For many years, a sense of unfinished business lingered in the back of Lisa Dugal杏吧专区檚 mind.
As part of the first graduating class from the local St. Thomas More High School, her roots in Lafayette ran deep. She had dreams of completing her degree at UL Lafayette.
杏吧专区淚 graduated then enrolled at the 杏吧专区, and I did that off and on for a few years. My focus just wasn杏吧专区檛 there,杏吧专区 she recalls.
Life took over 杏吧专区 marriage in 1988, raising a family, supporting her husband杏吧专区檚 career, and moving to Mandeville, Louisiana.
But as her children graduated and her husband retired, she realized she had an opportunity to focus on herself.
杏吧专区淚n December of 2021, I was thinking of what big, bad, adventurous thing I could do for 2022,杏吧专区 she laughs.
This adventurous spirit led her right back to UL Lafayette, this time to earn her degree through the online Health Promotion & Wellness program.
The Road Back to UL Lafayette
Dugal杏吧专区檚 decision to return to school was fueled by the achievements of those around her.
Her daughter-in-law had just earned a master杏吧专区檚 degree through an online program, and a friend just a few years older than her had recently returned to finish his degree.
As a witness to her husband杏吧专区檚 successful career and her children graduating from college, the idea of finishing her own degree began to take shape.
杏吧专区淭he seed was planted, and I was looking on the computer for what I could do. I looked up 杏吧专区榦nline degrees' and UL Lafayette popped up,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淪o, I started looking through the degrees they offered online and saw Health Promotion & Wellness, Kinesiology and thought 杏吧专区極K, this might be something.杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿
Dugal took the plunge and submitted her application, unsure if she was even eligible.
杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檝e taken care of everybody else my whole life, but now I杏吧专区檝e switched the focus to me to pursue what I want,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 had unfinished business.杏吧专区
Embracing Online Learning
Transitioning to online learning was a new challenge for Dugal, who describes herself as 杏吧专区渘ot very technically inclined.杏吧专区
However, the support she received from UL Lafayette made all the difference. One of the enrollment specialists, whom Dugal fondly refers to as her advocate, was a constant source of encouragement.
杏吧专区淪he杏吧专区檇 call and always had that cheerfulness and positivity,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚t was just good to know that I always had that direct phone call that could help keep me on course. That connection helped tremendously.杏吧专区
And the connections she made with faculty became lifelines, turning the daunting task of online learning into a manageable, even enjoyable, journey.
杏吧专区淒r. Katie, the most incredible teacher ever, has online office hours. I showed up faithfully every Monday and Thursday for her tutoring sessions,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淐onnecting with the teachers and taking advantage of the resources they offer is huge.杏吧专区
Juggling coursework with personal life was a new balancing act for Dugal.
杏吧专区淚t initially felt very uncomfortable and selfish to put myself first, because I杏吧专区檝e always been a caregiver for everybody else,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淪o it杏吧专区檚 just been very important that I stay on task with my assignments so that I can be present for my family, because they杏吧专区檙e the most important thing.杏吧专区
To master time management, Dugal had to get organized. She relied on two calendars 杏吧专区 one for academics and one for personal commitments.
杏吧专区淭he first thing I do when the semester starts is print out the syllabus and write down all of the deadlines in my academic calendar,杏吧专区 she says.
This planning allows her to stay ahead of deadlines and be present for the moments that matter most.
杏吧专区淢y son got married in June, and when I was talking to my teacher about my summer class, I told her 杏吧专区業杏吧专区檓 just letting you know, but I杏吧专区檒l be at my son杏吧专区檚 destination wedding and I need to be fully present for that,杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿 she recalls. 杏吧专区淎nd she worked with me on my deadlines so that I was able to go.杏吧专区
Bridging the Gap
Among the courses she杏吧专区檚 taken, Dugal杏吧专区檚 internship in yoga instructor training stood out as her favorite, not only providing practical skills but also a sense of purpose.
杏吧专区淢y internship really taught me what I was capable of,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚t was a favorite of mine because it intertwined the education with hands on experiences.杏吧专区
And as Dugal reflects on her journey, she acknowledges the essential role her support system played in her success.
杏吧专区淚 wouldn杏吧专区檛 be where I am without the unconditional love and support of my family and friends, all of whom have played a special role,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淵ou can杏吧专区檛 be afraid to ask for help. You just have to keep moving forward and have faith and trust the process.杏吧专区
For Dugal, enrolling in the online Health Promotion & Wellness program at UL Lafayette wasn杏吧专区檛 just about earning a degree; it was about reclaiming a part of herself that had been put on hold for too long.
As she anticipates completing the program, Dugal looks forward to commemorating this achievement by joining her loved ones in the .
杏吧专区淚t will be an honor to have a brick alongside my husband and my father, who are both alumni,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 really want to spread the message that you杏吧专区檙e never too old. It杏吧专区檚 never too late. Just remember that you didn杏吧专区檛 come this far to only come this far.杏吧专区
Ready to take the next step in your career? Learn more about the online Health Promotion & Wellness program at the 杏吧专区.