Major: Organizational Leadership and Learning
Meet Pam!
Major: Leadership and Learning
Why did you decide to return to Wichita State to complete your degree?
I decided to return to Wichita State University because over 31 years ago, I quit without finishing my degree! I am so excited that I am now fortunate enough to complete this degree!
How did the Shocker Comeback Program impact your journey to returning and completing your degree?
The Shocker Comeback program has impacted me in many ways! Most importantly, the
support from the staff and the encouragement have been inspiring and encouraging.
What is one piece of advice you would suggest to someone wanting to come back to WSU
to finish their degree?
Make sure to take advantage of all of the resources available to you!!
Meet Jennifer!
Major: Accounting and Management
Why did you decide to return to Wichita State to complete your degree?
If I finish my degree, it will open more opportunities for me in the future, and I don’t want to stay in the same place; I want to grow and have options in my career. I felt a sense of responsibility to myself to finish what I started. I wanted to come back because I didn't want to leave something unfinished. I want to challenge myself and prove I can handle work and school at the same time. Coming back wasn't just about getting a degree; it was about personal growth and building a better path for myself.
How did the Shocker Comeback Program impact your journey to returning and completing your degree?
The Shocker Comeback Program helped me to stay focused and reminded me why finishing
my degree was important. Balancing a full-time job while going to school isn't easy,
but this experience pushed me to be more disciplined and consistent. It also helped
me build better habits like managing my time and staying committed even while things
got difficult. Because of that, I was able to stay on track and successfully move
to getting my degree.
What is one piece of advice you would suggest to someone wanting to come back to WSU
to finish their degree?
One piece of advice I would give is to stay consistent even when it feels difficult
and stressful. Coming back to finish your degree while managing work or other responsibilities
isn't easy, but a small, consistent effort makes a big difference all the time. I
would also say don't be afraid of professional help from professors, advisors, or
even classmates. The most important thing is to stay committed to your goal and remind
yourself why you started.
Meet Chao!
Major: Accounting and Management
Why did you decide to return to Wichita State to complete your degree?
If I finish my degree, it will open more opportunities for me in the future, and I don’t want to stay in the same place; I want to grow and have options in my career. I felt a sense of responsibility to myself to finish what I started. I wanted to come back because I didn't want to leave something unfinished. I want to challenge myself and prove I can handle work and school at the same time. Coming back wasn't just about getting a degree; it was about personal growth and building a better path for myself.
How did the Shocker Comeback Program impact your journey to returning and completing your degree?
The Shocker Comeback Program helped me to stay focused and reminded me why finishing
my degree was important. Balancing a full-time job while going to school isn't easy,
but this experience pushed me to be more disciplined and consistent. It also helped
me build better habits like managing my time and staying committed even while things
got difficult. Because of that, I was able to stay on track and successfully move
to getting my degree.
What is one piece of advice you would suggest to someone wanting to come back to WSU
to finish their degree?
One piece of advice I would give is to stay consistent even when it feels difficult
and stressful. Coming back to finish your degree while managing work or other responsibilities
isn't easy, but a small, consistent effort makes a big difference all the time. I
would also say don't be afraid of professional help from professors, advisors, or
even classmates. The most important thing is to stay committed to your goal and remind
yourself why you started.
Meet Regan!
Major: Elementary Education
Why did you decide to return to Wichita State to complete your degree?
I decided to return to WSU to complete my degree to show my three daughters that hard work and dedication DOES pay off. Anything is possible when you believe in yourself to find a way!
How did the Shocker Comeback Program impact your journey to returning and completing your degree?
I had given up on completing my degree after having my 3rd baby. I received a call about the shocker comeback program, and it inspired me to cross the finish line. I owed it to myself to finish what I started!
What is one piece of advice you would suggest to someone wanting to come back to WSU
to finish their degree?
Just take the first step and figure the rest out as you go. It's easy to make excuses
and let life's challenges discourage you from starting again, but I promise that if
you challenge yourself to take that first step, the next steps follow faster and more
easily. Just start.
Meet Melissa!
Major: Physics
Why did you decide to return to Wichita State to complete your degree?
I’ve lived in Wichita my entire life. I have a lot of health issues, so it was really important to stay local because I have a huge team of doctors and they’re in the Wichita area. I am really close to finishing my degree, so I figured I’d finish out here at WSU and then move on to grad school and move out of the state.
How did the Shocker Comeback Program impact your journey to returning and completing your degree?
It greatly influenced my return, as previously mentioned, I have a lot of health problems,
I hadn’t been in school or working for the past three years, and I really wanted to
return. But I knew I didn’t have the financial stability or support to do so. When
I reached out to talk about this Shocker Comeback scholarship, I thought it was perfect,
this will get me connected to the right people, and hopefully they can connect me
to more people, Financial need was a big aspect of it, it was very helpful and I was
determined to comeback, I actually intended to comeback as a part time student, but
as I talked to the Office of Adult Learning. They connected me to other departments,
and I got reconnected to my own department. They convinced me to take on more classes
that weren’t going to be offered for who knows how long, and I ended up being a full-time
student, and I am grateful for that.
What is one piece of advice you would suggest to someone wanting to come back to WSU
to finish their degree?
The hardest part of coming back is getting started. As long as you can put that first
foot forward, I think you can. As long as you get yourself on campus or connected
to anyone, even if you’re online, just put yourself out there, and it’s okay to be
a little bit vulnerable to get where you need to be.