To Create Your Own Destiny: Sarah Wilcox

Sarah Wilcox graduated in May 2022 from Utah State University in Management Information Systems.  She began her studies more than ten years ago at Snow College, pausing her education to marry and have four children.  Always hungry for knowledge, but with her formal education temporarily on hold, Sarah continued to grow in other important ways.  She became active in community issues and local government because this was an area where she knew she could make a real impact.  She also volunteered at the local schools, worked part time at Zions Bank, and managed the growing family’s busy schedules.  
“I loved those years with my young kids.  I was productive.  I had goals for myself, but I was also satisfied with where I was,” she says.  “Everything has a season.  I consciously made the decision to be happy with what I had at that time, and I embraced that.”

Those busy and productive years turned out to be a real-life intensive course in data analytics and project management that prepared her for success in her new endeavors. “I’m goal-oriented, and completing my education was always on my bucket list,” says Sarah.  “I knew there would never be a “perfect time,” because my kids would always need me in some capacity.  But once my youngest was at an appropriate age, I knew it was time to see this through.  I took things one day at a time and learned to be flexible.”  

Wilcox finished her associate degree at Snow College in 2019, and then enrolled in USU through a statewide campus in 2020.  A careful and thoughtful decision maker, Sarah’s critical thinking skills drew her to the study of business.  “When I took my first data analytics class, I knew I’d found the right place for me.  It had everything I was looking for. Problem solving, data, technology,” she says. “Data runs the world right now.  It removes the guesswork and allows us to weigh all sides of an issue to make an informed decision.”

One of Sarah’s guiding principles is to take responsibility for everything in her domain.  She answers every challenge with hard work and perseverance.  A conscientious student, she completed her coursework online from home in Sanpete County, during the unique challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.  She graduated from USU with a 4.0 GPA and was named the Huntsman School of Business nominee for the Legacy of Utah State award.  

She arose early in the morning and worked late into the night to finish her daily tasks.  She took up running as a way to help manage the pressures of school, work, and her family’s needs.  She ran her first half marathon in 2020, and is training for a full marathon.  “Constantly learning and growing gives me a sense of fulfillment.  I want my kids and others to have that too—to know the satisfaction of being productive.”

Now working as a business analyst for doTERRA, Wilcox communicates the needs of Eastern European markets to developers and programmers. She loves the dynamic environment and daily opportunities to solve new problems, and being able to examine all sides of issues both in collaboration with her team and in self-guided projects.  Her work also gives her the opportunity to learn about the laws, languages, customs, and geography of other countries.  This puts her one step closer to another of her life goals to travel the world.  

Her secret to success, though not easy, is simple: prioritize education.  Set goals, stay present, keep growing.  
Sleep less.  
Run more.