With a convenient online and on-campus evening class schedule at nearby Graceland University, non-traditional student Laci Tallman, 32, of Glenwood, Mo., was able to go back to college and pick up where her year at community college after high school left off. Although this wife and mother of three worked in a law office that offered her the flexibility to work from home and achieve work/life balance, her decision to complete her bachelor's degree was prompted by her middle child's special needs. Laci talks to About.com about working as a volunteer in her son's classroom and advocating for him in the public school system, experiences that led her to enroll in a special education degree program.
About.com: What college experience did you have before choosing your current program?
Laci Tallman: I attended a community college straight out of high school, completing an Administrative Assistant program. My original plan was to finish my AA degree the next year and then decide what I wanted to do with my life. Instead, I found a job at a law office, got married, and had a family.
About.com: What made you decide to go back to college?
Laci Tallman: Once my first child reached school age, I started spending a lot of time at the school as a volunteer. I realized that I loved being in the classroom and working with the students. My middle child has special needs, so I was thrown in to the world of special education. I spent many hours educating myself on my son's special needs, and working with him and other students in his class. I felt that my personal experiences would help me professionally and I could make a difference, not only with the students, but also with the parents of those students.
The actual decision to go back was not an easy one. I knew I wanted to go back to college, but I was unsure if I could add "student" to my plate and still fulfill my duties as wife, mother, and employee (I was still working from home for the law office). I am so glad that I made the decision to go back. It was not easy, but it has been worth it.
About.com: Why did you choose Graceland University?
Laci Tallman: Honestly? Convenience. Graceland has a satellite campus 40 minutes from my house and classes were scheduled for two nights a week (5:45-10 p.m.). This allowed me to still be home with my children during the day, and my husband home with them at night. I was also able to add the special education endorsement and pick up the classes online (or hybrid) so that it did not add much to my time away from home.
About.com: What do you plan to do with your special education degree?
Laci Tallman, smiling: Teach.
About.com: What do you think your children have learned/will learn from watching you go back to school?
Laci Tallman: They have learned that I value education and working hard to reach your goals. We have all sat at the table working on our homework together. They know that I did this for them as much as I did it for myself.