When Billie Mahoney first stepped onto UL Lafayette’s campus in 2003, she was 26, balancing motherhood and dreams of a medical career.
But life threw her curveballs, eventually pulling her away from her studies.
Fast forward two decades, and Mahoney found herself managing a Waffle House, raising four kids, and still yearning to finish what she had started.
“I met with an advisor last year, and they suggested I try an online program, being that I was working full time,” she says.
That conversation reignited her ambition, leading her back to UL Lafayette — this time in the online General Studies program.
Early Ambitions and Life’s Detours
Mahoney’s academic journey started on a promising note as she double majored in biology and psychology with a pre-med focus.
“I had a wonderful freshman year,” she says. “I was recommended for an internship at the New Iberia Research Center, and I worked with Dr. Daniel Povinelli doing behavioral studies with a group of chimpanzees.”
During that time, she also maintained a 4.0 GPA and earned a spot in Alpha Lambda Delta, a national honor society for first-year students.
However, by 2005, her circumstances changed drastically as she faced the challenges of a difficult divorce and the demands of single parenthood.
Despite the turmoil, she stayed in school, adjusting her course load to part-time while working to support her three children.
“It was quite the juggling act, but I wasn’t giving up” says Mahoney.
Yet, as 2009 approached, she was overwhelmed and made the difficult decision to put her education on hold.
She needed stability and found it in an unexpected career as a private investigator.
“I spent a lot of time in Dallas training, then I’d fly all over the country working undercover cases,” she says.
For five years, Mahoney thrived, but even as she built a successful career, the thought of finishing her degree never left her mind.
The Comeback
Years later, after re-marrying, welcoming a fourth child, and transitioning into restaurant management, Mahoney had a conversation that finally put her degree in reach.
“In 2023, my friend, who had also left school around the same time as me, decided to visit campus to see how many credits she had left,” she says. “Lo and behold, she had enough to graduate.”
“She encouraged me to go see how many credits I had left to graduate, but I knew I didn’t have enough.”
Yet, something pushed her to take a chance and reach out to an advisor.
That’s when she discovered UL Lafayette’s online General Studies program — a customizable degree path that allowed her to apply many of the credits she’d already earned.
And in September 2023, Mahoney re-enrolled, ready to finish what she started two decades earlier.
Growing as an Online Student
Although the idea of returning to school after so many years was daunting, Mahoney found reassurance in the accessibility of the program.
“To be honest, I was a little nervous at first,” she says.
“I thought that it would be a huge adjustment, but it wasn’t. It was really easy to navigate every platform. I didn’t have to search for anything. I signed onto my account, and everything was laid out for me.”
Still, Mahoney’s role as a restaurant manager meant that her days were often unpredictable. Starting her shift at 6:30 a.m., she’d never quite know when she’d be able to head home.
Yet, no matter how long the day stretched, she found a routine to balance her responsibilities.
“As soon as I’d get home from work, I would go straight into my room and do schoolwork,” she says. “Then I’d prepare some dinner or spend some time with my eight-year-old. And by 10 or 11 o’clock at night, I’d make myself go to sleep because I didn’t want to burn out.”
Her commitment to her routine paid off.
With flexible class schedules and accessible online platforms, Mahoney was able to stay on track with her degree and make new connections.
“Over the semesters, there were a couple of people I kept seeing in my classes,” she says. “It was really cool getting to put the names to the faces at graduation.”
Finishing Strong
Now, with her bachelor’s degree finally in hand after just 11 months of online study, Mahoney can’t help but reflect on how far she’s come.
“It took me 21 years to finish. I’m still in awe that I actually did this,” she says.
“My first semester on campus, I remember using the telephone dial-up to register for classes. It’s been neat to see the University’s complete transition to modern technology.”
Her advice to others returning to school?
“Stay organized and don’t give up on the bad days.”
Ready to take the next step in your education? Learn more about the online General Studies program today.
