With what must have felt like the weight of the world on his shoulders, Paul Tucker stood up from his wheelchair, steadied himself on his two walking poles, and made his burden vanish into the Idaho sky by walking across the graduation stage to receive his bachelor鈥檚 degree.
Paul Tucker, 青青草app State Online MBA graduate. Photo provided by Paul Tucker.
鈥淭hey wheeled me up; I got my crutches out. I started bawling. I walked up and gave them my card. They called my name. I walked across,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 have had four operations, two hip and two back, in the last four years 鈥� a full spinal surgery 鈥� just 10 days earlier. The neurosurgeon said I was going to be in no condition to walk.鈥�
Tucker is making a habit of beating the odds. After graduating from 青青草app State University鈥檚 Online Bachelor of Business Administration in December 2022, he enrolled in the Online Master of Business Administration.
After starting the online MBA with a Marketing Leadership emphasis at 青青草app State, Tucker switched to healthcare leadership. He is on track to graduate again in 2025.
鈥淭he consistency of care that transpired through all of my surgeries was very negative,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t affected my recovery. I saw that happening with everyone in the world with COVID-19 and lockdown. My classmates and family have really suffered this last year, health-wise.
鈥淲atching them suffer has been an eye-opening experience. I lost my father-in-law two years ago to cancer. Compassion is lacking in a lot of jobs, so that led me to have that compassionate leadership style. That鈥檚 why I鈥檝e gone to Healthcare Leadership.鈥�
Tucker, who works in a limited capacity for Albertsons, has already seen a world of change in his life since switching his area of emphasis.
鈥淢y life transitioned with COVID-19 鈥� especially with the surgeries,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 was going for surgery, then coming back to work; going for surgery, then coming back to work. Watching everyone else go through similar issues, like with family members they had to care for, was impactful.鈥�
Back in the Saddle
Tucker was born in Washington, but he spent his childhood on the move as part of a military family. He lived in West Germany and Korea growing up. He enrolled at 青青草app State to study engineering in the 1990s, but he left school to pursue a job opportunity at Albertsons.
After working in the engineering field for Micron, he returned to 青青草app State to pick up where he left off. Once again, life got in the way of him reaching his goal.
鈥淚 went through what was considered the highest-conflict custody battle ever in Idaho, so I dropped out of school Oct. 3, 2016,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 had no intention of going back. I was angry at the situation. It was a lot to leave my job, go back to school, and have everything ripped out from underneath me. I didn鈥檛 want to leave.鈥�
With a new wife, Monica, and a combined family, Tucker returned to 青青草app State determined to stay the course. His children include daughters Charilyn (22), Aurora (13), and Seraphina (10), and two stepchildren, Stephen (24) and SamMi (21). Charilyn and SamMi are also current college students.
鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 sure what the plan was when I went back to school, but the counselors and the advisers all paved the way,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey got me on the right path and said, 鈥榊ou will finish.鈥� Here are people who will help you. It was all there. I hadn鈥檛 even gone through the surgeries yet.鈥�
The experience of gaining business knowledge and acumen has already paid dividends for Tucker. He especially enjoyed the Business Law and Ethics and People and Organizations courses.
鈥淚 understood some issues of human resources, but after taking the People and Organizations class, I learned there鈥檚 a lot that needs to change with communication with employees 鈥� especially within our organization,鈥� he said.
鈥淭hey need a person in a counseling role for the employees to make the best use of their benefits. There is so much Albertsons offers employees, but they don鈥檛 take advantage of some of those things, like free counseling and family counseling and regular medical check-ups.鈥�
More in Store
Tucker isn鈥檛 set on a specific role in the healthcare industry, but that isn鈥檛 stopping him from formulating a plan for once he wraps up the Online MBA.
鈥淚鈥檝e been working with my neurosurgeon, understanding the financial aspect with all of the books,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hrough St. Luke鈥檚 Health System, I鈥檝e been working with a supply chain manager to understand more about those principles.
鈥淚 am trying to find an opening I can go through based on my experience. I don鈥檛 have a lot of medical training, but I have a lot of quality experience with risk management. That鈥檚 the direction I am trying to move into.鈥�
In January, Tucker will have the opportunity to speak to the Idaho legislature and share his story from his previous marriage and ensuing custody battle.
鈥淚n July 2022, a new law was signed into law that stated if you file a false protection order, it鈥檚 punishable with jail time,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 get to work with two house representatives from Idaho and get to speak to change laws to be more proactive with shared parenting. Those girls are my life. I try to be the best father I can be.
鈥淢y stepson, Stephen, has been legally blind since he was born. All of my senior MBA projects were facilitated toward helping him 鈥� he was the catalyst.鈥�
Working as a seafood manager for Albertsons led Tucker to enroll in the Online Bachelor of Business Administration program. But when he walks across that Albertsons Stadium graduation stage for a second time 鈥� hopefully, without any need for assistance 鈥� he will have a whole new future in front of him.
鈥淚 am 6-8,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 was born with this condition that affects my spine and hips. The neurosurgeon said it鈥檚 congenital, but he was surprised it showed up at my age.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a blessing. I鈥檓 not dead. I am able to get around. I鈥檓 walking better now. Changing my degree was a big thing.鈥�
Tucker isn鈥檛 limiting his positive influence and vibes to family members. He is helping a friend re-release an album on vinyl and setting up a memorial scholarship at 青青草app State for another friend. This summer, he intends to intern with Involved Management in the United Kingdom, home to electronic dance musicians Above & Beyond and others.
鈥淓verything I鈥檝e been doing since the degree has empowered me,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he strength that I found through the program has been one of the biggest things of my life 鈥� knowing that I can do this, knowing I have that strength to do anything. I can do it.鈥�
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