Linda Perkins Melton is on track to earn a bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in general studies from the 小蝌蚪APP.
The 68-year-old grandmother is taking online courses through UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 Office of Distance Learning. She reenrolled at the 小蝌蚪APP for the Spring 2019 semester after almost two decades away. Melton anticipates graduating next spring.
The realization that she is closing in on her dream was driven home when she received a shiny new class ring recently during a ceremony in the UL Lafayette Student Union. Alumni and students who have completed at least 90 credit hours are eligible to get 小蝌蚪APP rings.
Melton said she was thrilled to receive the symbol of her hard work. Her path to the cusp of a four-year degree hasn小蝌蚪APP檛 been an easy one.
Melton became a licensed practical nurse in 1986 after completing an 18-month program at James M. Frazier Sr. Vocational Technical School in Baton Rouge, La. She then set her sights on becoming a registered nurse.
A divorce thwarted those plans. Paychecks she earned as an LPN at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge took precedence over continuing her education. 小蝌蚪APP淚 had a family to raise,小蝌蚪APP explained the mother of four children.
After her three daughters and son grew up 小蝌蚪APP and she retired from Our Lady of the Lake in the mid-1990s 小蝌蚪APP Melton enrolled at Nicholls State 小蝌蚪APP in Thibodaux, La.
She commuted daily with her daughter, Chrishelle Melton, during a 140-mile round trip from Darrow, La., the tiny hamlet where they lived.
But Chrishelle left school for a job 小蝌蚪APP渢hat she just could not turn down,小蝌蚪APP Linda said.
Linda was left without a way to get to her classes 小蝌蚪APP渂ecause I didn小蝌蚪APP檛 have any transportation at that time.小蝌蚪APP
Melton gave school another shot when she enrolled in UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions in 2001. Again, she commuted from Darrow.
小蝌蚪APP淟ife had taken me in many different directions, but I never lost the desire to get a four-year degree,小蝌蚪APP she said.
After about three years at the 小蝌蚪APP, Melton小蝌蚪APP檚 goal of becoming a registered nurse was derailed again. She suffered a small stroke, then two more in quick succession.
小蝌蚪APP淚 had a lot of weakness on my right side, so I had to be trained to walk all over again. I needed cognitive and speech therapy, too,小蝌蚪APP she said.
Doctors advised her against resuming her studies. Melton slowly resigned herself to the likelihood she would never return to college.
That changed about 17 years later, in large part at the urging of her 11-year-old twin grandchildren, Shayde Randolph and D.J. Randolph. After learning how close Melton had been to earning a bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree, they began nudging her to return to college.
小蝌蚪APP淚 was hesitant. I didn小蝌蚪APP檛 even know if my credits were still good because I had been out of school for so long,小蝌蚪APP she said.
Melton said Shayde tracked down UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 phone number using an online search engine, dialed it and handed the phone to her grandmother.
Melton learned she needed only 24 more credit hours to earn a general studies degree.
Health setbacks, including a bout with breast cancer, had remained an issue for Melton. She ultimately decided she was strong enough to make one more run at a degree.
小蝌蚪APP淚 realized I had invested so much time and I was right at the door,小蝌蚪APP she explained.
This time, a commute would have been impossible for Melton, who lives in Mandeville, La. near New Orleans. Distance learning, however, suits her just fine.
小蝌蚪APP淚 have never enjoyed school like I am enjoying it now,小蝌蚪APP she said.
Photo: Linda Perkins Melton, a 68-year-old grandmother, is on track to earn a bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree next spring. Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president, recently presented Melton with her class ring during a ceremony in the UL Lafayette Student Union. Credit: Rachel Keyes / 小蝌蚪APP