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“It’s going well. I really enjoy it,” said Periera who works as a medical assistant and is the mother of three young boys. “I finished up my first two classes and I have to take about 12 more. Hopefully I’ll be done in another year or so.”
Pereira’s path toward a degree started in 1999. She came within a couple of classes of getting a degree at Western Connecticut State University in nursing, but a paperwork snafu and pregnancy that required bed rest cost her the chance to complete an important clinical assignment.
Pereira says she was not given another opportunity to take the class, and that the university wanted her to pursue a different major that would require significantly more credits. “I thought it was ridiculous,’’ she said. “It wasn’t worth it to go back.”
Pereira knew about the University of Bridgeport, and came across the IDEAL program. “I thought, 'I have to get my degree,' ’’ she said. “It took me a while to say I’m going to do this again. I met with an admissions counselor, but I was not 100 percent committed to it. I called back two weeks later and finally said I’m ready.”
Bridgeport accepted 75 percent of her previously-attained credits. She also completes her work for the accelerated program online, which allows her the flexibility to raise her sons, ages 4, 6 and 11, and work.
“It’s a juggle,’’ Pereira said. “You just do what you have to do. You don’t have a choice. I don’t get as much sleep as I used to. I’m just one of those persons that is constantly going. I can log on, take my laptop into the driveway and watch my boys while I work. They’ve been great, and I’ve learned a lot about multi-tasking.”
The path toward a college degree has been more time consuming and arduous than Pereira may have thought. Now that she can see the finish line only increases her resolve to get her degree.
“It feels great to know that I’m going to accomplish this after all,” Periera said. “I tell anybody who is thinking about going back and has some credits to go to UB. They support you.”
