Build support and don’t be afraid to ask for help
Another 2026 graduate, Lauri-Anne Nisbet, shared a similar tale.
As a single mom of three and a working professional, a college degree once felt like a dream that was beyond her reach. She questioned whether she could balance raising her kids, working full-time, and returning to school.
But like many other alumni before her, she knew there was no perfect time to return to earn her Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy; the only thing to do was just get started.
“Pursuing this degree, I discovered that progress does not require fearlessness, it requires movement,” she said. “One small step, encouraged by a client who saw my potential, led me to apply to UMass Global. That single act became a transformational moment, reminding me that resilience is not something we discover, it is something we practice. And at UMass Global, I did not practice it alone.”
She further shared that she found more than academic support at UMass Global; she found belonging.
“I learned in spaces where my voice mattered, where diversity was valued, and where equity was reflected not just in words, but in action with intentional inclusivity,” she reflected. “I was seen not only as a student, but felt deeply respected as a parent, a professional, and an immigrant whose lived experience mattered.”
Lauri-Anne’s advice:
Standing does not mean standing alone. It means standing together in community and in solidarity. It means being a changemaker, not through force, but through presence; not through perfection, but through persistence. Wherever you go from here, let the world rise because you did.
Your lived experience can be a benefit
Some are raised on the belief that success requires picking a single timeline early in life and sticking to it without deviation. However, returning to college as a well-traveled adult can demonstrate that non-traditional, winding journeys are often the most transformative.
After earning an associate’s degree in her early 20s and starting a job she admitted was great, UMass Global graduate Kelly Searcy departed from conventional expectations by heading to South America for a backpacking journey that was expected to last a year. That one year became seven. It was an era during which she learned Spanish, worked as an interpreter, and became a mother.
When the 2020 pandemic forced a return to the United States and a complete reset, she channeled her lived experience into a passion for legal studies. Reframing the expectation of traditional career path, she noted, “Sometimes life is messy, uncertain, and winding. And sometimes, those winding paths lead you exactly where you were meant to be.”
Her start to school wasn’t easy. She was accepted to UMass Global the same week she became a single parent, meaning her return to the classroom was coupled with the demands of single motherhood, personal illness, caring for her son, and working as an interpreter in special education. Yet, through it all, she maintained a 4.0 GPA, something she’s extremely proud of.
Describing what her academic success truly means, she shared, “It represents every late night after my child went to bed. Every assignment written with an ice pack on my neck. Every discussion post typed in the car between appointments. Every moment I almost talked myself out of believing that I belonged here.”
Now preparing for the Paralegal CORE Competency Exam (PCCE) and the LSAT with sights set on law school, Searcy offered a final reminder to anyone considering a return to school: Growth doesn’t have an expiration date.
Kelly’s advice:
It is never too late to learn. It is never to late to grow. And it is never too late to change the direction of your life.
Lead by example for your kids
Parents are their kids’ first and most impactful teachers. It comes as no surprise that many mothers are motivated to earn their degrees because they want to model the importance of education. Research shows that children whose parents have a degree are more likely to attend college themselves.
Anna Munoz credits her child and her students as her motivation for going back to college. She was already working full-time as a teacher when her son was born with cerebral palsy. She recalls the frustration of trying to navigate the insurance and education systems.
“I just needed to know more so that I could help my boy and my students,” she said.
Munoz enrolled in a master's degree and focused much of her studies on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Through many late nights and weekends spent researching, writing papers and speaking with her professors, she became an expert in educational law and administrative services. Munoz graduated in 2019.
“I used all that information to get more services and therapies for my son,” she shared proudly. “UMass Global taught me the skills I needed to be an advocate for my son’s rights, how to be a highly skilled teacher and administrator and how to be an activist for higher education in my community.”
Anna’s advice:
No matter how hard it is, or how long the nights are, or even if you need help, reach out. There's always a better future. We can go forward and make a difference.
Start planning your return to school
As you plan your next step, check out our other resources for moms returning to school:
