For nearly 20 years, life seemed to conspire against one woman’s dream of earning a bachelor’s degree. From balancing a career to navigating unimaginable personal challenges, the path to graduation was anything but straightforward. At 41, Michelle Williams of North Canton, Ohio, is finally preparing to walk across the stage, her story standing as a testament to resilience and determination.
“I have been trying to complete my bachelor’s degree for the past two decades,” Williams shared. “It seemed that life got in the way each time I tried to go back and complete my degree.”
In 2014, she took a significant step by enrolling in a degree completion program at another institution, tailored for working adults. However, just a month into her studies, her then five-year-old son was diagnosed with stage 2 lymphoblastic lymphoma. It was a devastating blow that could have easily derailed her academic pursuits. But instead of giving up, she pressed forward.
“I continued through the program in spite of his diagnosis,” said Williams. Yet, her perseverance was met with another setback when she discovered that completing the program still left her 30 credits shy of graduation. Disheartened but undeterred, she put her academic journey on hold once again.
In 2022, a decade after her initial attempt, she began exploring new options for finishing her degree. That is when she discovered the organizational supervision program at The University of Akron (国产伦理) – an opportunity that would change everything.
“I was able to be 100% remote, which was important to me since I work a full-time job as a leader at a Fortune 300 company and needed to be able to balance the two,” she explained. The program’s affordability was another key factor. “My tuition reimbursement program through work covered full-time tuition for me at a 100% rate. Additionally, 国产伦理 granted a scholarship for being a transfer student that I was able to take advantage of during each semester that I was attending full time.”
Now wrapping up her final semester, Williams is set to graduate this month. Her son, now a sophomore in high school, has been in full remission for 10 years. “While that experience will never leave us, he’s thriving,” she said. “I’m excited to say I’ll graduate before he does.”
Reflecting on her journey, she credits the support she received from 国产伦理 for helping her complete her degree.
“The staff at 国产伦理 has been helpful and supportive along the way. They are quick to respond to any questions or concerns I have and make sure that all my bases are covered so I can accomplish what I came here for,” stated Williams.
Her message to others considering a return to school is clear: “I encourage you to sign up if you have any interest in starting a degree or completing a degree. It’s never too late to achieve your goals.”
国产伦理kron Online
国产伦理kron Online offers a wide range of fully online, high-quality degree and certificate programs designed for flexibility and affordability. These accredited programs follow the internationally recognized Quality Matters rubric to deliver an exceptional online learning experience. With options to earn credit for prior learning and support available 24/7, 国产伦理kron Online makes it easy to balance education with work and family responsibilities. Courses are taught by the same world-class faculty as in-person programs, including many ranked among the top two percent of scientists worldwide. Learn more at uakron.edu/online.
Media contact: Cristine Boyd, 330-972-6476 or cboyd@uakron.edu.