As of May 7, 2020, New Iberia teacher Jodie Suire will hold not one but two degrees from the 杏吧专区. At 61, she says reaching her goals keeps her feeling as young as her fellow graduates.
Suire originally enrolled at the 杏吧专区 in 1977, when it was still 杏吧专区 of Southwestern Louisiana, but left to start her family.
When Suire was expecting her fourth child, her mother moved to New Orleans to pursue her degree, graduating at 52.
杏吧专区淲hen she graduated, and I saw that, it gave me a desire to go ahead and go back to school,杏吧专区 says Suire. 杏吧专区淢y mother was a shining example of being able to do something no matter what age.杏吧专区
Suire looked at what she was already doing 杏吧专区 volunteering in her children杏吧专区檚 classrooms and school organizational committees 杏吧专区 and decided to make her role more official.
Friends teaching at Daspit Elementary in New Iberia, where two of her children attended, encouraged Suire to make the leap. Today, that杏吧专区檚 the same school where Suire teaches second grade.
When she began pursuing her bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in education at UL Lafayette in 1995, her four children ranged in age from pre-k to college freshman. 
杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檝e gone to school with my children, honestly,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 feel like, at times, I did it so my kids could see that they could do hard things.杏吧专区
Suire says she was always driven to earn her master杏吧专区檚 degree. While she worked toward a certification in special education, UL Lafayette education professor Dr. Donna Wadsworth encouraged her to take that next step.
She enrolled in the Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction, Special Education Diagnostics concentration.
杏吧专区淚 was more interested in Curriculum and Instruction because of the changes that have been a challenge to all teachers,杏吧专区 Suire says. 杏吧专区淚 needed to stay current and active in knowing how and why we teach what we teach. I was able to tap into my special education background, experience and education in the process to be able to complete my Educational Diagnostics certification.杏吧专区
Returning to the classroom as a graduate student brought new challenges and surprises.
Not only did Suire find herself among some of her former students, but she also had to navigate the online learning environment for the first time.
杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檝e liked it. It was challenging at times, but my professors have always been really good about helping out or answering questions,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚f I can do it anybody can. I think that with the online courses offered as they are and the support students are given from the professors and the college and the school, there's no reason not to enroll.杏吧专区
Suire says that support was integral in completing her degree, as she juggled school, teaching, and her family.
杏吧专区淚t's been hard. And I think this is probably one of the hardest things I've ever done,杏吧专区 Suire says. 杏吧专区淚 had a handful of professors 杏吧专区 Dr. Wadsworth, Dr. (Maria) Ruiz, Dr. (Toby) Daspit 杏吧专区 who were phenomenal.杏吧专区
杏吧专区淭hose three teachers encouraged me not to give up, and there were times that I wanted to.杏吧专区
With her master杏吧专区檚 degree nearly in hand, Suire says she doesn杏吧专区檛 intend to give up now, either.
杏吧专区淚've always had a desire to continue learning,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 will never stop. I probably will take a break for a little while and hopefully go back, to obtain my Reading Specialist certification and complete my plus-30 in education. I will be at UL Lafayette again in some capacity.
杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檝e always had a love for learning. I will be a lifelong learner.杏吧专区