Sherika was in line for a promotion at work, but was passed over. The person who received the promotion had a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. That was her lightbulb moment, rekindling her thoughts about going back to college. She wanted to future-proof her career. “I knew that eventually, most places were going to require a bachelor’s degree for employment,” Sherika said.

Like other adult learners, her sense of urgency toward beginning this educational journey didn’t align with the academic calendar. But because the Flight Path program features five term starts a year, she was able to begin her degree on the timeline that suited her in October 2023. Her academic journey has been busy and, at times, stressful given Hurricane Helene’s devastating effect in western North Carolina in Fall 2024. She was without power and internet for a month, but she was able to continue her coursework by using her work’s WiFi and then also spending some time in Greenville with her sister while the area recovered.  

She said without the flexibility provided by the Flight Path program, she would have had to take time off school. But even with dealing with the effects of the hurricane, she took no time off and graduated with her college degree in May 2025. “This was my original goal when I graduated high school, but your timing is your timing,” she said.