For as long as Kennette Toussaint can remember, her goal was to earn her bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree.
But when Toussaint graduated from Opelousas High School in 2007 and enrolled in college, a cloud followed her.
In 2008, Toussaint小蝌蚪APP檚 high school boyfriend shot her twice, then himself. He did not survive.
小蝌蚪APP淚 didn小蝌蚪APP檛 have the right resources,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚 wasn小蝌蚪APP檛 focused on school because I was still trying to deal with what happened.小蝌蚪APP
Now Toussaint小蝌蚪APP檚 name will be immortalized as part of the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 after earning her Bachelor of General Studies Aug. 9, 2019.
A Path to 小蝌蚪APP楤etter小蝌蚪APP
In 2010, Toussaint gave birth to a son, and, she says, her life shifted.
小蝌蚪APP淚 realized I had someone watching me, and he would live his life based on how I was living,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚 started making better choices, choosing better relationships. He gave me a whole new perspective on life.
小蝌蚪APP淚 just wanted to do better; I just knew I had to get back into school.小蝌蚪APP
Toussaint waited until her son was old enough to enroll in pre-k to return to school, studying Early Childhood Education at South Louisiana Community College.
Once she began working full-time with a Head Start program in Breaux Bridge, Toussaint began exploring how she could earn her bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree and found .
The criteria of the degree program resonated with her. It was designed for students with at least 45 college credits, who need to complete their degree.
Toussaint says the flexibility to complete coursework while working full time made it the 小蝌蚪APP減erfect小蝌蚪APP choice for her, but she still had to adjust to the unfamiliar format.
小蝌蚪APP淚t was very different,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚 did SLCC on campus, working part time, so I was able to fully focus on school. But with online, I was working full time, and you have to be so self-disciplined to do online schooling.
小蝌蚪APP淚t was a struggle at first, but I was able to get it down.小蝌蚪APP
To ensure she had the time she needed for her coursework, Toussaint says she made personal sacrifices.
小蝌蚪APP淚 had to kind of put my social life aside. My main focus was work, taking care of my son and his schooling, and school,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚 stopped dating for years. I was just trying to focus on getting this degree. It was a sacrifice, but I knew that small sacrifice would pay off in the long run.小蝌蚪APP
The Support of a Village
Toussaint says she quickly developed relationships with 小蝌蚪APP College staff, including Dr. Gail Bonhomme, associate dean, and Sharon Williams-Gregory, who became Toussaint小蝌蚪APP檚 advisor.
小蝌蚪APP淒r. Gail was my first advisor, but she was much more. She was like a mentor when I first enrolled,小蝌蚪APP Toussaint says. 小蝌蚪APP淲e talked about life and the career path I wanted to choose.
小蝌蚪APP淢rs. Sharon was just as great. They really helped me out so much. I really appreciate them.小蝌蚪APP
Toussaint小蝌蚪APP檚 family also was a major supportive force as she pursued her degree.
小蝌蚪APP淢y job is 45 minutes away so my sisters made sure my son got to school on time every morning, my mom made sure he was picked up in the afternoon, my brothers babysat when I needed if he didn小蝌蚪APP檛 have school but I had to work,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淢y siblings, my parents, they played a major part.小蝌蚪APP
Mom, Teacher, Hero
Throughout her journey, Toussaint小蝌蚪APP檚 son has been paying attention.
小蝌蚪APP淲hen I told him I was getting ready to graduate from UL, he was so excited. He gave me a hug, saying, 小蝌蚪APP業小蝌蚪APP檓 so happy for you,小蝌蚪APP櫺◎蝌紸PP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淗e almost had me in tears. He really is watching everything I do. I know I have to keep it up.小蝌蚪APP
Toussaint says she小蝌蚪APP檚 taking steps to become certified to teach in the public school system and would like to teach pre-k in Opelousas.
Meanwhile, her son is already talking about his career goals and what he wants to pursue in college.
Toussaint says achieving her academic goals has better prepared her to help him when the time comes.
小蝌蚪APP淚 just want him to know there are so many things he can do, so many possibilities,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淢y parents didn小蝌蚪APP檛 go to college so they didn小蝌蚪APP檛 know the necessary things that I needed to do. I wasn小蝌蚪APP檛 aware of how to apply for scholarships or programs I could qualify for.
小蝌蚪APP淣ow I小蝌蚪APP檓 aware; I小蝌蚪APP檓 ready to help him do whatever he needs to accomplish his goals.小蝌蚪APP