By Ashlee Larrison
GCU News Bureau
In the spring of 2018, Garfield Hyman was watching from the stands of Grand Canyon University Arena as his wife, Sheryl, graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Now, nearly a year and a half later, it was Garfield’s turn to take the commencement stage and accept his Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Management.
Hyman, who made his way to Phoenix from North Carolina but is originally from Jamaica, always knew that, whatever he chose to do with his life, he wanted to make an impact.
He and Sheryl got married at the end of 2012, and after she was offered a job in North Carolina and emigrated to the United States in 2016, it was only a matter of time before Hyman made the big move as well. He did so a year later.
“We have been trying to make it worthwhile,” Hyman said of his new life in America.
And that effort to make it worthwhile is what would bring Sheryl and eventually Hyman to GCU. Sheryl was referred to the nursing program by one of her peers, and after that everything just fell into line.
“I think she had done some research, saw that it was an accredited institution, but I think one of the factors that sort of informed her decision was the fact that it was a Christian institution,” Garfield said. “We were attracted to that aspect of the University.”
Now, with Sheryl working as a nurse at Cape Fear Medical Center and Hyman working as an associate at Walmart, he is ready to use his degree to help achieve his goal.
“I’m hoping that I will transcend to a manager position. That’s where I can apply the knowledge I’ve gained over the years to assist employees to obtain a better standard of living,” he said. “Sometimes many people don’t worry about direction of their life, and I think being in a manager position will assist me to help steer them toward a positive role so that they can achieve their goals and their objectives.”
He was always determined to get his degree, even spending as much as 16 hours in one day on his course work. It wasn’t always easy, but his instructors kept him encouraged to make to his goal.
"I found support, making the experience a really good one,” He said. "I would recommend GCU to anyone."
Hyman said he hopes his next step will be the pursuit of his MBA.
Contact Ashlee Larrison at (602) 639-8488 or [email protected].
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