Online Student Bio: Nicholas Miale '17

Nicholas J. Miale '17 said that SUNY Canton's online Emergency Management allowed him to pursue his passion for traveling while earning a bachelor's degree.

"I didn’t have to put my life on hold to go to school," he said about his decision to earn a degree fully online. "I had several jobs: I worked as a deejay, a commercial drone pilot, a human resources representative for UPS and a personal trainer. I was able to earn enough money to study abroad in Europe, backpack through Hawaii during winter break and visit the Southwest for two months after graduation. That was all possible because I could continue working while I was in school."

Miale said he had taken online courses prior to enrolling at SUNY Canton and knew it was also a perfect fit for his learning style.

"I enjoyed the online experience more than sitting in a classroom," he said. "In many ways, I was able to learn the material better, because I often took the initiative to research the answers to my questions, which helped me fully understand the concepts."

He graduated with honors and made the Dean’s List nearly every semester. A resident of Mountaintop, Pa., Miale was far from campus, but never felt his education was an impersonal experience.

"My professors were very accommodating and great communicators. The expectations for each course were very clear-cut, and there was never a point where I was confused about what I was supposed to do."

He even took advantage of SUNY Canton’s study abroad opportunities and spent four months at the Sant’Anna Institute in Sorrento, Italy.

"During my first semester, I reached out to the International Programs Office to ask about opportunities, and they were incredibly helpful," he said. "I knew they were going to help me achieve my dream of going to Italy."

He said the trip was life-changing and benefitted him academically and personally. "I want to share my experience with others … and hopefully inspire them to go out of their comfort zone."

Miale is earning his master’s degree in school counseling and hopes to combine it with his background in emergency management to specialize in assisting children who have survived traumatic experiences.

"I’d like to work with kids who have been affected by major disasters," he said. "Specifically, helping them deal with the loss of friends or family members."