Working Mom, Lauralee H. is Earning Her Business Degree at Her Own Pace  

Lauralee grew up in a small town in Maine as the oldest of four siblings. Even as a child, going to college was part of the plan. By the time she was 15, she had even picked out her dream university with the goal of becoming an attorney. But when she became pregnant, everything changed. 

“Life does not always go as we plan,” she says. “I was a high school dropout. I had my first of three children at an early age. I did not obtain my high school diploma until a few years after my expected graduation date.” 

As her responsibilities as a mother grew, college became less and less of an option. She didn’t have a support system to help her pay the high tuition rates and wanted to focus on raising her kids. She completed a paralegal program and entered the workforce.  

20 years later, Lauralee still hasn’t given up on her dream of attending college.  

“I wanted to lead by example, showing my children that one should always continue to grow and step out of their comfort zone, no matter their age,” she says proudly. 

She began looking for an affordable university where she could earn her degree at her own pace. She discovered University of the People and started earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. 

“UoPeople’s mission to make high-quality education affordable and accessible to everyone resonated with me,” she says. “It is revolutionary, and I wanted to be a part of it. The courses can be challenging and fast-paced. The instructors are knowledgeable and passionate. My peers are from all over the world.” 

While earning her degree, Lauralee works full-time for a large healthcare system and remains a big part of her children’s lives. Because of UoPeople’s flexible program structures, she’s able to earn her degree without missing out on life.  

“I want to encourage everyone who thinks that it’s too late or too expensive to further their education to consider UoPeople. You have nothing to lose and a degree to gain,” she says.  

We are excited to see Lauralee choosing to return to school despite the barriers she faced in her past and are proud to be able to provide a place where she can fulfill her dreams.