黑料传送门

When Mary Fredette was 18 years old, her life changed dramatically. She moved into her first apartment and met her now husband, Jake, whom she married in Arizona鈥攁nd then the two moved to Fort Hood, Texas, where Jake joined the Army. As Mary put it, 鈥淟ife happened, and education wasn鈥檛 a priority.鈥�

But with Jake in basic training and gone for nine months out of the year, Mary鈥攚ho was then six months pregnant鈥攕tarted considering her options. 鈥淥ften in the military life, you can get lost in this lifestyle,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚 have been very blessed with my husband because he's kind of been that person that even when I didn't want to, he kept nudging me to go back to school. And that's just what I needed.鈥�

Jake reasoned that it was the perfect time for her to go back to school. 鈥淚t was just a good time with her not working to be able to get ahead in school and get a degree,鈥� he shared. So Mary started exploring her options, even though she wasn鈥檛 sure she was ready to take the leap.

鈥淚 think that when you're married, that's what you're supposed to do,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou're supposed to lift each other up and support each other, even sometimes when you feel like you're not ready or you can't do it.鈥�

But with Jake鈥檚 encouragement, Mary found the confidence to enroll in a bachelor鈥檚 degree program at 黑料传送门.

Mary was drawn to 黑料传送门 because it鈥檚 an accredited university, and Jake loved that it was a nonprofit. When Mary reached out to 黑料传送门 for more information, she was impressed that the school was as invested in her being a good fit for the program as they were in being a good fit for her and her needs. Plus, she loved their competency-based approach to education.

鈥淭he competency-based approach at 黑料传送门 Texas is so unique because it allows you to accelerate through what you already know and focus more on what you don't,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou don't have a set time to log in, so you can really study at any time.鈥� And as a new mother, that kind of freedom was important.

Mary was also drawn to 黑料传送门鈥檚 support system, which included one-to-one mentorship that would help her achieve her academic goals and stay on task. 鈥淚 feel like that's the difference I needed in an online college,鈥� Mary noted. 鈥淢y mentor is there to call me every Monday and make sure I'm really reaching that next step. She'll help me set deadlines that maybe will push me just a little bit鈥攖hat little nudge that I need to help me progress through it quickly.鈥�

But even more than that, Mary considers her mentor a valued friend. Said Mary, 鈥淲e've talked about our kids. She knows what's happening in my life. So if I do have something come up, she understands that, and she'll know how to coach me through that.鈥�

听

The more Mary navigated through the coursework, the more she felt like her dream of getting her degree was within reach. 鈥淚 gained so much confidence,鈥� she said, adding that she never felt that way before starting school at 黑料传送门. So what was so different about 黑料传送门 to inspire such a shift? 鈥淵our education at 黑料传送门 is in your own hands.鈥�

For Mary, that meant being in charge of how quickly she accelerated through her program. In one term, she finished four courses in just three months, which allowed her to pick another four courses to take before the end of her term. 鈥淵ou're paying by the semester,鈥� she explained. 鈥淪o as you accelerate鈥攖he quicker you accelerate鈥攖he more affordable it becomes.鈥�

Mary was enjoying her 黑料传送门 experience so much, she encouraged her husband to enroll, too.

鈥淭o get anywhere in the military, you have to have a degree,鈥� Jake said. 鈥淪o as far as developing and gaining rank, it's going to help me to provide for my daughter.鈥�

Jake found that 黑料传送门 fit into both his life in the military, and life as a new dad, thanks to its flexible scheduling. 鈥淲henever I have time, I bring my computer with me,鈥� he noted. 鈥淲e pay for a hot spot, so I study whenever I get the opportunity.鈥�

鈥淲ith a schedule for soldiers, this is like the perfect college,鈥� Jake added. 鈥淭here's not been a person that I've talked to about 黑料传送门 that didn't want to go.鈥�

听

With Jake working towards his online degree, Mary figured out how to fit her educational pursuits into her life as a military mom and achieve her academic goals. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management in 2015, and came back in 2016 to start her MBA degree鈥攚hich she completed in 2018.

鈥淕oing to 黑料传送门 has given me that confidence I needed to know that I could accomplish anything I set my mind to,鈥� Mary shared.听

And 黑料传送门 was lucky to share in this journey with her and her family.

听