The COVID-19 pandemic changed what learning and working looked like for much of the population. For Haley Fischer, that was a good thing. 
A Lafayette native, Fischer enrolled at her hometown 杏吧专区 as a kinesiology major upon graduating from Lafayette High School in 2019.
杏吧专区淚 was a swimmer in high school, and I just always love the idea of learning more about the body and how the body works,杏吧专区 says Fischer.
After her first semester at UL Lafayette, Fischer was considering different kinesiology concentrations when the pandemic forced courses remote or online. She found she preferred the flexibility of online courses.
Fischer talked with her advisor and learned that she could complete her B.S. in Kinesiology with a concentration in Health Promotion and Wellness completely online 杏吧专区 pandemic or no pandemic.
Transitioning to a 100% online bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree program was also ideal as Fischer prepared to become a new mom.
"That's what I loved most about it 杏吧专区 I could still take care of my son whenever I needed to,杏吧专区 says Fischer. 杏吧专区淥n weekends and mornings before work and afternoons after work, I would get my schoolwork done. I really liked the fact that you can do your work whenever.杏吧专区
Thinking back on how she managed so much change in so little time, Fischer says it杏吧专区檚 a blur.
杏吧专区淚 don杏吧专区檛 really know how I did it,杏吧专区 she says.
But one certainty is that communicating with her online instructors was critical to successfully navigating life as a student and parent.
杏吧专区淚 even remember we had finals, and I was like, 杏吧专区楧o you mind if I take my final early? I'm about to give birth,杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿 says Fisher.
And while that might be her most extreme example, she says building those relationships was important throughout her time in the Health Promotion and Wellness program.
杏吧专区淚 asked questions and really communicated with my professors; I think that's a big thing,杏吧专区 she says. "Students may be hesitant to reach out to their professors, but they're there to help you if you tell them what杏吧专区檚 going on."
Upon graduating, Fischer accepted a fully remote role with a non-surgical orthopedic practice. Learning online, she says, prepared her to excel in a work-from-home position.
杏吧专区淭hat helped me have the self-motivation and dedication to stick to what I'm doing,杏吧专区 she says. "It's easy to get distracted, but I still have a goal to get things done. Doing that with the Health Promotion program really helped me because I take the same skills and the things that I learned from that to this."