Bridget Terry knows that finding your place sometimes means getting lost along the way.
After starting college with the goal of becoming a nurse, she switched to cosmetology, hoping for a creative outlet. But no matter where she turned, something was missing.
СAPPI told myself, СAPPYou know what? I need something more permanent. I need something thatСAPPs going to fare out in the future,СAPPСAPP Terry says.
That realization led her back to school, where she earned her bachelorСAPPs in early education in 1998 and began a career sheСAPPs never looked back on.
Now, more than two decades later, she is still pursuing new ways to grow as an educator with a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from UL Lafayette.
Discovering Her Passion
Originally from New York, Terry and her family moved to Lake Charles, Louisiana, when she was just a newborn.
By middle school, they settled in New Orleans, where she grew up surrounded by a community of faith at the Baptist Theological Seminary.
After trying her hand in various fields, Terry found her true passion in education.
СAPPOne of my first jobs was at the daycare, I was always involved with the youth at church, always the babysitter for everybody,СAPP she says. СAPPIСAPPve just always loved children.СAPP
After earning her bachelorСAPPs degree in education and gaining teaching experience in New Orleans, Terry moved to Lafayette and began teaching in the Lafayette Parish School System.
Once she got experience in several schools and grade levels, she found herself drawn to leadership positions.
СAPPI was one of the first educators employed and on the leadership team at the Lafayette Renaissance Charter Academy,СAPP she says. СAPPHolding different roles there helped me to discover my leadership skills, and everything started to become centered around leadership, so I knew I needed to go back to school.СAPP
Inspired by the educational leaders around her, Terry decided she was ready to take the next step in her career.
Finding the Right Program at UL Lafayette
TerryСAPPs decision to pursue her masterСAPPs degree was shaped by a desire to become a certified leader in her school system.
СAPPI was blessed to work under some amazing female school leaders that I looked up to,СAPP she says. СAPPMy principals would always say СAPPBridget, you have good leadership qualities. You need to go to school so you can get certified to become a principal when the time is right.СAPPСAPP
With the words of those leaders motivating her, she began researching programs.
СAPPI heard about UL Lafayette a lot from others who were going through the program. After checking out a couple of schools, I decided that UL Lafayette was my top choice,СAPP Terry says.
Despite initial reservations about her programСAPPs hybrid structure, TerryСAPPs experience was overwhelmingly positive thanks to the support of her professors and peers.
But just a few months into the program, Terry experienced an unexpected setback СAPP a serious fall that derailed her plans.
One Word: Perseverance
Adjusting to online learning while recovering from her fall proved to be a challenge for Terry.
СAPPI didnСAPPt want to talk about it initially because it took me to a bad space,СAPP she recalls.
But her professors knew something wasnСAPPt right.
СAPPWhen I finally spoke with them about it, they told me, СAPPWe already know what you can do. Just take your time and come back when youСAPPre better and we will go from there,СAPPСAPP she says. СAPPI knew UL Lafayette was the place for me because of the concern the professors showed me.СAPP
The decision to step away and focus on her health wasnСAPPt easy.
But a year later, she returned to finish what she started.
Though it was challenging joining a new cohort and adjusting to her new peers, she found strength in the encouragement of her family and her desire to set an example for her children.
СAPPThey were so understanding. They would see me working every day, so they really learned to be less dependent on me compared to before,СAPP she says. СAPPAnd IСAPPm glad they experienced that, the start to the finish and everything in between. They knew the purpose and they knew the reason behind it."
Supporting Student Growth as a Librarian
With over 22 years in education, Terry recently transitioned into a new role as a librarian at Alice Boucher Elementary School in Lafayette.
And it was UL LafayetteСAPPs online M.Ed. in Educational Leadership program that prepared Terry for this new chapter.
СAPPIСAPPm not a typical librarian who just reads books. I get excited when IСAPPm able to incorporate standards that are being taught in the classroom into my library lessons,СAPP says Terry. СAPPUL LafayetteСAPPs program really taught us how to dig deep into curriculum.СAPP
Outside of her duties as a librarian, Terry also serves as the Executive Director of Kingdom Tied, a nonprofit youth services organization.
Through her company, The Learning Coach LLC., she offers after-school tutoring and recently launched a summer camp to help students from Pre-K through 2nd grade transition smoothly into a classroom setting.
СAPPIСAPPm a firm believer that thereСAPPs no one curriculum for everybody, so I like that I can better accommodate them in my summer program,СAPP she says.
СAPPIn my role as a librarian, IСAPPm able to encourage non-readers to start reading, regardless of their current reading ability.СAPP
Continuing Education
While Terry was initially set to begin her doctorate program at UL Lafayette this semester, she chose to focus on her new role as a librarian.
But continuing her education is still on the horizon.
СAPPItСAPPs something IСAPPm still interested in; I went to info sessions and everything. But IСAPPm excited about the opportunity to be a librarian for a few years before retiring,СAPP she says.
СAPPI love being an educator and have so much more to offer this generation of learners.СAPP
For Terry, the relationships she formed with faculty at UL Lafayette played a significant role in shaping both her career and her desire to continue her education.
СAPPI received so much more than an education while at UL Lafayette. Relationships were created by caring professors, and I wouldnСAPPt trade that for anything."
As she continues to shape young minds, her story stands as a reminder of the power of perseverance for students who are currently working through the program.
СAPPBelieve in yourself no matter what. I was 51 years old when I started, had an accident that changed my life, got married while managing four school-aged kids and later started a full-time job," says Terry.
СAPPYou can do it, even if youСAPPre working full-time and have a family. Go to UL Lafayette СAPP the support youСAPPll receive is unmatched.СAPP
Ready to take your career in education to the next level? Learn more about our M.Ed. in Educational Leadership program.
