Gaining Confidence, Perspective through Online General Studies Program

Written byHope Aucoin

"I could get a lot of hours completed by enrolling in A- and B-term classes. So, I started adding on classes as soon as I realized it wasn鈥檛 as hard as I feared; you just have to stay on top of the reading and do the things they tell you to do.鈥

Melanie Fontenot
Graduation Year
2022
Major
General Studies Online

Melanie Fontenot watched her husband graduate from the 欧美三级片 of Southwestern Louisiana, then watched two of her three children graduate from the 欧美三级片 鈥 all the while knowing she was only 18 credits short of her bachelor鈥檚 degree.Melanie Fontenot earned her bachelor's in general studies online at UL Lafayette.

At the age of 55, Fontenot could no longer ignore the call to complete her degree.

鈥淚 had been talking to my boss about it, and he had gone back to UL Lafayette through the online General Studies program, because he only needed six hours to graduate,鈥 Fontenot says. 鈥淗e said, 鈥楲ook, if I can do it, you can do it.鈥欌

That encouragement came back to Fontenot when her position as a retail merchandiser went away in 2018.

鈥淭hat's when the idea started creeping up that this might be a great time to finish that degree because I'm retired, and I'm too young to just sit here.鈥

(Re)Starting Slow

After being out of school for 37 years, Fontenot was intimidated to jump into 100% online courses. 

鈥淚 started with one class because I was nervous about testing; I was nervous about proctoring; I was nervous about the technology now 鈥 all of that,鈥 says Fontenot.

Melanie Fontenot with her husband and biggest cheerleader.Soon, Fontenot began building momentum, taking advantage of the program鈥檚 8-week terms to knock out the sixteen courses that now stood between her and her degree.

"I could get a lot of hours completed by enrolling in A- and B-term classes,鈥 Fontenot says. 鈥淪o, I started adding on classes as soon as I realized it wasn鈥檛 as hard as I feared; you just have to stay on top of the reading and do the things they tell you to do.鈥

That鈥檚 not to say Fontenot didn鈥檛 struggle. Earning a degree is a challenge, and she felt that. But her family was usually waiting in the wings to give her perspective and support her. She credits that support for getting her through the rough times.

"When I thought, 鈥楾here's no way I can do this,鈥 my kids would say, 鈥楳om, you got this.鈥 My niece would come over and help and say, 鈥榯his is what you have to think about...鈥 or 鈥榯hink about it like this...鈥,鈥 says Fontenot.

Finishing Strong

That support came through on graduation day, as well.

Fontenot鈥檚 cheering section was substantial. We-can't-all-fit-in-the-photo substantial.Melanie Fontenot's husband cheers her on during commencement, Spring 2022.

Children, nieces, nephews, sisters, neighbors, and friends came to celebrate Fontenot and her achievement.

鈥淚t surprised me because I didn't know a lot of those people were coming. But it was neat, and it still warms my heart because they came from Tennessee, Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, all over.鈥

Shortly after she graduated, Fontenot started a new job as a Branch Office Administrator with a local Edward Jones office. Earning her degree 鈥 especially learning online 鈥 gave Fontenot more confidence to take on her second act and taught her more about herself.

鈥淚 love my job. I'm using everything that I was taught in online classes, especially the computer class. When I walked in, I wasn't intimidated by the computer. I wasn't intimidated by learning. Had I not gone back to college, I would have walked into this job very differently,鈥 she says.

鈥淚鈥檝e realized I can be independent. I can support myself. I can continue to learn. You know, it doesn't stop. There's no age where you just stop learning, and I'm capable of doing it a lot more than I thought.鈥

Melanie Fontenot with her cheering section during commencement, Spring 2022.

Request Information

Apply Now