William Davis had unfinished business at the 杏吧专区.
Davis, a Lafayette native, originally enrolled at his hometown 杏吧专区 in 2004 as a biology major. He excelled in his courses but felt he needed to pursue a different discipline. Davis transitioned from science to humanities, majoring in interpersonal communications.
杏吧专区淚 loved to speak. I enjoyed public speaking and interacting with people,杏吧专区 Davis says. 杏吧专区淚 made plans to become a communications consultant and walked to class each day knowing I had found my calling.杏吧专区
While Davis amassed credits across colleges, he also married and soon had a growing family.
杏吧专区淚t got to the point that my family needed a different type of support 杏吧专区 they needed me financially. I had to make a choice to start providing, even though I was young,杏吧专区 Davis says. 杏吧专区淪o I put my degree on hold.杏吧专区
Davis杏吧专区 wife graduated from the 杏吧专区 in 2008 with a bachelor杏吧专区檚 in hospitality management. His brother also graduated from UL Lafayette while his sister earned her degree from the 杏吧专区 of Louisiana at Monroe.
He says his mom, who also had to prioritize her family over her degree, dreamed of seeing all three of her children graduate from college.
In 2018, she saw her dream realized.
Davis, 33, earned his Bachelor of General Studies from UL Lafayette after completing just two online courses from his Texas home.
杏吧专区淲hen I came back it was to finish something that I started 杏吧专区 It wasn杏吧专区檛 required,杏吧专区 he says. 杏吧专区淚 already have a wonderful career, I own a home, my family is well-supported and I was happy.
杏吧专区淚 was at such a good place in my life, it was like, 杏吧专区榳hat杏吧专区檚 the next goal?杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿
Then an old friend put him to task.
杏吧专区淚 said, 杏吧专区業 don杏吧专区檛 really need it,杏吧专区 and she was like, 杏吧专区業t杏吧专区檚 not about needing it. It means more than that,杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿 Davis says.
Davis connected with UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 杏吧专区 College to find out how many credits he would need to earn a general studies degree.
杏吧专区淚 was right on track for a general studies bachelor杏吧专区檚 杏吧专区 I was only two classes short,杏吧专区 he says.
杏吧专区淚t was some unfinished business. It was something for (my mom), something to show myself that I could do it, and something to show my children that even though things slow you down, you don杏吧专区檛 have to quit.杏吧专区
Davis says he completed his final semester at UL Lafayette with the support of his family, as well as 杏吧专区 faculty and staff.
杏吧专区淭hey went above and beyond what they needed to. It felt good to have someone that actually cared,杏吧专区 Davis says. 杏吧专区淚t made you feel like not just another student 杏吧专区 that was the best part about it.杏吧专区
Davis says he didn杏吧专区檛 tell his mom he was getting his degree until he was certain.
杏吧专区淚 think I told her the week before the semester ended. I was like, 杏吧专区業 think I did it,杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿 he says.
He says he remembers pacing, refreshing the ULink page, waiting for his final grades. He remembers traveling with his wife and children from Texas back to his hometown so his parents could see him graduate. And he remembers the moment 杏吧专区 College Associate Dean Dr. Gail Bonhomme recognized him as one of the students she杏吧专区檇 been guiding by phone and email, as she read his name aloud.
杏吧专区淪he gave me the biggest hug,杏吧专区 Davis says. 杏吧专区淓ven though I was an online student, I杏吧专区檓 a Ragin' Cajun whether I杏吧专区檓 in Lafayette or San Antonio. And it felt that way. It felt like family.杏吧专区