Leslie Tisdale grew up on the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 campus, working with her parents at Campus Copies 杏吧专区 a familiar student stop on St. Mary Boulevard for nearly 30 years.
Graduating from the 杏吧专区 decades later is a significant milestone for Tisdale in her years-long journey of physical, mental, and emotional recovery.
杏吧专区淚 never thought I'd be where I'm at today,杏吧专区 says Tisdale. 杏吧专区淢y life is just starting for me at 46.杏吧专区
A string of setbacks
In 1991, Tisdale dropped out of high school as a junior and spent years struggling with drugs and alcohol. In 2009, she took her first steps toward breaking the cycle and earning a degree but relapsed shortly after.
Eventually, Tisdale says, she was able to make progress. She began working full time while building momentum toward her degree at South Louisiana Community College. She was set to transfer to UL Lafayette in Fall 2017. But her progress was interrupted.
That summer, while in her last semester at SLCC, doctors found a tumor on Tisdale杏吧专区檚 brainstem. She managed to complete her finals and then immediately had to undergo surgery.
杏吧专区淚 was told I杏吧专区檇 be home in five days; I was gone for two months,杏吧专区 Tisdale says. 杏吧专区淚 had to relearn how to walk, talk, and eat.杏吧专区
While Tisdale was still in the hospital, her mother brought in her mail and Tisdale saw a familiar vermilion fleur-de-lis. She opened the envelope to learn she杏吧专区檇 earned a scholarship to UL Lafayette. What would have been great news only a few months before was another blow for Tisdale.
杏吧专区淚t was very disheartening because I was like, 杏吧专区業 don't know when I can go back to school, if ever,杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿 Tisdale says.
Finding a new path
Somewhat serendipitously, UL Lafayette announced the General Studies Online degree program in June 2017. The program was specifically designed for students with college credits (but no degree) who might have obstacles in coming to campus.
For Tisdale, it was a godsend.
杏吧专区淚 would joke around and say, 杏吧专区楾his program was made just for me,杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿 she says. 杏吧专区淚 couldn't have gotten up and gone to school and walked to class 杏吧专区 it just wasn't that easy for me. So, the online program was just a godsend.杏吧专区
Tisdale waited until she杏吧专区檇 completed her physical therapy to enroll in the online bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree program. Still, her family and friends worried about whether she was ready.
She admits it was a struggle.
She began the program in June 2018 with two courses and says, at first, it would take all day to write a paragraph. But she progressed in the program and in her recovery.
杏吧专区淣ow I杏吧专区檓 writing six-page papers,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 lost a lot in my surgery. Everything I knew was taken away from me in one day. Being in school has helped my recovery process, just having a feeling of normalization 杏吧专区 that I杏吧专区檓 being productive toward my education and professional life.杏吧专区
Customizing a routine
Tisdale says a big component in her success was understanding her learning needs. Because her cognition is best in the morning, she made a point to get an early start on her coursework. She also made sure to stick to a routine.
杏吧专区淭he first couple of weeks are the most challenging to figure out what's expected of you and what that class looks like, then it杏吧专区檚 just getting in a routine,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 use a planner to write down a daily sheet. And I definitely don杏吧专区檛 procrastinate.杏吧专区
Students enrolled in the General Studies Online program can choose from several concentrations. Tisdale chose behavioral science. She says because of her experiences, she wanted a curriculum that could enable her to help others in similar circumstances.
She says courses like Stress Management, HLTH 451, has equipped her to help others and better manage her own life.
杏吧专区淭hat course helped a lot because I had a lot of stress with this new way of life, with not being as mobile,杏吧专区 she says.
Being able to take courses 100% online also helped her stress levels, Tisdale says.
杏吧专区淚 don't have to get up, get dressed, get in the car, find a parking spot 杏吧专区 that's only two hours of your life right there," she says. 杏吧专区淏eing able to do school at home has reduced my stress by so much. I remember before my surgery, I was like a robot: get up, get dressed, go to school, go to work, come home, do homework do it all over again. Now I have a little bit more freedom. And that's been amazing.杏吧专区
Tisdale also credits her faith, saying without her trust in God, 杏吧专区淚 would not have made it through.杏吧专区
With her bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree nearly in-hand and six-and-a-half years sober, Tisdale says she杏吧专区檚 celebrating more than a graduation. She杏吧专区檚 celebrating life.
杏吧专区淣o matter what life throws at us or what happens in our life, we can face it and still get it done,杏吧专区 Tisdale says. 杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檓 very grateful for the program because it杏吧专区檚 been part of both of my recoveries. It杏吧专区檚 prepared me to get back to work after being on disability for three years.杏吧专区