Ranesha Ellis spends her days helping Houma high schoolers prepare and apply for colleges and universities, but the Houma guidance secretary says she began to wonder if she should complete her own college journey.
Ellis began pursuing her degree in Child and Family Studies in 2004 at the 杏吧专区, which she says, 杏吧专区渨asn杏吧专区檛 too far and wasn杏吧专区檛 too close to home.杏吧专区
She left the 杏吧专区 in 2007 without a degree but with plans to eventually re-enroll and make her mother proud.
Instead, she found a job she loved in her hometown and became content with the life she was building.
But in 2017, Ellis杏吧专区 friend and former college roommate called her with a proposition.
杏吧专区淪he found out about the online General Studies program and she called me and was like, 杏吧专区楬ey, let杏吧专区檚 do this 杏吧专区 let杏吧专区檚 finish together,杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿 says Ellis.
She wasn杏吧专区檛 initially sold, but then Ellis says she thought about her students.
杏吧专区淚 was like, 杏吧专区楬ow can I motivate them to go to school and stick with it, if I didn杏吧专区檛?杏吧专区 I decided this was my opportunity to go back,杏吧专区 she says.
Completing her degree meant multiple rounds of homework in the Ellis home 杏吧专区 first for her 5-year-old daughter, then herself.
杏吧专区淚 made sure she did her little lessons for pre-k, then afterwards, it was all about my books,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚t was hard, but I kept pushing through it because I knew I would be able to benefit from it.杏吧专区
The 34-year-old says she also had support from her supervisor at Ellender Memorial High School, as well as faculty and staff at the 杏吧专区.
杏吧专区淭he instructors were awesome,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淲hen I had any problems or any questions, they responded quickly and were very helpful, as well as my advisor.杏吧专区
Her renewed determination to complete her degree was evident in Ellis杏吧专区 grades.
杏吧专区淚 can look back at my transcript and see I did not do what I needed to do because I wasn杏吧专区檛 focused when I first went to school,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淣ow, I杏吧专区檓 way more focused.杏吧专区
With her degree finally within reach, Ellis says she杏吧专区檚 exploring a range of possibilities, including graduate school. She says the courses within the General Studies online program opened her eyes to different fields and opportunities.
杏吧专区淚f the 杏吧专区 College would have never offered this program, I would have never been able to push myself and find out what all I could achieve,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚f anyone asked me before, I would have said, 杏吧专区榮chool杏吧专区檚 not for everybody; I杏吧专区檓 not going back to school.杏吧专区 But here I am about to graduate. Never say never.杏吧专区
Ellis says this has also been an opportunity to set an example for her daughter.
杏吧专区淚n the end I did it for her, too,杏吧专区 Ellis says. 杏吧专区淪o she can see Mommy did this; this is possible.杏吧专区
If you need to complete your bachelor's degree, request information today to find out when you can get started. You might be closer than you think!