Note: This article is part of the StanGrad series highlighting Stanislaus State students who are part of the Class of 2018. Read more StanGrad profiles.
The life journeys of Shamiran Sarhadi and her son Jonathan Sarhadi have been very different, yet they will intersect May 24 in a very special moment. That’s when Shamiran will walk the stage to receive her Executive MBA, with honors, within minutes of Jonathan receiving his MBA, also with honors.
Despite the many nights they worked together on assignments and projects, the only goal was for both of them to graduate. Graduating at the same time was something they both realized was possible only a few months ago.
“It was right before Christmas,” Shamiran said. “We were talking and it dawned on us that we probably were going to be graduating together. It was like a dream come true, because we know this is rare for a mother and son to be graduating together with master’s degrees.”
Shamiran was born and raised in Tehran, Iran, and moved to the U.S. when she was 18. She took basic English courses at Modesto Junior College, then entered Stanislaus State, earning her bachelor’s degree in computer information systems.
“After getting my bachelor’s degree in 2000, it was really challenging for me to go back for graduate school,” said Shamiran, who works at UC Merced as a Life Sciences & Research Category Manager. “My husband Edward pushed me and supported me. When you have a solid foundation and support, anything is possible.”
Jonathan, a Pitman High graduate, earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2014 with a minor in business administration. He works in the Academic Senate office at Stan State and said he was inspired at an early age to eventually pursue an advanced degree.
“When I was small, I saw my mom going to school while she was working and raising two kids,” he said. “Looking back, that puts a great perspective on what it means to pursue an education.”
Since discovering they would be graduating in the same ceremony, they’ve had time to ponder what that moment will mean, personally and for the entire Sarhadi family.
“This means the world to me,” Shamiran said. “It also means that anyone can do this if you put your heart into it. For me, seeing Jonathan growing up and become the man he is makes me even more proud he’s getting this degree, and Stanislaus State gave us both the opportunity to do this.”
#StanGrad Files
Name
Shamiran Sarhadi
Hometown
Tehran, Iran; Turlock, CA
Degree/Credential
Executive Master of Business Administration
What advice would you give to current and future students?
“Take the time to enjoy the learning process, the relationships with the instructors and follow peers, and most important, take the time to reflect back on the importance of key concepts.”
What can you tell us about your student and life experiences at Stan State that could serve as an inspiration to current and future students?
“Having participated in the EMBA program, the fulfillment of achieving a master’s degree is quite an accomplishment for a mom while working full-time in an extremely competitive business environment. The bottom line is this: If someone applies themselves with hard work and focuses on the goal, they can achieve what they set out to do.”
How do you plan to use your Stan State degree to advance and/or improve life in our region?
“In the business world, I intend to achieve the highest level of executive management in my field. In my private life, I will use my knowledge and resources to help the underprivileged, which in turn will improve their opportunities to better their lives.”
Name
Jonathan Sarhadi
Hometown
Turlock, CA
Degree/Credential
Master of Business Administration
What advice would you give to current and future students?
“Sign up for Gmail and use the calendar application so they can synchronize it with their smart devices and create efficiency by adding everything on their syllabi to it. It makes school life a lot easier to manage daily with notifications being sent directly to the user. It worked for me and I never missed a class deadline.”
What can you tell us about your student and life experiences at Stan State that could serve as an inspiration to current and future students?
“Be adaptable and never give up in any situation. Take advantage of all resources on campus to get the assistance you need. The support system here on campus is quite amazing. Professors and staff members really encouraged me to do well and always pointed me in the right direction to complete my goals even during difficult semesters. The best experience I had was knowing that I could accomplish anything if I was persistent, regardless of the circumstances.”
How do you plan to use your Stan State degree to advance and/or improve life in our region?
“I can apply my advanced MBA degree to leverage opportunities within the business world. I will utilize the skills and creativity I’ve developed through my MBA program to contribute innovative solutions to local/regional businesses.