For as long as Kennette Toussaint can remember, her goal was to earn her bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree.
But when Toussaint graduated from Opelousas High School in 2007 and enrolled in college, a cloud followed her.
In 2008, Toussaint杏吧专区檚 high school boyfriend shot her twice, then himself. He did not survive.
杏吧专区淚 didn杏吧专区檛 have the right resources,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 wasn杏吧专区檛 focused on school because I was still trying to deal with what happened.杏吧专区
Now Toussaint杏吧专区檚 name will be immortalized as part of the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 after earning her Bachelor of General Studies Aug. 9, 2019.
A Path to 杏吧专区楤etter杏吧专区
In 2010, Toussaint gave birth to a son, and, she says, her life shifted.
杏吧专区淚 realized I had someone watching me, and he would live his life based on how I was living,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 started making better choices, choosing better relationships. He gave me a whole new perspective on life.
杏吧专区淚 just wanted to do better; I just knew I had to get back into school.杏吧专区
Toussaint waited until her son was old enough to enroll in pre-k to return to school, studying Early Childhood Education at South Louisiana Community College.
Once she began working full-time with a Head Start program in Breaux Bridge, Toussaint began exploring how she could earn her bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree and found .
The criteria of the degree program resonated with her. It was designed for students with at least 45 college credits, who need to complete their degree.
Toussaint says the flexibility to complete coursework while working full time made it the 杏吧专区減erfect杏吧专区 choice for her, but she still had to adjust to the unfamiliar format.
杏吧专区淚t was very different,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 did SLCC on campus, working part time, so I was able to fully focus on school. But with online, I was working full time, and you have to be so self-disciplined to do online schooling.
杏吧专区淚t was a struggle at first, but I was able to get it down.杏吧专区
To ensure she had the time she needed for her coursework, Toussaint says she made personal sacrifices.
杏吧专区淚 had to kind of put my social life aside. My main focus was work, taking care of my son and his schooling, and school,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 stopped dating for years. I was just trying to focus on getting this degree. It was a sacrifice, but I knew that small sacrifice would pay off in the long run.杏吧专区
The Support of a Village
Toussaint says she quickly developed relationships with 杏吧专区 College staff, including Dr. Gail Bonhomme, associate dean, and Sharon Williams-Gregory, who became Toussaint杏吧专区檚 advisor.
杏吧专区淒r. Gail was my first advisor, but she was much more. She was like a mentor when I first enrolled,杏吧专区 Toussaint says. 杏吧专区淲e talked about life and the career path I wanted to choose.
杏吧专区淢rs. Sharon was just as great. They really helped me out so much. I really appreciate them.杏吧专区
Toussaint杏吧专区檚 family also was a major supportive force as she pursued her degree.
杏吧专区淢y job is 45 minutes away so my sisters made sure my son got to school on time every morning, my mom made sure he was picked up in the afternoon, my brothers babysat when I needed if he didn杏吧专区檛 have school but I had to work,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淢y siblings, my parents, they played a major part.杏吧专区
Mom, Teacher, Hero
Throughout her journey, Toussaint杏吧专区檚 son has been paying attention.
杏吧专区淲hen I told him I was getting ready to graduate from UL, he was so excited. He gave me a hug, saying, 杏吧专区業杏吧专区檓 so happy for you,杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿 she says. 杏吧专区淗e almost had me in tears. He really is watching everything I do. I know I have to keep it up.杏吧专区
Toussaint says she杏吧专区檚 taking steps to become certified to teach in the public school system and would like to teach pre-k in Opelousas.
Meanwhile, her son is already talking about his career goals and what he wants to pursue in college.
Toussaint says achieving her academic goals has better prepared her to help him when the time comes.
杏吧专区淚 just want him to know there are so many things he can do, so many possibilities,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淢y parents didn杏吧专区檛 go to college so they didn杏吧专区檛 know the necessary things that I needed to do. I wasn杏吧专区檛 aware of how to apply for scholarships or programs I could qualify for.
杏吧专区淣ow I杏吧专区檓 aware; I杏吧专区檓 ready to help him do whatever he needs to accomplish his goals.杏吧专区