黑料传送门

Editor's Note: McDonald鈥檚 and Western Governors University (黑料传送门) have launched a partnership to help employees at company-owned and participating franchisee-owned restaurants nationwide to pursue their education by making college more affordable and attainable. This is the story of one 黑料传送门 student's experience in the Archways to Opportunity program.

For Kassie Johner, McDonald鈥檚 and education have always gone hand-in-hand. She was 17 and attending high school when she got her first job as a crew member at the Twin City McDonald鈥檚 in Festus, Mo., owned and operated by Jessica Lucas and her father, Steve Short. She鈥檚 worked her way through the ranks and today, at 25, she鈥檚 a department manager who is about to receive her bachelor鈥檚 degree in business administration from Western Governors University. 鈥淲orking at McDonald鈥檚 and going to school has helped shape who I am, and how I help others,鈥� says Johner.

She shares that message when she interviews prospective restaurant employees and hires new team members. Many of them are surprised to learn that they can receive tuition assistance while working at McDonald鈥檚 through the Archways to Opportunity education program. When she first tells people about Archways, she loves the look that comes across their faces. It鈥檚 as though they see McDonald鈥檚 in a whole new light. 鈥淚 feel like they know that someone鈥檚 on their side, trying to help them out,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about working. It鈥檚 about helping develop them and their future.鈥�

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Working at McDonald鈥檚 while going to school has changed her life. Thinking back to her teenage years, Johner remembers how bashful she was. 鈥淲hen I first started at McDonald鈥檚 I was a shy person,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 was like, 鈥楧on鈥檛 talk to me because I鈥檒l freak out!鈥欌�� But with the support of her managers and Lucas, she became more confident in her interactions with customers. College, too, has helped her become more outgoing, as she learned communication skills and gained a deeper understanding of how to read people, including the people she manages. 鈥淚鈥檝e learned how to talk to people,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檝e learned how to be a leader.鈥澨�

Johner says she chose to attend Western Governors University because she likes the online approach to school. She works closely with a mentor, who offers one-on-one guidance throughout her studies. She鈥檚 able to study before and after work, and has found that flexibility to be helpful. Plus, she says, the team at McDonald鈥檚 has been incredibly supportive and flexible in her scheduling, as well. As a manager, she offers that same kind of encouragement to her team members, too, whether they鈥檙e 16-year-olds just starting their first job, or adults who have been working in the industry for years and are interested in pursuing their college degree. She wants everyone to know that McDonald鈥檚 wants to help them grow and learn鈥攁nd so does she. 鈥淚 always tell them if you need time off for any reason, like school, I understand because I鈥檓 going through the same thing,鈥� she says.

When Johner graduates in the fall of 2022, she plans to continue doing exactly what she鈥檚 doing: working at McDonald鈥檚. Her job has helped shape her life, after all, and she鈥檚 eager to cheer on others who might also find direction and purpose while working. 鈥淚f people go to school because of what I鈥檓 doing, I鈥檓 all for it,鈥� she says.