{"id":1657,"date":"2020-12-21T15:51:02","date_gmt":"2020-12-21T23:51:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/?p=1657"},"modified":"2024-08-05T18:24:35","modified_gmt":"2024-08-06T01:24:35","slug":"psychology-online-kristina-tucker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/psychology-online-kristina-tucker\/","title":{"rendered":"Oregon State Everywhere: Gaining a deep understanding after a tragic loss"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"A

Following the sudden death of her husband, Kristina Tucker began searching for ways to help her four children and herself cope with their suffering. Studying psychology online with Oregon State, she says, has given her the knowledge she needed to heal.<\/p><\/div>\n

OSU\u2019s online psychology program helps student process grief and tap into new career ambitions<\/h2>\n

Oregon State Ecampus has allowed me to achieve my dreams of earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology<\/a>. Being able to learn online enabled me to be a parent to my four children while still completing coursework. Not only have I been able to learn about facets of human behavior and cognition, but this platform also made it possible to participate fully in my children’s lives. The balance of assignments and my personal life was attainable because of the accessibility of the program.<\/p>\n

My main passion in life is being able to take care of my children. At the same time, learning what drives behavior and thought has always been something important to me. My hope for the future is to earn a Ph.D. in Psychology, which will allow me to integrate what I have learned and pass on the knowledge to those around me. If I hadn’t been able to earn my bachelor’s degree online, I would have never had the strength and determination to further my career aspirations.<\/p>\n

“<\/span>If I hadn’t been able to earn my bachelor’s degree online, I would have never had the strength and determination to further my career aspirations.”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When I was 28, my husband died suddenly of a pulmonary embolism, leaving me to take care of my children alone. I was devastated, and I didn’t have a college education or a career that would enable me to take care of my children.<\/p>\n

After attending grief groups for myself and for my children, I realized that what motivated me to keep trying was that I wanted to understand what happened to our thinking. We all had different degrees of suffering, but I didn’t understand what actually<\/em> had happened. Grief is an expected presentation of loss, but what struck me as the most significant aspect is that the very essence of who we all were changed.<\/p>\n

I wanted to know why, and when I learned that Oregon State offered a psychology degree online, I was determined to earn my degree here. I knew there would be challenges along the way, but I never realized that my pursuit of a degree would give me the knowledge I needed to heal.<\/p>\n

\n

Tell us your story<\/h3>\n

Write your own OSU Everywhere story by sharing the triumphs and challenges you faced as an Ecampus student.<\/p>\n

Share story<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

The motivation to understand how and why my thinking and behavior changed pushed me towards completing my degree with OSU Ecampus. The classes were difficult and sometimes it felt overwhelming, but I wouldn’t trade anything for this experience. It has taught me balance within my own life, taught me an understanding of mental processes, and most importantly, it has given me the opportunity to further my career aspirations. And that will allow me to take care of my children.<\/p>\n

My advice to anyone who is hesitant about earning a degree online is to look within and ask yourself what you want in life. Learning online makes it possible to maintain your current life while working to achieve all that you want for yourself.<\/p>\n

It sets you up for success in your future and gives you a foundation to gain insight as you build a career. I am forever grateful for the chance I have had, and I know that without it, I wouldn’t have the courage and determination I now embody.<\/p>\n

