After an overwhelming start to college in 2005, Sarah Beard returned home to St. Francisville, Louisiana, to find her footing.
Over the years, she raised two daughters, fostered children, and gained experience in a medical office, moving from front desk scheduling to the billing department. Still, almost two decades later, something felt unfinished.
小蝌蚪APP淚 wanted to be an example for our children that a college diploma is very important,小蝌蚪APP says Beard.
Though she once considered nursing school, the program小蝌蚪APP檚 demands would have required her to drastically reduce her work schedule 小蝌蚪APP a sacrifice she couldn小蝌蚪APP檛 make while supporting her family.
Instead, she continued climbing the ranks, eventually becoming an office manager for a chiropractic clinic. It was there she began exploring online degree options.
小蝌蚪APP淚 wanted to do something in the medical field, so when I found out UL Lafayette had the Health Services Administration online program, I knew it was perfect for me,小蝌蚪APP she says.
On the Road to an HSA Degree
By 2022, Beard enrolled, quickly finding her rhythm in UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 online Health Services Administration program. The program小蝌蚪APP檚 affordability, with help from the , gave her the confidence to take the next step.
Complete LA is a college completion initiative designed for Louisianans who have stopped out of school for at least two years, qualifying them for a reduced tuition.
小蝌蚪APP淭he flat-rate tuition and no fees made it possible for me to go back to college without taking out massive amounts of student loans,小蝌蚪APP she says.
And with the flexibility of online learning, she could balance the coursework with her job and responsibilities as a mother.
小蝌蚪APP淭he eight-week courses were one of the main factors I was drawn to,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淏eing full-time can feel like a lot to keep up with, but I was able to do two classes each eight weeks and still maintain full-time status. It just makes the workload more manageable.小蝌蚪APP
But life didn小蝌蚪APP檛 slow down for Beard just because she was back in school. In 2023, she added wedding planning to her already full schedule.
Thanks to the support of her instructors, she was able to stay on track academically while preparing for her big day.
小蝌蚪APP淥ne of my professors was very understanding and let me take a test a week early, so I didn小蝌蚪APP檛 have to take it the week of my wedding,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚 still made a 4.0 that semester.小蝌蚪APP
The program both fit her life and deepened her understanding of healthcare operations. Through courses in leadership, finance, and healthcare systems, Beard was able to connect her real-world experience with new knowledge.
Her personal favorite, though, was HSA 409: Health Services Administration Capstone.
小蝌蚪APP淭hat小蝌蚪APP檚 when you do your internship, which I was lucky enough to do with my current employer,小蝌蚪APP says Beard. 小蝌蚪APP淚t gave me the opportunity to work more closely with my boss and work on some things that had been pushed to the side for a while, like updating our employee handbook.小蝌蚪APP
Looking Back and Moving Forward
The bonds Beard formed with her classmates remain one of her favorite takeaways from the program.
小蝌蚪APP淲e bonded really well, and we小蝌蚪APP檙e super excited to watch each other go forward and keep those relationships together.小蝌蚪APP
These connections, paired with the skills and confidence she gained, have set the foundation for her next steps. Now, with her bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in hand, Beard is building on that momentum.
小蝌蚪APP淚小蝌蚪APP檓 starting my master小蝌蚪APP檚 in health administration this July,小蝌蚪APP she says.
To students currently navigating their own journeys, Beard offers this advice:
小蝌蚪APP淓njoy it, collaborate, communicate with your professors. Don小蝌蚪APP檛 get frustrated and give up. Remember that it小蝌蚪APP檒l be worth it in the end.小蝌蚪APP
Learn more about how you can advance your career with a B.S. in Health Services Administration degree.
