Alyssa Friedberg
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About
Alyssa Friedberg is a certified child life specialist based in Chicago. She began her career in 2016, working in a clinical setting to help children and their families understand their diagnoses and implement routines designed to maintain development alongside treatment. This work was originally full-time in the hospital and has now transitioned to a community-based setting.
She began her Online Master of Public Health at Boston University's School of Public Health in January 2024 and chose Boston University for three reasons. Firstly, the program has a specific emphasis on health equity. Secondly, tuition for the program was comparatively affordable, and thirdly, the online format allowed her to balance her studies, professional life, and family life. Upon completing the online program, she intends to advance the child life profession through research and by using the skills developed in this program.
When applying for your program, did you have any concerns about how to balance your work, your personal life, and your studies?
When I applied to the program, I was a new mom with a 9-month-old, and life was very stressful. I had some concerns about how to manage it all, but once I was in the program, it fell into place. The team of Learning Facilitators has been very supportive, and when I’ve had questions, we’ve been able to have 1:1s to help me understand the material.
One thing that I’ve been grateful for is how the curriculum is professionally relevant. Some weeks were more intuitive to me from my background, whereas others took more work, and planning for that has been important.
How easy has it been to transition to studying online alongside your existing commitments?
Much easier than I thought it would be, although there had to be some adjustments. I have been more intentional about setting aside work to focus on my studies.
I am a freelancer and a consultant, which allows me some degree of flexibility in how I work. I’ve taken advantage of that to do this program.
What changes did you need to make to make time to study?
I needed to set boundaries! In practice, that meant needing to make sure that there was time for school. I have been very grateful for the support of my husband in providing me with the space to study.
I have found that the timeline has varied a bit week to week, with 10-15 hours of commitment at the low end and over 20 hours a week when I have been less familiar with the material. I’ve tried to complete videos and readings as soon as possible, and submit assignments at the last minute to give myself as much time as possible to ask questions.
Do you have any tips for students who are new to working online to help them succeed?
Yes, I’ve got a few. Firstly, use your support networks. Working virtually can silo you.
- Academic resources: Reach out to the Learning Facilitators and attend Office Hours when you need to.
- Family: I’ve been well-supported by family who’ve given me the space to focus on my studies when needed.
- Other Students: Our cohort has WhatsApp groups running, and being able to get quick answers to questions has been helpful.
Secondly, when starting a program like this, be honest with yourself. Know how you work and work with that rather than forcing yourself to work in ways that don’t work for you.