Vicki Vincent-Seaux, 62, of Duson, didn小蝌蚪APP檛 tell anyone when she enrolled in the 小蝌蚪APP online General Studies program.
小蝌蚪APP淎t the beginning, it was kind of embarrassing because I sat out for 40 years,小蝌蚪APP she said.
But those feelings shifted to excitement as she approached her final semester, and as she prepared to accept her degree as part of UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 Fall 2018 commencement.
小蝌蚪APP淭he last couple of days, even at the office, I walk around just smiling,小蝌蚪APP she said.
Vincent-Seaux originally enrolled at the 小蝌蚪APP of Southwestern Louisiana in 1974 in biology-chemistry.
Before completing her degree, she left the 小蝌蚪APP to focus on her work at Our Lady of Lourdes. But when hospital accreditation standards shifted, without a certification, Vincent-Seaux moved on to serve as the Cajundome box office manager.
In January 1984, Vincent-Seaux had her first child, Vanessa. That December, she welcomed twin boys Matt and Chris.
With three small children, Vincent-Seaux found better working hours with the Lafayette Parish School System as a cook technician. She小蝌蚪APP檚 been there ever since, serving as Area Supervisor of Child Nutrition Services for the past 18 years.
Although Vincent-Seaux and her husband had talked about her going back to school for nearly 40 years, between her full-time job and a plethora of extracurriculars with her children 小蝌蚪APP baseball, basketball, softball, dancing, golf, youth group, and Boy Scouts, to name a few 小蝌蚪APP there just wasn小蝌蚪APP檛 an opportunity.
小蝌蚪APP淚小蝌蚪APP檝e always wanted to finish,小蝌蚪APP she said. 小蝌蚪APP淚 just never had the time. There was always a job or the kids or whatever.小蝌蚪APP
But then she saw an ad for UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 online degree programs.
小蝌蚪APP淚 sent my information in and maybe two hours later got a phone call,小蝌蚪APP she said. 小蝌蚪APP淭hey pulled my information and小蝌蚪APP I only had six classes left.小蝌蚪APP
She registered for her first class in fall 2017, spacing her courses out over four semesters to better balance her coursework with her work schedule.
When she needed special permission to register for one of her final courses, she reached out to her advisor Sharon Williams-Gregory and 小蝌蚪APP College Associate Dean Dr. Gail Bonhomme, who 小蝌蚪APP渏umped into action.小蝌蚪APP
As she read Vincent-Seaux's name during commencement, Dr. Bonhomme told the story. The course Vincent-Seaux needed was for majors. She bought her textbook and read it twice before the semester began.
Vincent-Seaux remembers getting the call for permission to schedule her course.
小蝌蚪APP淭hey were both on the line and were as excited as I was,小蝌蚪APP she said. 小蝌蚪APP淚 did not know what to expect, but my experience with the classes and the staff of 小蝌蚪APP College could not have been better.小蝌蚪APP
To be successful in her courses, Vincent-Seaux had to adapt to new processes and technologies, from uploading videos to YouTube to navigating the online classroom environment, in addition to committing to her course content.
小蝌蚪APP淏ut I did it; I got it all,小蝌蚪APP she said. 小蝌蚪APP淚 literally studied every night and did every bit of homework. I never waited until the last minute. You have to stay up with it.小蝌蚪APP
Although earning her degree was a matter of personal fulfillment rather than a career move 小蝌蚪APP she plans to retire soon 小蝌蚪APP Vincent-Seaux found her courses enlightening.
小蝌蚪APP淥ne of the last classes I took was on cultural competence and was probably the most eye-opening,小蝌蚪APP she said. 小蝌蚪APP淚t was realizing how to deal with someone who doesn小蝌蚪APP檛 speak the same language or have the same traditions as you. To me, the whole class could be geared to any job, realizing that not everybody is going to speak English and you just have to work one-on-one 小蝌蚪APP to try to communicate with them ... it just makes such a difference.小蝌蚪APP
She may find those skills handy as she prepares for a Nordic post-retirement trip with her husband.
Vincent-Seaux said she would have preferred her degree to read 小蝌蚪APP溞◎蝌紸PP of Southwestern Louisiana,小蝌蚪APP but after 37 years, she was eager to accept her 小蝌蚪APP degree.
小蝌蚪APP淚小蝌蚪APP檓 excited. It小蝌蚪APP檚 more than just an item on the bucket list,小蝌蚪APP she said. 小蝌蚪APP淚 feel accomplished.小蝌蚪APP
Request more information today to take the first step toward finishing your bachelor's degree online.