\n

Editor’s note:<\/strong> Kristina completed her psychology bachelor’s degree requirements online and graduated from Oregon State University.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/span> 3<\/span> minute read<\/span><\/span>“The motivation to understand how and why my thinking and behavior changed pushed me towards completing my degree with OSU Ecampus. The classes were difficult and sometimes it felt overwhelming, but I wouldn’t trade anything for this experience.” \u2013 OSU Ecampus psychology student Kristina Tucker<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":1658,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,6,3,677,8],"tags":[75,640,544,96],"class_list":["post-1657","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-ecampus","category-features","category-students-and-alumni","category-students","tag-college-of-liberal-arts","tag-health-and-human-science","tag-osu-everywhere","tag-psychology"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Kristina-Tucker-744x478-201123.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7BNSE-qJ","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1716,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/best-online-psychology-degree\/","url_meta":{"origin":1657,"position":0},"title":"Oregon State online psychology bachelor\u2019s degree ranked #1 in the U.S.","author":"Ecampus News","date":"January 27, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Oregon State University\u2019s expertise in delivering a liberal arts education online is well-documented, and now that reputation has been bolstered even further \u2014 thanks to U.S. News & World Report ranking OSU No. 2 on its list of Best Online Bachelor\u2019s in Psychology Programs for the second straight year.","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Woman taking notes on clipboard while talking to a young child.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/ug-psychology-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/ug-psychology-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/ug-psychology-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/ug-psychology-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1280,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/psychology-online-tracey-campion\/","url_meta":{"origin":1657,"position":1},"title":"Oregon State Everywhere: Taking the road less traveled","author":"Tracey Campion","date":"October 24, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"\"My Ecampus success coach, Bethany Ulman, became my sounding board and ally, and the concept began to fall into place. A bachelor\u2019s degree in psychology could not be a more fitting education for a coach, and I am so appreciative that the OSU Ecampus program was available for me to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Oregon State University Ecampus psychology student Tracey Campion sits next to her dog, Poppy.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Tracey-Campion-2019-744x478.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Tracey-Campion-2019-744x478.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Tracey-Campion-2019-744x478.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Tracey-Campion-2019-744x478.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":600,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/dpp\/","url_meta":{"origin":1657,"position":2},"title":"Join the OSU community. We\u2019ll join yours, too.","author":"Heather Doherty","date":"September 1, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cWorking through Tillamook Bay Community College, as well as Oregon State, I was able to feel connected to my local community as well as a greater community,\" says Christiania Jefferies, OSU Ecampus psychology student.","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Christiania Jefferies and her son play in the sand at a beach near their home in Tillamook, Oregon. Christiania is an OSU Ecampus psychology student in the Degree Partnership Program.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Christiania-Feature-1.00_00_11_10138.Still002.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Christiania-Feature-1.00_00_11_10138.Still002.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Christiania-Feature-1.00_00_11_10138.Still002.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Christiania-Feature-1.00_00_11_10138.Still002.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Christiania-Feature-1.00_00_11_10138.Still002.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1676,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/top-online-bachelors-degrees\/","url_meta":{"origin":1657,"position":3},"title":"Oregon State earns four top-five rankings for online education from U.S. News & World Report","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"January 26, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Oregon State University is ranked No. 4 and is among the nation\u2019s top 10 providers of online undergraduate education for the seventh straight year in a list published today by U.S. News & World Report. The No. 4 ranking of Best Online Bachelor\u2019s Programs also puts Oregon State in the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A person sitting at a table and typing on a laptop, with an Oregon State University water bottle in the foreground. K-12 remote instruction resources","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/oregon-state-ecampus-student-laptop.jpg?fit=744%2C496&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/oregon-state-ecampus-student-laptop.jpg?fit=744%2C496&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/oregon-state-ecampus-student-laptop.jpg?fit=744%2C496&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/oregon-state-ecampus-student-laptop.jpg?fit=744%2C496&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":461,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/christiania-jefferies\/","url_meta":{"origin":1657,"position":4},"title":"Caring for others","author":"Heather Doherty","date":"April 24, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Psychology student Christiania Jefferies realized she needed a college education to provide the best care for her son with autism. So she enrolled in Ecampus and wants to help others in need too.","rel":"","context":"In "Archives"","block_context":{"text":"Archives","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/archives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Oregon State Ecampus psychology student Christiania Jefferies plays in the damp sand with her son at a beach near their hometown of Tillmook, Oregon.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Christiania-Main.jpg?fit=638%2C410&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Christiania-Main.jpg?fit=638%2C410&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Christiania-Main.jpg?fit=638%2C410&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2813,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/graduation-2025\/","url_meta":{"origin":1657,"position":5},"title":"Oregon State graduating Class of 2025 features online learners from 20 countries","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"June 13, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The Oregon State University graduating Class of 2025 features a record number of students who completed their degrees online \u2014 2,345 students, to be exact. They learned online through Oregon State Ecampus, and true to OSU\u2019s ability to meet the needs of learners around the world, they hail from many\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A black entrance sign reads Oregon State University in gold lettering surrounded by a brick ledge and blooming flowers and a football stadium in the background.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/sign-entrance-reser-stadium.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/sign-entrance-reser-stadium.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/sign-entrance-reser-stadium.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/sign-entrance-reser-stadium.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/sign-entrance-reser-stadium.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1657","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/50"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1657"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1657\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1658"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1657"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1657"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1657"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}