Charlotte’s Story

Distance education has changed my life. I was the first person in my family to go to college, and I received my bachelors in Sociology from the University of Texas. I decided to continue my education, and was accepted to a master’s degree program abroad at an Austrian University to study International Peace and Conflict Resolution, and so I packed up and moved to Austria intending never to look back.

After a month abroad, I received the news that my father had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. We had a close relationship, and he was proud that I was continuing my education. He did not want to be a hindrance to me, and of course asked me to finish my education abroad and take the opportunity given to me. I was faced with the hardest decision of my life. We did not know how long my dad would live, and I could not imagine him dying in Texas without me by his side. I did not want to risk it, and my decision was made much easier by the idea that online distance education was an option.

He was able to see that I was continuing my education, and that I would still be successful in life even after he was gone.

I chose to leave the program in Austria and found an online program through Jones International University that would give me a Masters in Conflict Resolution. I moved home to Houston, worked during the day, studied at night, and was able to see my father every day. He was able to see that I was continuing my education, and that I would still be successful in life even after he was gone. I was by his side when he died gracefully, and I would never give up that experience.

The online program gave me the flexibility to study when I wanted, write papers and take exams within a structured time frame, and communicate with professors and classmates through email. I did miss meeting my classmates face to face, but there was an element of anonymity that allowed me to speak more freely than I might otherwise. In my face to face classes as an undergrad I rarely spoke up in class, but in my graduate courses online I was able to give my opinion without the fear of public speaking or interrupting anyone.

The structure I chose for my online courses was to take them in succession, one at a time, with no breaks between courses. It was a continual stream of information that gave me an underlying feeling of inspiration in my life. I had to maintain a study schedule and be responsible for structuring the time I needed to study, but this was not a problem for me since I was interested in the course material. The time flew, and I received my Masters in Conflict Resolution before I knew it.

here I am living a full and happy life, pursuing education on my terms in the city I want to live in…

After receiving my Masters degree online, I chose to move to Austin where I regained a job at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and found inspiration once again to continue my schooling and pursue a doctorate in Education. I love my life in Austin, and have every desire to stay, however there isn’t a local University that offers this particular degree program. I managed to find one elsewhere in Texas that offers an online component, and though some of the courses must be taken face to face, I can complete most of the degree online without having to relocate.

The online option is the only reason I am able to start my doctorate now while doing the things that I love. I enjoy an active lifestyle of dancing, kayaking, fishing, running, spending time with my friends and boyfriend. I have been in academia since kindergarten merely because I love the pursuit of education. I never thought I would get a doctorate because I was lucky just to go to college in the first place. Yet, here I am living a full and happy life, pursuing education on my terms in the city I want to live in because there is an option to complete my degree online. Distance education has changed my life, and allowed me to grow as a person while not giving up the activities and relationships I hold dearest to me.

- Charlotte
Austin, Texas

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