“I initially attended college for two years, but did not complete my degree at that time. I served a mission for my church, got a great job, met my husband, got married, and everything was great. At various points, I planned on restarting my degree.”

“But when our youngest child started kindergarten, I decided I did not want to go back to 9-to-5 corporate America, I wanted to teach. With four kids and working part-time in real estate, I knew it might be a challenge to complete my degree.”

“UD’s ACCESS advisor made me feel so comfortable, and made me feel that it was doable. I signed up for two classes, and when I earned A’s, it felt great. I found that my studying techniques and my time management skills were much improved from when I was a younger undergraduate 20 years ago.”

“At first, I was nervous about going back to school — nervous I wouldn’t get good grades, nervous the younger students would think of me as an outsider — but it’s been great, I’ve felt very included. Then later, I became a matriculated student and took 10 credits, then a summer class, and then taking classes full time. I enjoyed going back to school with the younger UD students.”

“This has been a wonderful thing for my children to see. I sit down at the same table where my teenage kids are studying, working on my own coursework. Now that I’m in school, it shows that not only do I expect them to do their best, but they see me doing my best, too.”

Christine Grier graduated from the University of Delaware with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish education.