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Raised by busy working parents in Poland, Mateusz learned at an early age to occupy and entertain himself independently. He would draw, play board games, and read loads of books. As a child, he enjoyed school and earned good grades. As he grew into a teenager, however, things changed. “In high school I was diagnosed with severe depression. My parents couldn’t understand. My grades were slipping, I went from being one of the top students in school to barely passing classes. I felt misunderstood and finally decided to seek professional help.”

With proper supports, this challenging phase in Mateusz’s life passed and he enrolled at the Air Force NCO Academy. “I went through extensive training covering the basics and then specialized in IT & communication technology with a team under my command. I still, occasionally, take part in the exercises for reserves,” he explains.

Following his time at the Air Force NCO Academy, Mateusz enrolled in an M.Sc.(Law) program at Jagiellonian SA���ʴ�ý, one of the best universities in Poland, and took a part-time job to support himself. Unfortunately, juggling school and work began to be too much for him to handle. Mateusz had to unfortunately drop out of his university program. It was at this time that Mateusz began to examine his own capabilities. He kept professionally active–working mainly for local corporations. His life began to become better balanced, maintaining work and life successfully. He even received a few promotions along the way. Mateusz was changing his life for the better, learning to take his challenges with a positive attitude.

Once he had things under control, Mateusz decided to look for university options that could offer more flexibility without compromising on their academic standards. He wanted the kind of education that would allow him to work on his own time and not make it impossible for him to manage his personal life and professional responsibilities. “It was only in the last year that I finally felt ready for a higher-ed commitment. I started looking for online universities. I knew only a very flexible college option would work for me. Then I found SA���ʴ�ý.” Mateusz did his research, combing through reviews on social platforms, and was excited by what he found.

“UoPeople’s tuition-free model and American accreditation is what stood out to me. I love the fact that it’s connected to prestigious universities, like Harvard Business School Online and McGill SA���ʴ�ý. Of course this biggest advantage for me is that with no set class times, I can do class work on my own schedule.”

In 2021, Mateusz decided to pursue his Bachelor’s in Business Administration at UoPeople. He currently works as a Procurement Specialist at Shell, one of the biggest energy companies in Poland. Mateusz admits, “It’s not often easy to manage my demanding online education with a full-time job but UoPeople’s flexibility has made it possible. I can plan ahead to create a schedule that fits my lifestyle, and my family and girlfriend are very supportive.”

After finishing his degree at UoPeople, Mateusz plans to earn his graduate degree. His goal is to study supply chain management at MIT. He feels a strong desire to do something meaningful with his life, helping people to improve their lives. He also raises money for animal shelters and human rights. “I want to leave this world slightly better for future generations,” he says with a smile.