With 47 years of work experience and multiple degrees under his belt, Bob Oberstein may seem like the perfect candidate for retirement. Instead, he’s going back to school.
“Most people my age are either retired or planning their retirement, but I'm planning on retiring in a different way—an active retirement, what I call ‘Act Two.’”
Bob is a labor relations manager for a public utility, and he loves his work: “Every day’s an adventure,” he says. But even the most seasoned professionals can benefit from going back to school. “When you've been around as long as I have, the danger is getting stale. So I'm hoping this will prevent that.”
We spoke to Bob during his first semester in the online Master of Jurisprudence in Labor & Employment Law (MJ-LEL) from Tulane University Law School. Within a short time, Bob found that his coursework and interactions with peers and professors had already positively affected his job performance. “I've seen an impact already in the way I'm interacting with our in-house counsel. It’s giving me an insight into what they need from me and how I can work better with them.”
And while Bob didn’t walk the stage for his previous undergraduate or master’s degree graduations, he’s making a concerted effort to attend his graduation ceremony at Tulane Law School. “My kids and I, and even my mother, who should be 90 at that time,” Bob says, “are all making arrangements to be at this one. It’s a real achievement, personally and professionally, and I'm looking forward to continuing to set an example for my grandchildren.”
Watch the video above to learn more about Bob’s experience in the program and how he’s using his newfound knowledge to excel in his labor relations role.