As of May 7, 2020, New Iberia teacher Jodie Suire will hold not one but two degrees from the 小蝌蚪APP. At 61, she says reaching her goals keeps her feeling as young as her fellow graduates.
Suire originally enrolled at the 小蝌蚪APP in 1977, when it was still 小蝌蚪APP of Southwestern Louisiana, but left to start her family.
When Suire was expecting her fourth child, her mother moved to New Orleans to pursue her degree, graduating at 52.
小蝌蚪APP淲hen she graduated, and I saw that, it gave me a desire to go ahead and go back to school,小蝌蚪APP says Suire. 小蝌蚪APP淢y mother was a shining example of being able to do something no matter what age.小蝌蚪APP
Suire looked at what she was already doing 小蝌蚪APP volunteering in her children小蝌蚪APP檚 classrooms and school organizational committees 小蝌蚪APP and decided to make her role more official.
Friends teaching at Daspit Elementary in New Iberia, where two of her children attended, encouraged Suire to make the leap. Today, that小蝌蚪APP檚 the same school where Suire teaches second grade.
When she began pursuing her bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in education at UL Lafayette in 1995, her four children ranged in age from pre-k to college freshman. 
小蝌蚪APP淚小蝌蚪APP檝e gone to school with my children, honestly,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚 feel like, at times, I did it so my kids could see that they could do hard things.小蝌蚪APP
Suire says she was always driven to earn her master小蝌蚪APP檚 degree. While she worked toward a certification in special education, UL Lafayette education professor Dr. Donna Wadsworth encouraged her to take that next step.
She enrolled in the Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction, Special Education Diagnostics concentration.
小蝌蚪APP淚 was more interested in Curriculum and Instruction because of the changes that have been a challenge to all teachers,小蝌蚪APP Suire says. 小蝌蚪APP淚 needed to stay current and active in knowing how and why we teach what we teach. I was able to tap into my special education background, experience and education in the process to be able to complete my Educational Diagnostics certification.小蝌蚪APP
Returning to the classroom as a graduate student brought new challenges and surprises.
Not only did Suire find herself among some of her former students, but she also had to navigate the online learning environment for the first time.
小蝌蚪APP淚小蝌蚪APP檝e liked it. It was challenging at times, but my professors have always been really good about helping out or answering questions,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚f I can do it anybody can. I think that with the online courses offered as they are and the support students are given from the professors and the college and the school, there's no reason not to enroll.小蝌蚪APP
Suire says that support was integral in completing her degree, as she juggled school, teaching, and her family.
小蝌蚪APP淚t's been hard. And I think this is probably one of the hardest things I've ever done,小蝌蚪APP Suire says. 小蝌蚪APP淚 had a handful of professors 小蝌蚪APP Dr. Wadsworth, Dr. (Maria) Ruiz, Dr. (Toby) Daspit 小蝌蚪APP who were phenomenal.小蝌蚪APP
小蝌蚪APP淭hose three teachers encouraged me not to give up, and there were times that I wanted to.小蝌蚪APP
With her master小蝌蚪APP檚 degree nearly in hand, Suire says she doesn小蝌蚪APP檛 intend to give up now, either.
小蝌蚪APP淚've always had a desire to continue learning,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚 will never stop. I probably will take a break for a little while and hopefully go back, to obtain my Reading Specialist certification and complete my plus-30 in education. I will be at UL Lafayette again in some capacity.
小蝌蚪APP淚小蝌蚪APP檝e always had a love for learning. I will be a lifelong learner.小蝌蚪APP