A Look Back Into My Journey

Hello – My name is Tim Briscoe. In Winter term 2016, I graduated from Marylhurst University with a B.S. in Business Management, and I received my MBA in the Summer term of 2017. I’ve had some obstacles to overcome to get to this point, and I’m honored to tell you just a little bit of my story.

I grew up in NE Portland, Oregon - one of 4 siblings raised by a single mother. Like many, we struggled to make ends meet. In H.S., I played basketball and my senior year, we won the state championship. Soon after -(to my surprise), I  was contacted by college recruiters. Attending college was not in my plans. It just wasn’t part of the culture surrounding me.

I started at Umpqua Community College and loved my time playing basketball. Like many 18-year-olds, I didn’t worry so much about my classes and grades. I had no idea how college actually fit into my life, and no one from home could really help me. After a year and a half,  a sports injury brought my season to an end. I dropped out of college, moved back home and got a job. Soon after, I got married and had 3 children. Life was busy, and I struggled to build a reasonable career to support my family.

But I’m smart, and I can hustle, so I found my way into the banking world – working in business development and as a mortgage officer. It was the early 2000s and it was a good job. I was a top producer, but over time, I noticed that people around me were getting promoted. After several conversations with mentors in my workplace and with my boss, I realized that the one thing holding me back was the fact that I didn’t have a college degree.

In the meantime, my mother began to go to college to become a teacher. She was just taking a class here or there, but still, it inspired me to think about college. In 2008, when the bottom dropped out of the banking world, I knew I had to get serious. I went back to Community College at PCC Cascade Campus. It was hard, and it was intimidating, But I thought about my mom, I thought about my new wife (who’s just as motivated as I was), I thought about my children. And, I thought about my future.

At PCC, I was working on core classes and business classes when a Marylhurst advisor came to talk about the business management program offered right at the PCC Campus. I was so nervous to take the next step. I wasn’t sure I could make it, and I was pretty sure I couldn’t afford it. There were just so many unknowns. But I took a leap and came out to Marylhurst to meet with an admissions' advisor. The minute I got to that beautiful campus, I felt peace.

When I met with Laura from admissions, I was really nervous about whether I had the ability and the means to go back and get my degree. I’ll never forget how Laura looked me in the eyes and said, “Tim, you are GOING to graduate from Marylhurst. You are.” At that moment, she gave me support and confidence to believe that I would finally succeed.

I was working full-time and going to school full time. My wife was also going to school full-time, so I was supporting all of us. That was a very challenging time. However, after a lot of sacrifice, hard-work and focus, I was able to complete my bachelor’s degree in Winter of 2016.  I have big dreams, so I decided to keep the momentum going and to get my MBA, which I finished in summer term 2017. I was able to cross that finish line for the 2nd time!  

During the course of my corporate career, I have had the privilege to serve my community in several capacities. My industry experience in (Banking, Real Estate, Non-Profit, Semiconductors, Aviation, Marketing, Research / Analytics and Entrepreneurship) provides me with a unique perspective that may benefit you, as you pursue your goals.  

Our mission at ONCOURSE MBA, is to empower you to reach your educational goals, so YOU can cross that finish line and realize your dreams, just like I realized mine.