Jazmin Gallardo Carrillo fulfilling long-term goal of earning bachelor’s degree at Boise State

Hailey, Idaho, native Jazmin Gallardo Carrillo knew where she wanted to attend college before she was in middle school.

“I went to Boise State University on a field trip when I was in fifth grade,” she said. “I fell in love with it. I have known forever that I wanted to go to school at Boise State and become an alumna.”

Gallardo Carrillo is well on her way to achieving that dream as a student in the online Bachelor of Business Administration in Management. She is on track to graduate in May 2025.

“When I earned my liberal arts associate degree from the College of Southern Idaho, I knew that I wanted to be sure of what I would earn my bachelor’s degree in, that it would be something I wanted to pursue and had a passion for doing,” she said. “That’s why I took a little bit of a break.”

After enrolling at Boise State in 2023, Gallardo Carrillo also became a mother. She and her husband, David Gallardo, have a nine-month-old son, Matteo. They live in Twin Falls, Idaho.

“A lot of my friends think it’s insane that I just became a mom in March, and I’m still doing the degree,” she said. “I stopped for a while because I was hospitalized over the summer for complications of mastitis. My advisor advised me to do some incompletes, so it didn’t push my graduation date back any further.”

The flexibility of the online format is also important for Gallardo Carrillo, who is a student success coordinator for the College of Southern Idaho, where she graduated from in 2021.

“The online format is great,” she said. “I love that I have the ability to do the work at my pace because we all have due dates with no meeting time like you have with other classes. I also love the seven-week courses, which have helped me get my degree faster than when I earned my associate degree.

“The way the online classes were set up after the pandemic is so much better than they were before. It’s great that I am still able to attend my dream school without having to be there.”

Changing direction

Gallardo Carrillo planned to become a teacher after graduating from high school, but she changed her mind after working as a substitute. She chose entrepreneurship as an emphasis area for the online Bachelor of Business Administration in Management.

“I am especially looking forward to next semester when I take a class called Starting Your Own Business,” she said. “I want to open my own businesses. That class will be great because a lot of people who want to start businesses don’t know where to begin. To have that guide will be great.”

Although she is still working out what type of business she plans to open, Gallardo Carrillo looks forward to changing her career and life.

“This area is growing a lot, so I am thinking about going into storage solutions, at first,” she said. “I’ve thought about owning event centers and opening gyms with daycares geared toward parents.”

Gallardo Carrillo began thinking about becoming an entrepreneur after wrapping up the associate degree.

“I knew that I wanted to do something, but I didn’t know what,” she said. “I kept seeing people who would lose their jobs, or their company would shut down. They were 55 or 65 years old and didn’t know what to do with their life. They had to start over.

“I realized I could become my own boss, own my own business and not have to rely on a company like that. This program is preparing me well to start my own business. Last semester, I took Employment Law and learned a lot. I found out about things some of my previous managers didn’t know about, like liability. It was great to learn.”

Full speed ahead

A first-generation college student, Gallardo Carrillo will put the icing on the cake of her goal of becoming a Boise State University graduate by walking at commencement next year.

“My family and friends are super excited that I am continuing even after becoming a mom this year,” she said. “I have a ton going on, but they know that I have wanted to pursue a degree forever. They knew I wanted to be sure of myself before I decided what to go into, to not waste time or money.

“They’re super proud of the fact that I am getting it done even though I have so much on my plate. It’s good to have a support system. It’s the only reason I was able to get this far. Being a first-generation college graduate adds a lot of significance to it.”

Gallardo Carrillo, who enjoys cooking, reading and the outdoors in her free time, is happy that the experience of attending Boise State is living up to her expectations that have been growing since she was a fifth-grader.

“I do believe this degree is going to help me achieve my goals,” she said. “I’ve learned so much, and I feel better prepared to take on the challenge of becoming a business owner.

“The great thing about the program is most of my professors and my advisor see me as a person first. They truly care and want me to achieve this goal in my life.”

Although she has had some roadblocks along the way, Gallardo Carrillo is thrilled to be closing in on graduation day.

“I tell a lot of people and students here at the College of Southern Idaho who are concerned with the amount of time that it takes them to get a degree that when you get that credential, nobody is ever asking, ‘How old were you?’ or ‘What month did you get it?’ They just want to know if you have it or not,” she said. “The way I looked at it is, ‘I can either be 27 and not have a degree, or I can be 27 and have a degree.’ Go for it.”

Learn more about the business administration program

Earning an online Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Boise State University can open doors to new opportunities and a brighter future — and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Whether you’re exploring if an online degree is right for you or need help transferring credits, connecting with a student success coach is the perfect first step.

Ready to learn more? Attend one of our online information sessions or contact a student success coach today.