��������Ƶ

Lara Brady graduated in December 2020 with a degree in accounting from ��������Ƶ’s Adult Degree Program. After graduating from high school, Lara decided she wanted to continue her education by going to college. However, shortly into her college career, Lara found herself unhappy and decided to put college on hold. Eventually life took a different direction. College became a distant memory to Lara as the responsibilities of raising a family and working took over. However, Lara would learn that it is never too late to start over. Years later, when her daughter was nearing high school graduation and looking at colleges, Lara began to get the urge to go back to school. At a college fair for her daughter, Lara made her way to ��������Ƶ’s recruiting table and began inquiring about her daughter attending.

"The more I got to know my professors, and the more they got to know me, I found how willing they are to help you open doors. ��������Ƶ has helped me to make positive changes in my life, and I feel ready to begin my future career.”

However, after the conversation Lara had with the admissions counselor, Lara realized that ��������Ƶ actually seemed like the best fit for her.

“Being the oldest student in the classroom was a bit scary at first, but it didn’t take long for me to fit in and feel at home,” Lara says. Since Lara decided to forgo the adult degree classes that are offered online or on evenings and Saturdays, she was placed in traditional undergraduate classes with traditional undergraduate students - and she was often the oldest student in the classroom. Lara says that although it took her and her classmates some time to get used to one another, in the end, it was a great learning experience for everyone.

“I think it helped prepare us for jobs in the real world because I might be working for a boss who is younger than me just like they will likely be working for someone older than them,” Lara says.

“My experience at ��������Ƶ has been nothing but positive,” says Lara. “From the first time I stepped on campus, I felt at home. The more I got to know my professors, and the more they got to know me, I found how willing they are to help you open doors. ��������Ƶ has helped me to make positive changes in my life, and I feel ready to begin my future career.”

This story originally appeared in ��������Ƶ’s alumni magazine, Forward.