For Sheila and Sarah Williams, going back to school wasn’t just about finishing a degree — it was about showing their families what’s possible.
Sarah, 24, originally studied special education but had to leave college after becoming a mom during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I cried my eyes out when I had to drop out of college originally because they didn’t offer an online program,” she said.
That changed in early 2024. “One day when I was feeding my son, I was scrolling on Facebook and saw the ECU Psychology program. I researched it, loved everything about it, applied, and got in.”
Soon after, Sarah encouraged her mom to join her. Sheila, 39, had already earned her associate degree but put her education on hold to homeschool her younger children during the pandemic. Now, she works with a nonprofit ministry that delivers free dental, vision, and counseling clinics across the country — and she saw a growing need for behavioral health services.
“When Sarah told me she was going to school for psychology, I thought, ‘I need to go down this path too,’” Sheila said. “Seeing how much Sarah enjoyed her classes and how it brought her so much joy, I thought, well, I guess I’ll go with ECU.”
Both women enrolled in ECU’s online psychology program, part of the UNC System’s Flight Path initiative. These programs are designed specifically for working adults and offer mini-mester terms, asynchronous courses, and personalized support.
Sarah works on her coursework after her children go to bed, and sometimes during slow shifts at her part-time job. “I print out schedules of what’s due and block out time to focus,” she said. “My husband and I are in the thick of it with two toddlers, but it’s manageable.”
Sheila’s work schedule takes her on the road, but the flexible structure of the program helps. “If I know I’m going to be out of town for a week, I double up and get things done ahead of time,” she said. “The mini-mesters are key — you can really focus on just two classes.”
Even though they’re not in the same courses, they often study side by side. “Just knowing we’re having the same struggle helps,” Sarah said. “We support each other. I help Mom with research, and she’s my go-to for anything math.”
Sarah is now preparing to walk the graduation stage — something she thought she had lost the chance to do. “That’s something I always wanted to accomplish,” she said. “Now I’ll be able to.”
Sheila will graduate soon after. “She’s managing better than I am — and she’s got two little ones!” she said. “She’s passionate and thriving. I’m so proud of her.”
And Sarah? She’s just getting started. “I want to become a counselor for at-risk youth, and maybe go on to get my master’s in clinical psychology,” she said. “I want to help people through hard times — and show my kids they can do anything.”
