Earning a degree fresh out of high school isn鈥檛 the path everyone takes.
That鈥檚 true for Clarence Chapman, who earned his B.S.B.A. in Management online in May at the age of 32. 鈥淚 went to another 欧美三级片 for a semester out of high school,鈥 Chapman says. 鈥淏eing young, it wasn鈥檛 really for me. I had my mind on other stuff, like working.鈥
Although stepping away from school allowed Chapman to start earning a full-time income earlier than most, he found with time that not having a degree meant his career had little direction.
鈥淚 coach basketball at Centerville High School, and the coach I was working under once, Montrelle Taylor, he graduated from UL Lafayette,鈥 Chapman recalls. 鈥淗e told me, 鈥榊ou know, you鈥檝e been telling me how your jobs have been, and I think you should go back to school.鈥欌
With that advice, Chapman鈥檚 journey began.
Gaining a Fresh Perspective
In late 2019, Chapman enrolled at to complete his associate degree in business.
After finishing his program there, he took advantage of the 2+2 Transfer Pathway between SoLAcc and UL Lafayette. Through the pathway, students who earn an associate degree from SoLAcc can apply all 60 credits earned there toward their business degree at UL Lafayette.
Entering the online management program, Chapman had experience in management roles, including as an assistant store manager at Dollar General, but his management courses offered a fresh perspective on both his and his supervisors鈥 work.
鈥淭here鈥檚 so much more to management than what I previously thought,鈥 he says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 HR, there鈥檚 scheduling, there鈥檚 leadership, there鈥檚 finance. Now, when I look at my current supervisor in my data entry job, Jeffery Beverly, I can appreciate everything he does. I feel like he fits every quality of what I鈥檝e learned in my classes.鈥
鈥淚 think back now to when I was a manager at Dollar General, and I understand it better. As a manager, you can鈥檛 be rude to people; you have to be both firm and friendly. And you also have to consider all these other business factors.鈥
One of Chapman鈥檚 favorite classes was MGMT 445: Digital Business, taught by Dr. Ron Cheek, associate professor of management.
The class examines the key elements of conducting business digitally.
鈥淔or one assignment, we had to make our own web page,鈥 Chapman says. 鈥淚t was just amazing how Dr. Cheek helped me. When I had questions, he was there for a Zoom call. He really pushed me.鈥
Overcoming Challenges
Though being an online student 鈥 both at SoLAcc and UL Lafayette 鈥 made school convenient for Chapman, it didn鈥檛 make the work any less challenging.
Chapman particularly struggled with MGMT 382: Operations Management. He was originally set to graduate in Fall 2023, but four courses and a job on top of MGMT 382 proved to be a lot.
鈥淭he course for me was just really mind-blowing,鈥 he says. 鈥淚t blended a lot of business with statistics. I had a hard time grasping the concepts.鈥
So, he delayed his graduation by a semester to focus on the course by itself and visited The Learning Center for additional support.
鈥淭he tutor I worked with, Zoe LeBoeuf, was great,鈥 he says. 鈥淪he broke everything down so well. With each exam, I just did better and better. It felt really good.鈥
Finding Community & Support
Being an online student at UL Lafayette didn鈥檛 stop Chapman from immersing himself in the college experience that he previously missed out on.
He purchased the Campus Connection Plan each semester, giving him access to the 欧美三级片鈥檚 recreation center and to campus activities like Intramural Sports.
鈥淚t was nice to be able to do some of the college activities 鈥 going to football games, playing rec sports 鈥 while working and doing what I needed to do,鈥 he says. 鈥淭he guys on my intramural basketball team would be surprised when I鈥檇 tell them I was in my 30s!鈥
And Chapman found a study partner in his sister, who鈥檚 working toward her degree online at another 欧美三级片. The two often completed their schoolwork together, bouncing ideas for their assignments off each other.
鈥淭here was a moment where I thought I wasn鈥檛 going to graduate,鈥 he says. 鈥淢y mom would always tell me, 鈥楽on, it鈥檚 going to be okay. You just have to find your way, figure things out, and give it time.鈥欌
Looking Ahead
Now that he鈥檚 finished, Chapman is already thinking about what鈥檚 next 鈥 and encouraging the students he coaches to do the same.
Attending Commencement alongside graduate business students in the 欧美三级片鈥檚 MBA program and M.S. in Accounting program, he felt inspired to one day be one of them.
鈥淪eeing those black gowns and hoods 鈥 I know if I pushed myself through my bachelor鈥檚 I can do the same for my master鈥檚,鈥 he says. 鈥淚 want to go back to earn my MBA now.鈥
鈥淚 always tell the kids I coach that it鈥檚 OK if you want to get into the workforce, but you have to get an education. Whether it鈥檚 online, on campus, I don鈥檛 care. Just get an education.鈥
Start your career and finish your bachelor鈥檚 degree through our 100% online B.S.B.A. in Management.