John Gros was living the dream.
He'd settled down with his high school sweetheart, Mallory, in his hometown of Luling, Louisiana, raising their two young children, ages 5 and 3.
But something kept gnawing at him.
Gros enrolled in college after he graduated high school in 2004, but he hadnСAPPt completed his degree.
СAPPI was 17 years old, so I was very young,СAPP he says. СAPPMy perspective about school then was that it was irrelevant; I didnСAPPt care at all.СAPP
That all changed in Summer 2023 when Gros, now 36, earned his Bachelor of General Studies, gaining a new perspective on himself and education.
СAPPI just feel I grew as a person taking online classes. ItСAPPs a really good feeling for me,СAPP he says. СAPPI feel like I accomplished something, and IСAPPve actually applied to get my MBA.СAPP
Third TimeСAPPs the Charm
The СAPP wasnСAPPt GrosСAPP first stop on the way to his bachelorСAPPs degree.
After his initial stint at a four-year university after high school, he re-enrolled but found school had become harder to fit into his life.
СAPPI had a new job, and Mallory was pregnant with our first child,СAPP he says. СAPPWe had a lot going on, and it didnСAPPt really work out.СAPP
Mallory, as it happens, is a UL Lafayette alumna. So, when her husband started revisiting the idea of earning his bachelorСAPPs degree online, she encouraged him to look at her alma mater.
"I talked to an advisor at UL Lafayette, and she told me about the program, where if you are over a certain age and you're out of school a certain time, you get a discounted tuition rate,СAPP Gros says. СAPPSo I went that route, and it was all uphill from there. I realized that UL Lafayette really cared about their students.СAPP
And that support continued as Gros enrolled in his online courses.
СAPPI didn't run into a single instructor that wasn't willing to help me,СAPP says Gros. СAPPThey were very understanding about my situation СAPP about working and having kids or being sick. Actually, our house was messed up during Hurricane Ida, and every single one of them helped me out.СAPP
New Perspective, Endless Possibility
The СAPP offers five online undergraduate degree programs. For Gros, the Bachelor of General Studies was the right fit to leverage his applicable credits to finish his degree and to build a curriculum that aligned with his interests.
СAPPI enjoyed it because I could take classes I was interested in. I didn't have a certain curriculum I had to follow to the T,СAPP he says. СAPPHealth always interested in me, so I took a lot of health and psychology classes.СAPP
While Gros relished his online courses in child psychology and even statistics, staying on top of coursework alongside his other priorities was an ongoing challenge.
СAPPIt was tough trying to balance everything СAPP being a husband, father, worker, son,СAPP says Gros. СAPPI remember my first math test. I had to work the day shift, my daughter had her first dance recital that night, and I think the test was due at 10 p.m. So as soon as I got home from the recital, I had to run upstairs and take the test.СAPP
Working shift work in his role with Shell Norco СAPP 12-hour, rotating shifts СAPP meant Gros was able to create blocks of focused time on his days off to tackle coursework. But while that worked well for him as an online student, heСAPPs imagining a new future for himself as a dad.
СAPPI just want to have a better life for my children,СAPP he says. СAPPI just don't want to have that discussion with my kids when they get older why I wasnСAPPt there for the state championship baseball game or, you know, my daughter's dance recital. I want to be there for them, and I want to be present in their lives.СAPP
And with his bachelorСAPPs degree in hand and his MBA applications wrapped up, Gros feels prepared to take the steps to make that happen.
СAPPThereСAPPs so many different routes I can take СAPP human resources, management, analytics,СAPP says Gros. СAPPThe opportunities are endless.СAPP