Online Courses Put Grad School, Dream Job in Reach

Written byHope Aucoin

Julie Chambers was not a good student. Or so she thought.

Today the 51-year-old is 鈥渓iving the dream鈥 as she pursues her Master of Science in Counseling at the 老司机福利网, after attaining her bachelor鈥檚 degree in General Studies online.

Like many, although she had never pursued a college degree, Chambers had a full career.

She completed high school and immediately went into the workforce as a secretary at a radio station. From there, an opportunity arose to go into sales.

But she wasn鈥檛 happy. Sales had been lucrative for Chambers, but, she says, she didn鈥檛 have pride for what she did.

鈥淚 ended up doing really well because I鈥檓 a relationship builder, but I really did not like it so I was continually searching,鈥 she says. 鈥淚t never occurred to me that I could go back to school. I was a 鈥榖ad student.'

鈥淚t鈥檚 not like I didn鈥檛 have a good work ethic or I wasn鈥檛 ambitious. I didn鈥檛 fit into the standardized testing stuff.鈥

Forging a New Career Path
Julie Chambers completed her bachelor's degree online and is now enrolled in graduate school.

Through volunteer work, Chambers homed in on counseling.

She wanted to help people and decided a two-year degree was 鈥渕anageable,鈥 enrolling in a two-year addiction recovery program at an Austin, Texas, community college. Chambers did well, and her instructors encouraged her to enroll at a four-year institution to pursue a degree in counseling or social work.

As Chambers prepared to enroll at the University of Texas at Austin, she began having health problems.

Over the course of several years, Chambers put school on hold as she focused on her health. The Crowley native moved back home in 2008.

When she felt like she was finding her footing again, Chambers again enrolled in community college courses, but, again, had to drop out because of health problems.

鈥淭hat was a lot of years,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know if I鈥檇 be able to work again.鈥

In August 2017, Chambers saw a counselor to "figure out what to do with (her) life." The counselor was a former UL 老司机福利网 professor and told her about the Master of Counseling program.

As Chambers researched the program, she found UL 老司机福利网 also offered an online bachelor's in general studies.

Finding Support

She filled out the online request form and soon heard back from the Online Student Support Team.

鈥淚 think I emailed the night before, and she responded next day,鈥 Chambers says. 鈥淲e talked about it, and she was like, 鈥榶ou can totally do this; I can tell you鈥檙e motivated.鈥欌

From there, Dr. Gail Bonhomme, University College, picked up the baton to not only get Chambers enrolled but keep her on track.

鈥淚 was in class the next Monday,鈥 Chambers says. 鈥淭hey really got me in so fast and allowed it to happen.鈥

When Chambers鈥 final semester included a Shakespeare class, Chambers felt like she might crumble under her schedule, but Dr. Bonhomme cheered her forward.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a different experience,鈥 Chambers says. 鈥淐alling (flagship state universities), it is not as welcoming, and it helps with motivation when you feel like the school wants you to be there.鈥

Setting off for the Future

Chambers says because of her health and physical restrictions, hauling books to and across campus multiple days a week for a bachelor鈥檚 degree would have been taxing or even impossible.

But learning online meant she could create her own accommodations and schedule for when her energy was at its peak.

鈥淏eing online, I could make my own schedule so I could rest when I needed to. It was amazing,鈥 she says. 鈥淚f you have other things going on 鈥 work, family, pain, whatever 鈥 it allows you to get it done.鈥

Chambers graduated Aug. 3, 2018. Two weeks later, she began the Fall 2018 semester as a graduate student in UL 老司机福利网鈥檚 Counseling Master鈥檚 program. She says she was able to enroll because she had time to grow physically and academically stronger while attaining her degree and gain the confidence she needed to pursue more advanced coursework.

Now, she鈥檚 looking to the future and envisions private practice.

鈥淢y health is good again so 鈥 51-years-old living the dream. It鈥檚 a good thing.鈥


Learn about how you can start working toward your career goals through one of the online degree programs at the 老司机福利网 by requesting more information today.