{"id":2528,"date":"2024-05-01T10:00:24","date_gmt":"2024-05-01T17:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/?p=2528"},"modified":"2025-03-12T16:58:38","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T23:58:38","slug":"take-a-healthy-risk-and-other-great-insights-from-a-recent-oregon-state-graduate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/take-a-healthy-risk-and-other-great-insights-from-a-recent-oregon-state-graduate\/","title":{"rendered":"“Take a healthy risk,” and other great insights from a recent Oregon State graduate"},"content":{"rendered":"

Joann Malumaleumu overcame plenty of challenges on the path to earn her bachelor\u2019s degree online in human development and family sciences. Now, she\u2019s a proud graduate of Oregon State University.<\/span><\/h3>\n

Earning your bachelor\u2019s degree is one thing. Earning it when you already work full time, are raising three kids and recently became the primary caregiver for your aging father?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s superhuman \u2014\u00a0aka Joann Malumaleumu.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When Malumaleumu first enrolled online in Oregon State University\u2019s <\/span>bachelor\u2019s degree in human development and family sciences<\/span><\/a>, she made the honor roll and found ways to balance all of her life\u2019s competing commitments.<\/span><\/p>\n

But between her role as a wraparound services coordinator for the <\/span>Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation<\/span><\/a>, the birth of her fourth child <\/span>and<\/span><\/i> a decline in her father\u2019s health \u2014\u00a0she needed to put her studies on pause.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt definitely took a toll,\u201d she says of that time.<\/span><\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t until she found herself grieving the death of her father that Malumaleumu felt pulled to go back.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy father believed in learning your whole life,\u201d she explains. \u201cHe was a strong supporter of higher learning and formal education and he always expressed to me how much he wanted me to finish my degree.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

So, several years after pausing her educational journey, Malumaleumu re-enrolled online with Oregon State.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t that I had a lot of free time,\u201d she says. \u201cBut I needed to fill that void he left. I knew what my end goal was.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Bringing decades of experience to her education<\/h3>\n

Before starting her bachelor\u2019s program, Malumaleumu spent years training to become a registered nurse. She worked as a research assistant for Oregon Health Sciences University and as a senior service coordinator for elders of the Umatilla tribe. In her current role, she supports tribal families in navigating early childhood education, food security, family conflicts and more.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy degree program focused on everything from infancy to old age, so it really correlates with work I\u2019ve done professionally,\u201d Malumaleumu says. \u201cFor example, working with the Native population, there\u2019s a lot of intergenerational trauma. A lot of the concepts I learned in the <\/span>family conflicts class<\/span><\/a> really helped prepare me for that.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While returning to school later in life can be intimidating for many, Malumaleumu also recognized how her prior experiences brought richness and understanding to Oregon State\u2019s human development and family sciences curriculum.<\/span><\/p>\n

“<\/span>I was able to add more, and I had more self-confidence because I could speak from experience and reflect on my own experiences \u2014 that made a real difference.”<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Likewise, Malumaleumu found she benefited from the perspectives of her OSU classmates and from the format of online discussion groups, which drove her to seek others out.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t assume that a post someone makes, in a chat or discussion, that that\u2019s what they mean. You have to go beyond the chat and ask clarifying questions,\u201d she explains. \u201cThat\u2019s also true of my work with families. You need to make sure you\u2019re reaching out, actively listening and creating a safe space for people to share.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Oregon State\u2019s <\/span>online courses<\/span><\/a> are known for bringing together students from different places, ages, cultures and perspectives together, and Malumaleumu found this to be true in her courses as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere were other students that would incorporate something specific to their culture or their customs, and I found that really insightful,\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Extra support makes a difference<\/h3>\n

In addition to Malumaleumu\u2019s determination and hard work, the <\/span>Oregon State Tribal Student Grant<\/span><\/a> also contributed to her ability to finish her degree. Originally passed in 2022, the grant covers most or all public undergraduate college-related expenses\u00a0\u2014 tuition, housing, books and other related costs \u2014\u00a0for eligible students who are enrolled members of Oregon\u2019s nine federally recognized Tribes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of support here at Oregon State,\u201d says Malumaleumu. \u201cI qualified for the grant but ran into issues with financial aid. Oregon State\u2019s <\/span>financial aid office<\/span><\/a> reached out to me and was so helpful.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Recently reinstated for $24 million for the 2023 to 2025 biennium, the Tribal Student Grant will continue to play a critical role in creating more equitable access to higher education and supporting <\/span>tribal student success<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI received the grant and the scholarships my tribe awarded me,\u201d says Malumaleumu. \u201cAnd here I am.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Joann

Joann Malumaleumu standing with her family on graduation day at Oregon State University. Malumaleumu earned her B.S. in Human Development and Family Sciences.<\/p><\/div>\n

Reaching her goal<\/h3>\n

After completing her degree requirements online, Malumaleumu traveled to Oregon State\u2019s Corvallis campus with her family for graduation and to celebrate as her goal \u2014\u00a0and her father\u2019s longstanding wish \u2014\u00a0became a reality.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Malumaleumu participated in both the <\/span>College of Health<\/span><\/a> and the <\/span>Kaku-Ixt Mana Ina Haws<\/span><\/a> graduation celebrations.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was impressed with the Native celebration. They had a wide range of ages there, and I think it\u2019s good to have older people recognized,\u201d says Malumaleumu thoughtfully. \u201cYou never know, there might be someone out there in their 60s who wants to finish their degree.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Asked about her advice for other students, no matter their age, Malumaleumu encourages people to \u201dtake a healthy risk and challenge yourself.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, she emphasizes how helpful it can be to take your degree one course at a time: \u201cSet a goal to take one course, and just see how you like it.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then,\u201d Malumaleumu says with a smile, \u201d<\/span>keep going<\/span><\/i>.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/span> 4<\/span> minute read<\/span><\/span>Joann Malumaleumu overcame many challenges to earn her bachelor’s degree in human development and family sciences online. Now, as a proud graduate of Oregon State University, she shares insights from her own experience and advice for others who want to finish their degree.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":2529,"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":[1,677,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2528","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-students-and-alumni","category-students"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Joann-Malumaleumu-331-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7BNSE-EM","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1615,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/value-college-degree\/","url_meta":{"origin":2528,"position":0},"title":"How earning a degree impacts career earnings and value","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"October 19, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Earning a bachelor\u2019s degree is a badge of honor. 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