from UTC in 2012 with a B.S. in psychology. She currently resides in Kuwait and works as a therapist. Haroun’s younger daughter, Sallee, is currently enrolled at UTC. Sarah and Sallee used to come to classes with Haroun when they were out of school
Mervat Haroun
“I went to high school in Kuwait and I made friends there, so initially I didn’t plan to return to Chattanooga. Then, when I saw all the opportunities it gave my mom, I decided that I would come back and graduate from here and follow in her footsteps,” says Sallee. “One of my professors was her professor.”
Haroun hopes to graduate at the same time as Sallee.
“I have accumulated over 15 years of professional work experience in the business world, but I know that by completing this program, I will be continuously building on my knowledge and skills,” says Haroun. “I am a firm believer in persevering, setting high goals for yourself, and continuing education throughout life. This program will be the key that allows me to unlock everything that I have been working towards since 1990. I just want to thank UTC for making my dreams come true.”
This is an awesome and inspiring story that should encourage people to never give up on their dreams and on trying to obtain higher education. Congrats and kudos to Ms. Haroun for her determination and perseverance and all she’s accomplished so far!