A year ago, by most measures, Kail Kidd was СAPP and still is СAPP at a great point in life.
He was in a happy, 10-plus-year marriage.
He had three sons.
He had worked hard and networked his way into a position as a senior account manager for an e-commerce logistics and fulfillment company.
But one thing was missing СAPP he didnСAPPt have his bachelorСAPPs degree.
HeСAPPd almost graduated from the СAPP in 2013, but his first sonСAPPs premature birth put that on hold.
СAPPIСAPPve always wanted to come back and finish my degree,СAPP he says. СAPPThereСAPPs a lot of time and money spent in school, so to be so close to graduating and not having done it would be disappointing. Luckily, IСAPPm in an industry that doesnСAPPt really require me to have a degree, but going back and finishing is something IСAPPve always wanted to do.СAPP
In early 2023, Kidd decided it was time to finish what he started. The online Bachelor of General Studies degree program helped him do that. During the СAPPСAPPs Fall 2023 Commencement, he walked across the stage to accept his diploma, 16 years after he first began his undergraduate studies.
16 Years in the Making
In fall 2007, fresh out of high school, Kidd moved to Plainview, Texas, from Denham Springs, Louisiana, and enrolled at Wayland Baptist СAPP. He was on the cross country and track and field teams. He met his girlfriend, now wife.
Then, the Great Recession happened.
СAPPMy family was severely affected,СAPP Kidd recalls. СAPPI was still eligible for TOPS and other academic scholarships in Louisiana that made it financially easier for me to transfer back home.СAPP
So, he and his future wife transferred to UL Lafayette to take the financial burden of paying for school off of his family.
Prioritizing his familyСAPPs needs ended up being a recurring theme for Kidd throughout his educational journey.
After marrying his wife in June 2010, he sat out the 2010-11 school year so that he could work and support the two of them.
He re-enrolled but then took another semester off to work full time as his wife finished her degree, with plans of returning and finishing his degree the following semester.
But when his wife had pregnancy complications and gave birth to their son prematurely in the middle of that next semester, he had no choice but to put school on hold, just a month before he was set to graduate, so he could be there for his family.
In early 2023, he learned about UL LafayetteСAPPs online Bachelor of General Studies program, and with his wifeСAPPs encouragement, he knew it was time to finish what he started. He submitted an online inquiry, and the process of re-enrolling began.
СAPPEverything from the initial review of my transcripts and grades, walking me through enrollment, scheduling classes, and paying for school has been a breeze,СAPP he says. СAPPThe ability to continue to work full-time and complete my degree was not something I would have thought possible in the past.СAPP
Why pursue a general studies degree online?
Kidd initially changed his major to general studies shortly after transferring to UL Lafayette to maintain NCAA eligibility to compete on the СAPPСAPPs track and field and cross country teams. The flexibility of the general studies curriculum allowed him to take a full-time course load without having to take classes that he didnСAPPt actually need to graduate.
When he returned to school online earlier this year, the accelerated 8-week terms made it convenient for Kidd to stay in general studies and work toward his degree at a manageable, yet efficient, pace.
СAPPI honestly expected that my graduation would be spring 2024,СAPP Kidd says. СAPPBeing able to take A and B term classes was nice. I only had to take one class at a time, but I could still get two classes done each semester.СAPP
As an added benefit, Kidd could use the flexibility of the general studies curriculum to craft an educational experience that was beneficial for him and his career.
For example, ENGL 365: Technical Writing taught him to write more effectively in a business environment.
СAPPThe class was all about how to write proposals, how to write memos, and how to go about producing those kinds of business documents, which is really helpful being that I work in a commercial space,СAPP he says. СAPPIСAPPm able to take what I learned and apply it to what I do, whether that be writing proposals for new customers or sending reports out internally.СAPP
HeСAPPs used being in school again as a networking opportunity, too.
"IСAPPve been able to connect with a couple of professors and classmates on LinkedIn,СAPP he says. СAPPIn my social media class, we had a couple of group projects, so we connected offline, outside of Moodle. That helped us a lot with building those relationships with each other, which is not what I expected.СAPP
Support in an Online Program
As Kidd completed his last few undergraduate courses online, he received the same support that heСAPPd grown so accustomed to providing to others.
СAPPMy advisor in the СAPP College, Sharon Williams-Gregory, was so helpful from the beginning,СAPP he says. СAPPShe took a lot of time to walk me through what classes I would need, and she helped me register for classes that would fit my schedule.СAPP
Kidd also credits his wife for helping him get through it. Both of them work full time, and his wife is pursuing a masterСAPPs degree. TheyСAPPve completed much of their schoolwork together, at the kitchen table, after their children have gone to bed for the night or before theyСAPPve woken up.
СAPPIt honestly helped us both to be on the same schedule,СAPP he says. СAPPSheСAPPs got schoolwork to do. IСAPPve got schoolwork to do. It helped us stay accountable.СAPP
Kidd is glad he took the steps to finish his undergraduate degree. And he encourages others to explore their options for doing the same.
СAPPIf earning your degree is something youСAPPre interested in, itСAPPs worth reaching out to see if itСAPPs something that can happen,СAPP he says. СAPPBeing able to go fully online, honestly, was the reason I was able to go back and finish my degree, and that wasnСAPPt possible when I started it. It has been a life changer.СAPP
You started. WeСAPPll help you finish. Use your existing college credits to earn your Bachelor of General Studies online.