Lauren Carlos Greig thought she left college life behind in 2015, until a dream pulled her back.
In it, she was walking across the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 campus, leaving the Student Union. When she woke up, she was in tears.
杏吧专区淚 didn't even realize that I cared that much about going back to school,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淎fter that, I truly could not stop talking about it.杏吧专区
Still, life was busy. She was married, raising two boys, working full time, and serving as vice president of the New Iberia Spanish Festival.
The idea of returning to college stayed with her, but it wasn杏吧专区檛 until she was passed over for a job that the decision became clear.
杏吧专区淭he supervisor said, 杏吧专区榃ell, this candidate杏吧专区檚 got a degree,杏吧专区 and that was it,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 came home and told my husband, 杏吧专区楾his is never going to happen again.杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿
Finding Her Rhythm as an Online Learner
Greig first enrolled at UL Lafayette in 2009 with a scholarship and a spot in the Pride of Acadiana marching band. It was where she found her first college community, until funding from her Native American tribe ended, leaving her with no choice but to withdraw.
Years later, the dream and the job disappointment gave her the push she needed to come back 杏吧专区 this time, through the online Bachelor of General Studies program.
It was a big step. Greig had never taken an online course before and didn杏吧专区檛 know what to expect.
"I was nervous at first," she says. 杏吧专区淚 was worried about how my messages would be received without body language. I thought it would be too hard without that in-person interaction, but it really wasn杏吧专区檛 like that at all.杏吧专区
The program杏吧专区檚 structure and flexibility helped her find her rhythm.
"April is always a busy time with the festival and the boys杏吧专区 sports," Greig says. "But I had great professors. I would just let them know ahead of time what I had going on. Communication was key."
She developed a system to stay ahead, using Moodle杏吧专区檚 calendar to break things down into manageable chunks.
"I kind of looked at it like this huge elephant. And how would you devour an elephant? A little at a time,杏吧专区 she says.
Even when she faced an emergency surgery mid-semester, her instructors stepped up to support her.
杏吧专区淥ne of them gave me her personal cell number and would actually check on me after my surgery," says Greig. "It was an emergency, completely unplanned, but they made sure I could stay on track with my assignments."
For Greig, the online format didn杏吧专区檛 just make it possible 杏吧专区 it made it sustainable.
杏吧专区淲e have two very active boys involved in sports, and I work during the day, but I could still log in and do what I needed to during the times that worked best for me,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淕oing online was the best thing for us, for my family.杏吧专区
Turning Experience into Opportunity
Shortly after graduation, Greig stepped into a corporate human resources assistant role. But when the position was impacted by economic shifts, she pivoted 杏吧专区 landing a front desk administrator job at Clark Integrated Medical Clinics in Lafayette.
The transition felt natural. Though her responsibilities changed 杏吧专区 greeting patients, scheduling appointments, scanning documents, and managing sensitive information 杏吧专区 the core skill set remained the same.
杏吧专区淵ou杏吧专区檙e handling sensitive information in HR, and now I do the same for patients. It translates seamlessly. Being able to use this degree in both career fields speaks to the versatility of the interdisciplinary degree,杏吧专区 says Greig.
Her concentration in behavioral sciences gave her the confidence to make that shift and thrive in the new environment.
杏吧专区淢y coursework helped me understand the psychology behind those daily interactions, and not to take things personally. I want patients to feel welcome, and you never know what pain or stress someone might be carrying.杏吧专区
The career change has also led her to reconsider her next steps.
She recently learned she杏吧专区檇 been accepted into a master杏吧专区檚 program in leadership and human resource development 杏吧专区 a sign, she says, that she杏吧专区檚 on the right path.
While she once imagined a future in child psychology, Greig says her journey has taught her to stay open.
杏吧专区淵ou might think you杏吧专区檙e meant for one thing, but there杏吧专区檚 so much out there,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 thought child psychology was my path, and one job opened my eyes to a whole new career trajectory. So don杏吧专区檛 count anything out.杏吧专区
Explore how the online Bachelor of General Studies at UL Lafayette can help you carve your own path on your own timeline.
