The Inflection: Discovering a Passion for Education and Teaching

Sam Girgis believes in lifelong learning and in paying his knowledge forward—a calling shaped in many ways through his experience at UC Irvine Division of Continuing Education (UC Irvine DCE).

Searching for a new direction and a solid foundation for his business aspirations, he came to DCE for a certificate in Human Resources Management. He left with renewed ambition, a sense of mission, and a clearer career path—an experience he hopes to revisit someday soon, as both a learner and, he hopes, an instructor.

“I love to teach and mentor, and I’ve even been invited as a guest lecturer at community colleges,” he said. “Actually, I started out as a community college student, and I wasn’t sure that it was really for me. I didn’t feel comfortable with college in general, but I stuck with it and now I absolutely love it. I plan on continuing to learn and grow, come back to DCE to continue my education and, hopefully, give back by teaching there someday.”

Well prepared with his HR certificate, Sam went on to earn a Master of Business Management degree from Azusa Pacific University, excelling in the classroom while working in various positions throughout the healthcare and dental industry. He has served as a business development manager and management consultant with a focus on growing revenue.

His long-term academic goal is to earn a Doctorate in Education in Organizational Change and share his breadth of knowledge with others. His experience with DCE, he said, served as a turning point, providing a strong background in business practices, a network of valuable connections and friendships, and a deepened love for continuing education.

Sam now lives in Little Elm, Texas, about thirty miles outside Dallas, where he works as a training and account manager for a medical practice. In his spare time, he enjoys playing his guitar, hiking, and other outdoor activities. He recently shared how his journey began and how DCE helped prepare him for career and academic success.

Let’s start at the beginning. Why did you choose UC Irvine and what career goals did you hope to advance?

“I chose UC Irvine because of its top-tier education, its rigor, and its credibility. The Human Resources Management certificate program implements soft skills, and the ability to not only hone those skills, but to apply them in the real world as well. The program helped me focus on my immediate goals, my passion for training and development, and it has allowed me to be a guest lecturer at local colleges and serve as a teacher assistant.”

Tell me about your experience in the HR program. Were there any instructors or lasting connections that stand out?

“Overall, the instructors are all working professionals with great knowledge of the trends in their respective industries, which really sets them apart. Two of my instructors, Patricia Bravo and Dave Bolero, were especially helpful, and I’m still in contact with many of my instructors from 10 years ago. I especially enjoyed the hands-on group projects and the ability to collaborate with the diverse student body, which allowed for strong alumni connections and the opportunity to build long-term business relationships.

The Alumni network, especially the LinkedIn community, has been great to connect with, and I am always looking forward to mentoring students or to being mentored by top professionals. UC Irvine is the cream of the crop when it comes to faculty and education.”

How has your DCE education influenced your professional growth, leadership and mindset since you completed your certificate?

“From a professional standpoint, it has allowed me to apply the skills from the program directly on the job, more specifically with training and development which is where I have been focused for the past five years or more.

After I completed my HR certificate and did very well in it, it allowed me to pursue additional higher education, with a stronger and more ambitious desire to continue doing so. I went on to complete my master’s degree shortly after I completed the HR Management program.”

Is there a personal milestone you can attribute to your DCE experience?

“The knowledge and background I gained from the HR program prepared me to apply management and HR principles in my graduate work and narrow down my areas of focus and concentration, which was invaluable on the job and in my graduate work.

As far as my career is concerned, my DCE experience has really opened up my career prospects. The program not only helps professionals find success in the workplace, but it also expands their base of knowledge and skillsets in human resources.”

What are your long- and short-term education goals?

“Pursuing my Doctor of Education is the long-term goal, and I would love to do the Personal Financial Planning certification at DCE in the short term, hopefully within the next couple of years. I believe that everything I learn through the DCE programs is very useful and applicable in my career and in eventually pursuing my doctorate.”

Do you have a dream job, an ultimate career goal you’re shooting for?

“My ultimate career goal is to continue to climb the corporate ladder in my forties, leverage my education, and teach more at the community college and university levels. My dream job is to apply my education across multiple disciplines, help as many people succeed as possible, so in turn, I succeed and make education more accessible to those around me and help them do the same for others.

That’s what drives me, taking what I’ve learned, applying it, and teaching others to do the same, so they in turn can pass that on to the next person, and so on and so forth. This in turn leaves a legacy of learning, and one that I can be very proud of.”

Learn more about the Human Resources Management Certificate Program.