Richard Young wanted to finish the bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree he小蝌蚪APP檇 had on hold for 20 years.
His daughter, Angelique Young, wanted a new direction and career opportunities.
Their unique needs led them to the same path: the Bachelor of General Studies online at the 小蝌蚪APP.
Now the father-daughter Ragin小蝌蚪APP Grads are looking forward to celebrating their achievements together.
小蝌蚪APP淲hen we discovered that Angelique would be graduating in December, I basically sat out during the summer and took my last class this semester, so that we can graduate together,小蝌蚪APP says Richard.
Right Time, Right Fit
The idea of completing his bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree had been buzzing in Richard小蝌蚪APP檚 head for years, but without a way to earn his degree while working full time and being present for his children, it was just background noise. 
Then in 2020, Richard saw an ad for 小蝌蚪APP a UL System initiative to help Louisiana residents with college credits complete their degrees at a reduced tuition rate.
小蝌蚪APP淚 think that I had run out of excuses not to go back and finish, and then this cost-effective solution introduced itself,小蝌蚪APP he says.
And so, in early 2021, Richard enrolled in the Business Studies concentration of the General Studies online.
小蝌蚪APP淚 discovered that it was all going to be available 100% online, and that it would be self-paced with deadlines, so I could set my own schedule as long as I met that deadline,小蝌蚪APP he says. 小蝌蚪APP淎nd it just fit, it worked really well.小蝌蚪APP
Motivated and Moving Forward
While Richard was returning to school after decades working in the IT industry, Angelique moved directly into the general studies program from an on-campus program.
Angelique enrolled at UL Lafayette in 2018 as a freshman with her sights set on teaching.
Eventually, she realized that wasn小蝌蚪APP檛 the path for her, and she was struggling as a result.
小蝌蚪APP淪ince making the decision to switch majors, I小蝌蚪APP檝e spent a lot of time feeling a mix between scared and excited for my future,小蝌蚪APP says Angelique. However, 小蝌蚪APP渟ince switching, these are the best grades I小蝌蚪APP檝e had throughout my past four and a half years.小蝌蚪APP
The primary reason General Studies has been such a relief for Angelique is now she feels she has a much broader range of opportunities ahead.
小蝌蚪APP淕eneral Studies online was perfect for me during this time because instead of having to schedule my life around school, I could schedule school around my life,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淭his gave me time to figure out what I actually want to do next.小蝌蚪APP
Balancing Online Coursework
Richard and Angelique each chose degree concentrations that dovetailed with their previous experiences and goals. For Richard, that meant focusing on business studies while Angelique pursued behavioral science.
Although they chose unique paths, the two developed similar strategies for managing their coursework.
For Richard, the key to balancing work, having one child still at home, and a social life, and his classes was to 小蝌蚪APP渢ake it a week at a time,小蝌蚪APP he says.
小蝌蚪APP淢y habit was to sit down on Sunday, and I would go through deadlines for that week, and compare them to responsibilities I had at work, if there was something going on with [my daughter] Isabelle that I had to either attend or get her to, if I had a social responsibility, and I just did the best that I could to plan all of those things.小蝌蚪APP
Hearing her dad小蝌蚪APP檚 strategy as the two talked through their experiences, Angelique immediately recognized her own approach.
小蝌蚪APP淭hat was kind of how I started to do things, too,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淢y boyfriend is in the military. So, if there小蝌蚪APP檚 a weekend coming up when I know that he小蝌蚪APP檒l be able to come to town or I would go to see him, I would do the exact same thing. Look at all my deadlines, like, 小蝌蚪APP楬ow do I get all of this done so that when it comes time for the weekend, I don小蝌蚪APP檛 have to worry about any of it?小蝌蚪APP櫺◎蝌紸PP
Although they never got to take a class together, they did take the same organizational leadership class during different terms and were able to bond over what they learned.
小蝌蚪APP淭he last couple of times that we were in person together, we小蝌蚪APP檝e been able to relate a lot more,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淗aving shared experiences, I think that gives us some rapport.小蝌蚪APP
Setting New Goals
Richard and Angelique both came to General Studies online as a means to an end. They小蝌蚪APP檙e now seeing there小蝌蚪APP檚 much more beyond the finish line.
小蝌蚪APP淚 did not have any plans for seeking a higher degree when I first entered the General Studies online program,小蝌蚪APP Richard says. 小蝌蚪APP淭hat has changed.小蝌蚪APP
小蝌蚪APP淚小蝌蚪APP檓 looking at master小蝌蚪APP檚 degrees in healthcare information management, because it will continue to help me in the industry that I小蝌蚪APP檓 in,小蝌蚪APP he says. 小蝌蚪APP淧lus, when retirement comes, I love the idea of going back into the classroom to teach.小蝌蚪APP
In seeing her dad小蝌蚪APP檚 drive for his education and career, and in having more options to explore after the General Studies program, Angelique also surprised herself with a fresh desire for graduate school.
小蝌蚪APP淟ong term, I plan on following in my dad小蝌蚪APP檚 steps by finding and starting down a career path that I enjoy, then pursuing a master小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in that field,小蝌蚪APP she says.
As Fall 2022 commencement nears, Richard is excited about his own accomplishments and his future, but it小蝌蚪APP檚 safe to say all emotions are eclipsed by his fatherly pride.
小蝌蚪APP淚 believe Angelique discovered she has a more powerful and willful spirit than she had given herself credit for,小蝌蚪APP he says. 小蝌蚪APP淚 am so proud of the adult she has become, and I look forward to watching her continue her life小蝌蚪APP檚 journey.小蝌蚪APP