Terry Barriere considers himself a lifelong learner, which is partly what prompted him to enter the MBA program at Texas Wesleyan University.

After graduating from Wesleyan in December 2008 with his bachelor’s degree in business, Barriere, 28, realized he had higher aspirations.

“In today’s job market, a bachelor’s degree doesn’t have as much value as it used to,” he said. It was also the people he met at Wesleyan who also drew him into the program.

“I know this sounds cliché, but really, it’s the people here,” Barriere said.

After deciding to pursue his MBA, Barriere started his own property preservation and construction company, which improves foreclosed properties before they are sold. It’s a business similar to the one he worked for when he was an undergraduate student.

Despite owning a company and nearing the end of his master’s program, Barriere isn’t sure if he’s finished with school. He is considering going to law school.

He’s taken several business law classes at Wesleyan and says that if he chooses to go into the legal profession, he would focus on corporate law.

Barriere feels he wouldn’t be able to continue as a lifelong learner if it weren’t for his supportive family. His wife and 8-year-old son have gotten used to his long hours and jam-packed schedule.

It’s a delicate balance his family may have to maintain for awhile.

In addition to considering law school, he said he wants to continue to expand his company beyond two full-time employees. “I have a lot of long-term career goals,” Barriere said.