For many, going back to school is an opportunity for career advancement.
For others, it杏吧专区檚 to acquire new knowledge and skills.
And for some, it杏吧专区檚 purely personal.
That杏吧专区檚 true for Cheri Landry Vallery, who graduated from the Bachelor of General Studies online program today at the age of 60.
Landry Vallery first enrolled in a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree program in 1982 at the 杏吧专区 of Southwestern Louisiana, 17 years before the 杏吧专区 would adopt its current name.
Like most, she was an eager 18-year-old, hoping to finish her degree in four years and call it a done deal.
But life got in the way.
She took a year off in the middle of her studies before returning to finish her program out; then, after marrying and getting pregnant with her first child, she left again, this time indefinitely.
Despite having a family and career, not finishing always bothered Landry Vallery.
In the late 1990s, her family relocated to Houston, Texas, ruling out the possibility of completing her degree at the 杏吧专区 for good 杏吧专区 until the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 Bachelor of General Studies degree program launched online.
杏吧专区淣ot finishing was one thing I always regretted,杏吧专区 she said. 杏吧专区淲hen the online program first started, I got an email about it and decided not to do it then, and then more recently, I got another email. I just said, 杏吧专区楽crew it,杏吧专区 and reached out to see what it would take to finish.杏吧专区
Finishing the Story
Finishing her degree at the 杏吧专区 at which she started it was important to Landry Vallery.
With several passion projects and a full-time job, she found that the online program afforded her flexibility she needed to do so.
She runs a small business alongside two friends, hosting and planning retreats for people who enjoy crafting and scrapbooking. She also operates a foundation honoring her daughter, who she and her husband lost to drug abuse at 16.
杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 called the Kaitlyn Vallery Foundation,杏吧专区 Landry Vallery says. 杏吧专区淜aitlyn had a drug problem, and whenever she was in the hospital, I promised Kaitlyn that I杏吧专区檇 do whatever I could to help any other family or individual not go through this.杏吧专区
In support of the foundation杏吧专区檚 mission, Landry Vallery and her husband speak to local schools to share Kaitlyn杏吧专区檚 story and give scholarships to local high school students who have overcome adversity.
杏吧专区淭hat is 100% our passion,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 wouldn杏吧专区檛 wish losing a child on my worst enemy. It杏吧专区檚 something that changes you forever.杏吧专区
As a former accounting major, Landry Vallery built a career using and applying her previous business coursework. Currently, she杏吧专区檚 a bookkeeper/accountant for a homebuilder in Houston.
杏吧专区淚 do all the things that I would do with an accounting degree without having one,杏吧专区 she says.
Thus, coursework in other areas, like CJUS 420: Drugs & Crime and GEOL 106: Earth History, posed a challenge for Landry Vallery upon returning to finish her bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree online, forcing her to step outside of her comfort zone.
She took that challenge in stride, earning straight As by spending Sunday mornings locked away in her office, head down, working on her assignments.
杏吧专区淵ou have to just make school a priority, and that杏吧专区檚 what I did every Sunday morning from 7 to 11,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檓 a schedule-type person to begin with, so having something planned to where that杏吧专区檚 what I needed to do worked great.杏吧专区
Looking Ahead
Though Landry Vallery is nearing retirement age, she杏吧专区檚 still thinking about how she can continue her education.
She杏吧专区檚 got her eyes set on the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 MBA program online. She hopes to enroll in the Human Resources Management concentration in 2025.
It would all still be just for fun, of course.
杏吧专区淢y next career change is going to be retirement,杏吧专区 says Landry Vallery. 杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檓 taking the rest of the year off school, just to get my life back in order. And then I杏吧专区檇 say it杏吧专区檚 about an 80% chance I杏吧专区檒l come back and do the MBA.杏吧专区
In the meantime, Landry Vallery encourages students to follow in her footsteps and pursue their personal goals.
杏吧专区淚f it杏吧专区檚 something you want to do, there shouldn杏吧专区檛 be any excuses,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淵ou杏吧专区檒l always be able to say you don杏吧专区檛 have time, but you do. You just have to make it.杏吧专区
Achieve your goals and put your existing credits to use by pursuing your bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree online.