\u201cWhen I earned my liberal arts associate degree from the College of Southern Idaho, I knew that I wanted to be sure of what I would earn my bachelor\u2019s degree in, that it would be something I wanted to pursue and had a passion for doing,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s why I took a little bit of a break.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After enrolling at Boise State in 2023, Gallardo Carrillo also became a mother. She and her husband, David Gallardo, have a nine-month-old son, Matteo. They live in Twin Falls, Idaho.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA lot of my friends think it\u2019s insane that I just became a mom in March, and I\u2019m still doing the degree,\u201d she said. \u201cI stopped for a while because I was hospitalized over the summer for complications of mastitis. My advisor advised me to do some incompletes, so it didn\u2019t push my graduation date back any further.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The flexibility of the online format is also important for Gallardo Carrillo, who is a student success coordinator for the College of Southern Idaho, where she graduated from in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe online format is great,\u201d she said. \u201cI love that I have the ability to do the work at my pace because we all have due dates with no meeting time like you have with other classes. I also love the seven-week courses, which have helped me get my degree faster than when I earned my associate degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe way the online classes were set up after the pandemic is so much better than they were before. It\u2019s great that I am still able to attend my dream school without having to be there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gallardo Carrillo planned to become a teacher after graduating from high school, but she changed her mind after working as a substitute. She chose entrepreneurship as an emphasis area for the online Bachelor of Business Administration in Management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am especially looking forward to next semester when I take a class called Starting Your Own Business,\u201d she said. \u201cI want to open my own businesses. That class will be great because a lot of people who want to start businesses don\u2019t know where to begin. To have that guide will be great.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although she is still working out what type of business she plans to open, Gallardo Carrillo looks forward to changing her career and life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis area is growing a lot, so I am thinking about going into storage solutions, at first,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve thought about owning event centers and opening gyms with daycares geared toward parents.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gallardo Carrillo began thinking about becoming an entrepreneur after wrapping up the associate degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI knew that I wanted to do something, but I didn\u2019t know what,\u201d she said. \u201cI kept seeing people who would lose their jobs, or their company would shut down. They were 55 or 65 years old and didn\u2019t know what to do with their life. They had to start over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI realized I could become my own boss, own my own business and not have to rely on a company like that. This program is preparing me well to start my own business. Last semester, I took Employment Law and learned a lot. I found out about things some of my previous managers didn\u2019t know about, like liability. It was great to learn.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A first-generation college student, Gallardo Carrillo will put the icing on the cake of her goal of becoming a Boise State University graduate by walking at commencement next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy family and friends are super excited that I am continuing even after becoming a mom this year,\u201d she said. \u201cI have a ton going on, but they know that I have wanted to pursue a degree forever. They knew I wanted to be sure of myself before I decided what to go into, to not waste time or money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re super proud of the fact that I am getting it done even though I have so much on my plate. It\u2019s good to have a support system. It\u2019s the only reason I was able to get this far. Being a first-generation college graduate adds a lot of significance to it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gallardo Carrillo, who enjoys cooking, reading and the outdoors in her free time, is happy that the experience of attending Boise State is living up to her expectations that have been growing since she was a fifth-grader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI do believe this degree is going to help me achieve my goals,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve learned so much, and I feel better prepared to take on the challenge of becoming a business owner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe great thing about the program is most of my professors and my advisor see me as a person first. They truly care and want me to achieve this goal in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although she has had some roadblocks along the way, Gallardo Carrillo is thrilled to be closing in on graduation day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI tell a lot of people and students here at the College of Southern Idaho who are concerned with the amount of time that it takes them to get a degree that when you get that credential, nobody is ever asking, \u2018How old were you?\u2019 or \u2018What month did you get it?\u2019 They just want to know if you have it or not,\u201d she said. \u201cThe way I looked at it is, \u2018I can either be 27 and not have a degree, or I can be 27 and have a degree.\u2019 Go for it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Earning an online Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Boise State University can open doors to new opportunities and a brighter future \u2014 and we\u2019re here to support you every step of the way. Whether you’re exploring if an online degree is right for you or need help transferring credits, connecting with a student success coach is the perfect first step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to learn more? Attend one of our online information sessions or contact a student success coach today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Jazmin](\"https:\/\/www.boisestate.edu\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2025\/01\/Jazmin-Gallardo-Carrillo-768x1024.jpg\")
Changing direction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Full speed ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Learn more about the business administration program<\/h2>\n\n\n\n