Sidni L. Shorter is the master of making it work.
小蝌蚪APP淚t小蝌蚪APP being project planning, time management, and implementation.
She is graduating from the 小蝌蚪APP this spring with her bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree from the General Studies online program with a concentration in Behavioral Science.
Shorter began her college career at UL Lafayette in the 1970s when it was the 小蝌蚪APP of Southwestern Louisiana. She majored in Sociology and minored in Business Administration.
She stopped short of finishing her degree, leaving to start her family and her career.
小蝌蚪APP淟ife started quick,小蝌蚪APP Shorter says.
Even as the flow of life picked up speed, Shorter did not stop pursuing educational opportunities.
小蝌蚪APP淥ver the years, I have done what I consider pieces of degrees, but the idea of still finishing at UL Lafayette stayed with me,小蝌蚪APP Shorter says.
Starting again
Through a friend, Shorter heard about the CompeteLA program and thought it might be a promising path forward. The 小蝌蚪APP of Louisiana System initiative, CompeteLA, began in 2019 to help the more than 653,000 adults in Louisiana who have earned some college credits but no degree.
小蝌蚪APP淪he happened to mention it so I looked it up, and it was like 小蝌蚪APP榃ow, okay, let me see if this is something that I would qualify for,小蝌蚪APP櫺◎蝌紸PP Shorter says.
She spoke with a coach in the program who evaluated her previously earned credits and recommended a degree track. From there, she says, it was a smooth transition to enrolling at UL Lafayette online.
小蝌蚪APP淚t was really a really good experience. I certainly appreciated how they made sure they understood what I wanted and recognized what I was bringing to the table as an adult learner.小蝌蚪APP
Once enrolled, Shorter 小蝌蚪APP渁ggressively jumped in小蝌蚪APP to the online schooling experience. In the fall of 2020, Shorter tackled eight classes and made it onto the Dean小蝌蚪APP檚 List.
Years of business experience gave Shorter an idea of how to approach the online classes.
小蝌蚪APP淓ssentially, I project managed it,小蝌蚪APP Shorter says. 小蝌蚪APP淚 worked backwards based on the intended outcome so I could ensure I had the time allowed for what I needed to achieve or deliver.小蝌蚪APP
Shorter小蝌蚪APP檚 self-discipline and time management is well documented. Her husband snapped photos of her studying on business trips 小蝌蚪APP and on a seaside vacation. She shares the photos with the hashtags #DistanceLearning and #IStudyEverywhere.
Triple duty
Shorter is the CEO of a finance and accounting firm she acquired five years ago. They predominantly work with small to mid-size non-profit companies and offer virtual support.
Her return to the 小蝌蚪APP coincided closely with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike many businesses during the shutdown, Shorter小蝌蚪APP檚 firm saw record revenue growth 小蝌蚪APP which is to say they were extremely busy.
While leading her company through outstanding productivity, Shorter and her husband were also taking care of their granddaughter full time for several months. Ever the manager, Shorter integrated pre-K lessons into their shared day and incorporated enrichment activities and play time into the afternoon.
小蝌蚪APP淲e made a deal that we would 小蝌蚪APP榳ork小蝌蚪APP at the same time and take our breaks and meals together,小蝌蚪APP Shorter says. 小蝌蚪APP淪he had her classroom space, and I had my office space at home. It was important to establish these spaces and to leave them behind at the end of the day each day.小蝌蚪APP
Worth the wait
Accomplished as she is in her own right, Shorter小蝌蚪APP檚 return to undergraduate studies has proven to be more than a means to finish what she started decades ago. She says her online courses have provided new tools and an expanded network.
小蝌蚪APP淎ctually, I have already capitalized on aspects of what I learned from my two business classes last semester to gain a new corporate client with international reach,小蝌蚪APP she says.
What小蝌蚪APP檚 more, Shorter was able to make meaningful connections among her classmates.
小蝌蚪APP淭here is a young lady I met, and we have agreed to reconnect after graduation because I immediately wanted to hire her. She小蝌蚪APP檚 in the military right now and she小蝌蚪APP檚 an absolute rock star,小蝌蚪APP she says.
小蝌蚪APP淧eople may not imagine themselves building connections or friendships or any networking with distance learning,小蝌蚪APP Shorter says. 小蝌蚪APP淏ut I compare it to online dating: people meet partners online and make lifetime commitments so why would distance learning be absent of that opportunity?小蝌蚪APP
As she prepares to close the book on her bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree, Shorter considers what advice she would give a prospective student.
小蝌蚪APP淚 would say: Be committed to the intended outcome. Be an advocate for yourself.小蝌蚪APP