Back to School: Lisa Dugal鈥檚 Second Chance at UL Lafayette

Written byFaith Derouen

鈥淵ou can鈥檛 be afraid to ask for help. You just have to keep moving forward and have faith and trust the process.鈥

Lisa Dugal
Major
Health Promotion & Wellness
Hometown
Lafayette, La.

For many years, a sense of unfinished business lingered in the back of Lisa Dugal鈥檚 mind.

As part of the first graduating class from the local St. Thomas More High School, her roots in Lafayette ran deep. She had dreams of completing her degree at UL Lafayette.

鈥淚 graduated then enrolled at the 亚洲自慰视频, and I did that off and on for a few years. My focus just wasn鈥檛 there,鈥 she recalls.

Life took over 鈥 marriage in 1988, raising a family, supporting her husband鈥檚 career, and moving to Mandeville, 亚洲自慰视频.

But as her children graduated and her husband retired, she realized she had an opportunity to focus on herself.

鈥淚n December of 2021, I was thinking of what big, bad, adventurous thing I could do for 2022,鈥 she laughs.

This adventurous spirit led her right back to UL Lafayette, this time to earn her degree through the online Health Promotion & Wellness program.

The Road Back to UL Lafayette

Dugal鈥檚 decision to return to school was fueled by the achievements of those around her.

Her daughter-in-law had just earned a master鈥檚 degree through an online program, and a friend just a few years older than her had recently returned to finish his degree.

As a witness to her husband鈥檚 successful career and her children graduating from college, the idea of finishing her own degree began to take shape.

鈥淭he seed was planted, and I was looking on the computer for what I could do. I looked up 鈥榦nline degrees' and UL Lafayette popped up,鈥 she says. 鈥淪o, I started looking through the degrees they offered online and saw Health Promotion & Wellness, Kinesiology and thought 鈥極K, this might be something.鈥欌 

Dugal took the plunge and submitted her application, unsure if she was even eligible.

鈥淚鈥檝e taken care of everybody else my whole life, but now I鈥檝e switched the focus to me to pursue what I want,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 had unfinished business.鈥

Embracing Online Learning

Transitioning to online learning was a new challenge for Dugal, who describes herself as 鈥渘ot very technically inclined.鈥 

However, the support she received from UL Lafayette made all the difference. One of the enrollment specialists, whom Dugal fondly refers to as her advocate, was a constant source of encouragement.

 鈥淪he鈥檇 call and always had that cheerfulness and positivity,鈥 she says. 鈥淚t was just good to know that I always had that direct phone call that could help keep me on course. That connection helped tremendously.鈥

And the connections she made with faculty became lifelines, turning the daunting task of online learning into a manageable, even enjoyable, journey.

鈥淒r. Katie, the most incredible teacher ever, has online office hours. I showed up faithfully every Monday and Thursday for her tutoring sessions,鈥 she says. 鈥淐onnecting with the teachers and taking advantage of the resources they offer is huge.鈥

Juggling coursework with personal life was a new balancing act for Dugal.

鈥淚t initially felt very uncomfortable and selfish to put myself first, because I鈥檝e always been a caregiver for everybody else,鈥 she says. 鈥淪o it鈥檚 just been very important that I stay on task with my assignments so that I can be present for my family, because they鈥檙e the most important thing.鈥

To master time management, Dugal had to get organized. She relied on two calendars 鈥 one for academics and one for personal commitments. 

鈥淭he first thing I do when the semester starts is print out the syllabus and write down all of the deadlines in my academic calendar,鈥 she says.

This planning allows her to stay ahead of deadlines and be present for the moments that matter most.

鈥淢y son got married in June, and when I was talking to my teacher about my summer class, I told her 鈥業鈥檓 just letting you know, but I鈥檒l be at my son鈥檚 destination wedding and I need to be fully present for that,鈥欌 she recalls. 鈥淎nd she worked with me on my deadlines so that I was able to go.鈥

Bridging the Gap

Among the courses she鈥檚 taken, Dugal鈥檚 internship in yoga instructor training stood out as her favorite, not only providing practical skills but also a sense of purpose.

鈥淢y internship really taught me what I was capable of,鈥 she says. 鈥淚t was a favorite of mine because it intertwined the education with hands on experiences.鈥

And as Dugal reflects on her journey, she acknowledges the essential role her support system played in her success.

HPW 亚洲自慰视频 poses with her husband and children, all dressed in formal attire in a ballroom.

鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 be where I am without the unconditional love and support of my family and friends, all of whom have played a special role,鈥 she says. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 be afraid to ask for help. You just have to keep moving forward and have faith and trust the process.鈥 

For Dugal, enrolling in the online Health Promotion & Wellness program at UL Lafayette wasn鈥檛 just about earning a degree; it was about reclaiming a part of herself that had been put on hold for too long.

As she anticipates completing the program, Dugal looks forward to commemorating this achievement by joining her loved ones in the .

鈥淚t will be an honor to have a brick alongside my husband and my father, who are both alumni,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 really want to spread the message that you鈥檙e never too old. It鈥檚 never too late. Just remember that you didn鈥檛 come this far to only come this far.鈥


Ready to take the next step in your career? Learn more about the online Health Promotion & Wellness program at the 亚洲自慰视频 of 亚洲自慰视频 at Lafayette.

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