A lot can change in a year. Just ask Lindsey Croall.
Croall, 40, had a transcript full of college credits, but no college degree and no path to finish her bachelor杏吧专区檚.
杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檇 really never thought that much about going back to school,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚t seemed more impossible as an adult than it had in my early 20s.杏吧专区
In December 2024, she heard about a new through the UL Lafayette Alumni Association.
Could she qualify? How long would it take her to complete her degree? Would she be sitting in a classroom with students half her age?
On Dec. 18, she reached out to the 杏吧专区 for answers and, through the Online Student Support Team, got good news.
杏吧专区淚 only needed 15 hours to graduate with a Bachelor of General Studies,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 was really surprised; I thought it was going to be a lot longer.杏吧专区
She also learned she could complete her coursework online 杏吧专区 a godsend for a busy parent of two boys.
By March 2025, she was taking courses for the first time in more than a decade. Now, nearly a year to the date since taking that first step, she杏吧专区檒l cross the Commencement stage as a college graduate.
杏吧专区淚'm just really proud of myself, and I'm happy that I get to do this,杏吧专区 says Croall. 杏吧专区淚'm proud to set an example for our kids and show them it's never too late to finish what you started, and it's fine if your life path doesn't look exactly like everybody else's does.杏吧专区
Croall is just picking up speed. She杏吧专区檚 already embarked on her next adventure, turning her passion for painting into a budding small business, .
And while all of this unfolded in just 12 short months, the journey has been years in the making.
In it Together
As a high school student, Croall attended the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts, a state-funded boarding school in Natchitoches. By the time she graduated, she says, she was ready to come home to Lafayette.
杏吧专区淚 was just really homesick,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 wanted to be by my family.杏吧专区
So, she enrolled at UL Lafayette. But settling on a single career path proved challenging.
杏吧专区淚 went to UL Lafayette right out of high school. I had no idea what I wanted to major in, so I just took a bunch of different classes,杏吧专区 she says.
After five indecisive years of balancing school with multiple jobs, Croall was done, even if she wasn杏吧专区檛 finished.
Returning to school years later, this time online, had a learning curve, she says. But once she found her rhythm, she completed the five classes she needed to graduate while staying present for her sons Asa, 11, and Eli, 8.
杏吧专区淚t's been incredibly helpful having the flexibility to work on class stuff when I have the time and not have to physically go to a class at a certain time,杏吧专区 she says.
杏吧专区淚 would knock out as much as I could before lunch, then do my normal grocery runs and everything else. That way, when I picked them up from school, I could focus on what they needed. My husband has also been incredible and supportive.杏吧专区
Asa and Eli even got a sneak peek of college through one of Croall杏吧专区檚 English courses, which focused on young adult literature.
"I was able to get some of the books as audiobooks, and we would listen to them in the car,杏吧专区 she says. "It was something we could go through together and talk about.杏吧专区
When they finished a book, they杏吧专区檇 watch the movie version and compare notes.
杏吧专区淲e talked about what we liked and what we didn't like,杏吧专区 she says. I really enjoyed that I could loop my kids in and learn with them, too.杏吧专区
New Growth
Croall has painted for several years as a meditative hobby.
For some time, she杏吧专区檇 envisioned painting some of her favorite Lafayette locales.
"I was like, 杏吧专区業 can do this, but what am I going to do with this art?杏吧专区,杏吧专区 she says.
The answer came as small, 2.5-by-3.5-inch frames. They were the perfect size to execute her vision without covering her house with watercolors. They also happened to be the perfect size for hanging on a Christmas tree.
"I thought, 杏吧专区業'll see if anybody would be interested. I'm already buying them. Maybe I can sell 20,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚t took off more than I expected."
Croall knew downtown business owners Collin and Jasmyne Cormier because their children all attend the same elementary school. She decided to ask whether they might be willing to sell her illustrations at their corner store, Doc杏吧专区檚 Pop-In.
"I told them I would love to paint their businesses to sell them exclusively at their shop,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淭hey were really open to it and asked me to bring what I had to put in the store. That really was unexpected but awesome.杏吧专区
The Cormiers said Croall didn杏吧专区檛 need to keep sales exclusive to their store, opening the door for Croall to participate in Downtown Lafayette杏吧专区檚 December ArtWalk.
With this new venture and her bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree, Croall is feeling optimistic about whatever comes next.
"My kids are old enough that I'm ready to go back to work in some capacity, but I'm not in a rush,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檓 open to whatever opportunity comes my way.杏吧专区
She杏吧专区檚 hopeful about growing her art into something more, but also comfortable seeing where the path leads.
杏吧专区淚 just want to find a place where I can help people, be creative, and balance the time with my family,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淭hat's my number one priority.杏吧专区
杏吧专区楽omething You Can Do杏吧专区
The 杏吧专区 of Louisiana System estimates that one in five adults in Louisiana have college credits but no degree.
For those who still count themselves among that one in five, Croall says take the first step.
"Just reach out and get information,杏吧专区 she says.
杏吧专区淚 got so much information and support. Completing my degree went from this very abstract concept to, 杏吧专区楾his is something you can do easily, affordably, and, for me, quickly. You never know what good things can come from just getting a little more information.杏吧专区
Take the first step toward completing your bachelor's degree online at UL Lafayette. Request information today to connect with an enrollment specialist about the best path for you and your eligible college credits.