By Tiffany Carpenter
For years I debated going back to school for my master’s degree, but that seemed impossible with two young children and a full-time job.
I decided to take the plunge two years ago and start my master’s degree in business administration.
With UT’s educational assistance and fee waiver benefit and the convenience of the UT Martin online MBA program, I felt like it was something I couldn’t pass up. There wasn’t going to be a perfect time to do it, so I just needed to buckle down and jump in.
Between two kids, work and school, my days were running from 6 a.m. to midnight. (Did I mention my 3-year-old decided she wanted to wake up at 4 a.m. for about two months…)
I found myself cutting out time for non-essential activities, like sleep and running. I developed a serious caffeine dependency, and my stress level was through the roof. I desperately needed to find time to exercise for my mental and physical well-being.
I didn’t have an abundance of time to spend at the gym, so I needed to find things that would fit into my schedule.
In case my story sounds familiar, let me share a few of my favorite ways for fitting exercise into a busy schedule:
- Quick jogs around the neighborhood while my 8-year-old rides her bike
- High-intensity interval training apps that take less than 10 minutes—Quick 4 and 7-Minute Workout Challenge
- P90X3 workout videos—30 minutes in the comfort of your own home
I’ve just finished classes this semester and will graduate in December! First thing on my agenda—SLEEP and maybe a good run.
Tiffany Carpenter Contact
UT System Administration
Tiffany brings her love for UT to her job as assistant vice president for marketing for the UT System. Originally from Bristol, Tennessee, Tiffany has worked at UT for more than 11 years in various positions for the UT Knoxville Athletic Department and UT Foundation. She currently lives in Knoxville with her husband, Allen, two daughters, Emily and Avery, and furry daughter, Bailey. When not at work, you might see Tiffany at a UT sporting event or at Dollywood with her family. She is a graduate of UT Knoxville and recently completed her MBA from UT Martin.