In December 2021, Kimberly Melvin earned an M.S. in Communication, researching concepts like gender representation and bias in contemporary music. 
Melvin’s research was inspired by her daughters, 6 and 8, and a drive to create a better world for them as women. It was also driven by her own passion for learning — a fire stoked by completing UL Lafayette’s online General Studies program.
Degree within Reach
Melvin was on an evolving academic path at UL Lafayette when she had her first daughter. After starting her studies in journalism and transitioning to dietetics, she took a break, returned, then took another break to have her second daughter.
“I was trying to work, do school, and make sure my kids were fed. That's really hard to do when you have a brand-new baby," Melvin says. “So, school just fell by the wayside.”
A decade later, Melvin watched a coworker complete his bachelor’s degree online and wondered if she could do the same with UL Lafayette. She checked the website and found the online Bachelor of General Studies with four concentrations. The concentration in applied science looked closely aligned to the credits Melvin had already earned.
“When I spoke with the coordinator, she looked at all my credits said, ‘Absolutely you can do this. You'll have your degree in a year.’ At that point I'd been trying to finish this degree for — I'm not even exaggerating — 20 years,” Melvin says. “I think I cried. It was this this thing that was hanging over my head that I hadn't finished.”
Full-time Mom, Student, Employee
Melvin enrolled in the program in January 2018 and crossed the commencement stage three semesters later. Each semester, Melvin took at least 12 credit hours — a full-time course load.
Throughout that time, she worked full time in addition to caring for her two young children. Both Melvin and her family had to adjust to online coursework. Melvin says it took some time to help her children understand the time she needed to set aside for school.
"I'd just shut myself in a room with a computer, and say, 'OK, this is mommy's homework time.’ My husband helped me out a lot with that,” Melvin says. “It was kind of tricky. Only one of my kids was in school, so the concept of homework was alien to them.”
Melvin says even though it required steady time management, learning online also allowed her to be there for her family.
"It was the best option for me as a parent with a full-time job. To not have to go to campus was huge,” Melvin says. “I didn't have to miss my kids. Even though I was locked in the other room, I could pop in to say hello or help them with homework. It really let me be with them.”
Melvin says the time management skills she honed as an online student have served her well in graduate school, especially in a pandemic.
“Toward the end of last semester with everything going online, I was completely prepared,” Melvin says. “Nothing really prepares you for grad school until you do it, but I made a 4.0 last semester. There's no way I would have done as well as I did if it weren't for the time management skills I learned.”
Relishing the Challenge
Melvin completed her studies with courses that interested her personally and academically — young adult literature, film history, and Cajun music.
Once she was finished, Melvin found she missed her coursework. So, she applied to the University again as a graduate student.
Melvin began her studies at UL Lafayette in 1998 in communications, and now, she says, that’s where she’ll finish.
"When I saw the opportunity to go back, I was like, ‘This is what I really want to do. I'm just not happy otherwise,’” Melvin says. “Even though it's stressful, I still try to relish the challenge.”