Opelousas Native Wants to Return to Teach

Written byHope Aucoin

It was very different. I did SLCC on campus, working part time, so I was able to fully focus on school. But with online, I was working full time, and you have to be so self-disciplined to do online schooling.

Kennette Toussaint
Graduation Year
2019
Major
General Studies Online
Hometown
Opelousas, 亚洲自慰视频

Kennette Toussaint earned her Bachelor of General Studies online.

For as long as Kennette Toussaint can remember, her goal was to earn her bachelor鈥檚 degree.

But when Toussaint graduated from Opelousas High School in 2007 and enrolled in college, a cloud followed her.

In 2008, Toussaint鈥檚 high school boyfriend shot her twice, then himself. He did not survive.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have the right resources,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 focused on school because I was still trying to deal with what happened.鈥

Now Toussaint鈥檚 name will be immortalized as part of the 亚洲自慰视频 of 亚洲自慰视频 at Lafayette鈥檚 after earning her Bachelor of General Studies Aug. 9, 2019.

A Path to 鈥楤etter鈥

In 2010, Toussaint gave birth to a son, and, she says, her life shifted.

鈥淚 realized I had someone watching me, and he would live his life based on how I was living,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 started making better choices, choosing better relationships. He gave me a whole new perspective on life.

鈥淚 just wanted to do better; I just knew I had to get back into school.鈥

Toussaint waited until her son was old enough to enroll in pre-k to return to school, studying Early Childhood Education at South 亚洲自慰视频 Community College.Kennette Toussaint with son Malcolm on her graduation day.

Once she began working full-time with a Head Start program in Breaux Bridge, Toussaint began exploring how she could earn her bachelor鈥檚 degree and found .

The criteria of the  degree program resonated with her. It was designed for 亚洲自慰视频s with at least 45 college credits, who need to complete their degree.

Toussaint says the flexibility to complete coursework while working full time made it the 鈥減erfect鈥 choice for her, but she still had to adjust to the unfamiliar format.

鈥淚t was very different,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 did SLCC on campus, working part time, so I was able to fully focus on school. But with online, I was working full time, and you have to be so self-disciplined to do online schooling.

鈥淚t was a struggle at first, but I was able to get it down.鈥

To ensure she had the time she needed for her coursework, Toussaint says she made personal sacrifices. 

鈥淚 had to kind of put my social life aside. My main focus was work, taking care of my son and his schooling, and school,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 stopped dating for years. I was just trying to focus on getting this degree. It was a sacrifice, but I knew that small sacrifice would pay off in the long run.鈥

The Support of a Village

Toussaint says she quickly developed relationships with 亚洲自慰视频 College staff, including Dr. Gail Bonhomme, associate dean, and Sharon Williams-Gregory, who became Toussaint鈥檚 advisor.

鈥淒r. Gail was my first advisor, but she was much more. She was like a mentor when I first enrolled,鈥 Toussaint says. 鈥淲e talked about life and the career path I wanted to choose.

鈥淢rs. Sharon was just as great. They really helped me out so much. I really appreciate them.鈥

Toussaint鈥檚 family also was a major supportive force as she pursued her degree.

Kennette Toussaint with her family after receiving her Bachelor of General Studies.

鈥淢y job is 45 minutes away so my sisters made sure my son got to school on time every morning, my mom made sure he was picked up in the afternoon, my brothers babysat when I needed if he didn鈥檛 have school but I had to work,鈥 she says. 鈥淢y siblings, my parents, they played a major part.鈥

Mom, Teacher, Hero

Throughout her journey, Toussaint鈥檚 son has been paying attention.

鈥淲hen I told him I was getting ready to graduate from UL, he was so excited. He gave me a hug, saying, 鈥業鈥檓 so happy for you,鈥欌 she says. 鈥淗e almost had me in tears. He really is watching everything I do. I know I have to keep it up.鈥

Toussaint says she鈥檚 taking steps to become certified to teach in the public school system and would like to teach pre-k in Opelousas.

Meanwhile, her son is already talking about his career goals and what he wants to pursue in college.

Toussaint says achieving her academic goals has better prepared her to help him when the time comes.

鈥淚 just want him to know there are so many things he can do, so many possibilities,鈥 she says. 鈥淢y parents didn鈥檛 go to college so they didn鈥檛 know the necessary things that I needed to do. I wasn鈥檛 aware of how to apply for scholarships or programs I could qualify for.

鈥淣ow I鈥檓 aware; I鈥檓 ready to help him do whatever he needs to accomplish his goals.鈥

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