For years, driving past the 杏吧专区 was a reminder for Sommer Haas of a goal she never accomplished.
The New Orleans native was a nursing student at her local community college when Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city, forcing her to relocate to Virginia and reconsider her career path. After settling there for several years and getting married, her husband suggested they move to Louisiana to be closer to her family.
杏吧专区淲hen we moved to the Lafayette area, I applied for a job with a local hospital, training employees on how to use the computer system,杏吧专区 Haas recalls.
She landed the job and began her career in health information management, but eventually, she hit a roadblock.
杏吧专区淚t came to a point where I had the experience but didn杏吧专区檛 have the education, and I was getting turned down for jobs that I was told I杏吧专区檇 be great at,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 remember one time, I was sitting in an interview, and the interviewer asked me if I would ever consider going back and finishing my bachelor杏吧专区檚.杏吧专区
杏吧专区淚t was just like a punch to the gut, one of those moments in my life where all the puzzle pieces connected.杏吧专区
Shortly thereafter, she got a call from UL Lafayette notifying her that her acceptance to return to school 杏吧专区 which she hadn杏吧专区檛 yet acted on 杏吧专区 was going to expire if she didn杏吧专区檛 enroll.
杏吧专区淩ight then and there on the phone, I just said, 杏吧专区楲et杏吧专区檚 do it!杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿
That summer, she enrolled in her first class as an online general studies student, determined to earn her bachelor杏吧专区檚 once and for all.
Expanding Her Horizon
As Haas began her coursework, she found joy in taking classes across a range of disciplines.
杏吧专区淚 picked general studies because I could do it all online and because it gave me the opportunity to explore classes that I may not have been able to explore had I been in a more structured program,杏吧专区 she states. 杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檓 in my 40s, and if I had been pigeonholed to one subject area, I would have gotten bored.杏吧专区
Through courses like HLTH 459: Health and the Aging Process, ORGL 300: Introduction to Organizational Leadership, and CMCN 100: Principles of Human Communication, she gained health and leadership knowledge applicable to her career.
And through courses like CJUS 340: Victimology, she could also enjoy learning for the fun of it.
杏吧专区淎ll of my classes were just really fun and interesting,杏吧专区 Haas says. 杏吧专区淭he program gave me that freedom to explore what I wanted to explore.杏吧专区
Staying Organized
Eager to finish her degree, Haas took a full-time course load for several semesters, balancing school with her career in healthcare IT.
Doing so required her to stay disciplined and organized, a challenge she embraced.
杏吧专区淎 lot of instructors will open their courses in Moodle before the semester begins,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 always made sure I had my textbooks before classes started, and I杏吧专区檇 print out my syllabi and keep them on my desk as a reminder of what I need to accomplish each semester.杏吧专区
Each week, Haas devoted an hour to each class per day, giving herself a 10-minute break between classes.
杏吧专区淚 work remotely, so at the end of my workday, I杏吧专区檇 just slide my work computer off to the side and begin my schoolwork on my personal computer,杏吧专区 she recalls.
But Haas was diligent about giving herself time away from her computer, too.
杏吧专区淚 knew that if I committed to working hard during the week, I杏吧专区檇 be able to give myself at least an entire Saturday or Sunday off where I didn杏吧专区檛 have to look at a computer screen at all,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淭hat was my reward.杏吧专区
Support from her instructors and 杏吧专区 staff also helped Haas stay on track. Her academic advisor, Sharon Williams Gregory, played a particularly helpful role during her time back in school.
杏吧专区淓very time I talked to her, she was just so encouraging. It was like I could hear her smiling through the phone,杏吧专区 Haas says. 杏吧专区淭here were a lot of days where I was tired and thought, 杏吧专区楳an, I just can杏吧专区檛 do it.杏吧专区 But I also knew there was no way I was ever going to tell her I was quitting.杏吧专区
Continuing to Advance
After earning a spot on the President杏吧专区檚 List several times and crossing the stage to accept her bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in May 2025, Haas has already embarked on her next journey: earning a Master of Health Administration.
Though she杏吧专区檚 excited about the opportunity to continue learning and growing, she misses UL Lafayette.
杏吧专区淪o far, the communication杏吧专区檚 been the complete opposite of what I experienced at UL Lafayette,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 keep joking that I need Miss Gregory to come help me register for my classes!杏吧专区
As Haas transitions into the next phase of her academic career, she杏吧专区檚 set new goals for herself.
杏吧专区淎 big reason for me getting my master杏吧专区檚 is taking my career to the next level and opening the door for a management role,杏吧专区 she explains. 杏吧专区淚 have the experience, and I want to have the education, too.杏吧专区
And, one day, she hopes to return to UL Lafayette 杏吧专区 not as a student, but as faculty.
杏吧专区淚f I could get the chance to teach after I retire, that would be my dream,杏吧专区 she says.
For now, she leaves students with a few words of wisdom: 杏吧专区淣ow is your time. Just jump in and start doing it, even if it杏吧专区檚 just one class a semester. When you look back when you杏吧专区檙e done and see your strength, endurance, and persistence, you杏吧专区檒l have a different outlook on yourself.杏吧专区
Finish your degree and unlock the opportunities that await through the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 online general studies bachelor杏吧专区檚 program.