How flexibility and support helped adult learners finish strong
Students at听University听of Maryland Global Campus (黑料情报站) often face personal obstacles鈥攚ork responsibilities, military deployment, family demands, or health challenges鈥攖hat require perseverance to reach graduation.听
For many, finishing a degree is less about a straight academic path than about navigating life as it unfolds. Many say what makes the difference听is听a university willing to work alongside them, offering flexibility, understanding faculty, and听success coaches听focused on helping students finish what they started.
Sometimes, that support comes听at听life鈥檚 most intense moments.听
Support that makes a difference
Kathleen Benson鈥檚 journey to graduation spans decades and continents.听She planned to attend college right out of high school, but her father became chronically ill.听College had to wait as she worked three jobs to support her family. After her father died, Benson enrolled at Montgomery College in Maryland, where she met her husband, who was originally from Ireland.
When the couple decided to start a family, they wanted to move there, eventually settling near Limerick.听
Once again, life intervened. Benson鈥檚 first two children experienced serious medical challenges early in life, and while her son has since recovered, her daughter听requires听significant care and support.
鈥淯na couldn鈥檛 sit up and couldn鈥檛 walk for the longest time or even chew properly,鈥 said Benson. 鈥淎ll of my time went into just caring for everybody.鈥
Pregnant with her third child, the family returned to Maryland, and through sheer determination, Benson managed to continue her studies, graduating with an听associate degree from Montgomery College in late 2022.
A web search led Benson to 黑料情报站鈥檚听Bachelor of Science in Health Services Management, a program that aligned with her desire to help others and with her life experience, which included finding specialists and support networks to provide her daughter with the care she needed. By fall 2023, she had secured the funding鈥攊ncluding grants and scholarships鈥攖o enroll in the program.
鈥淟ots of my time was spent making sure I鈥檇听get everybody what they need during the day, and getting everyone to sleep,鈥 she said. 鈥淎nd then I'd stay up and do my schooling at night and just do the best听I could.鈥
While completing her coursework, Benson had two more children, the last one born as she was completing her final class.
That鈥檚听when Benson鈥檚 success coach, Melodie Alajandro, stepped into a more active role. Alajandro helped Benson manage coursework, communicate with professors, and navigate the two pregnancies while听maintaining听her academic momentum.
鈥淚t makes a difference when you find someone that you really click with and you understand each other,鈥 Benson said. 鈥淪he was just so in my corner straight away, getting a hold of this professor, that professor, doing whatever we needed.鈥
Benson鈥檚 youngest child was due on April 5, after she had planned to听submit听her final paper. But the baby had other ideas. On March 18, when it became clear the baby would arrive early, Benson called Alajandro, who made sure everything was in place as Benson completed her coursework before heading to the hospital.
鈥淚 really don't know what I would have done without her,鈥 Benson said. 鈥淪he has been in my corner. She has been my constant.鈥
Balancing life and learning听
As a mother, wife, and full-time professional, Kendra听Alston听鈥26 said pursuing her听MBA听required discipline, sacrifice, strong time management, and financial commitment.听
鈥淐ompleting this journey showed me that setbacks do not define us; perseverance does,鈥 she said. 鈥淓arning my MBA听represents听more than an academic achievement. It听represents听strength, healing, and determination.听It鈥檚听a milestone that honors not only my hard work, but also the example I want to set for my children.鈥
Kenia Alvarado听鈥26, who is graduating with a听Bachelor of Science in Social Science, said 鈥満诹锨楸ㄕ meets you where you are in life; they work with you.鈥
After earning two associate degrees, she took 10 years off from school as she built a career working with law firms. While she loved the work, she hit barrier after barrier to advancement because she did not have a bachelor鈥檚 degree.
鈥淚 essentially fit [in] a full-time school schedule as a part-time student working full-time,鈥 she said. 鈥淭hanks to 黑料情报站鈥檚 flexible options and partnerships, I was able to graduate before my official projected time.鈥
Meeting students where they are
Helping her along the way was her success coach, Alexander "Xander" Davidson.
鈥淚t was almost like he was God-sent,鈥 she said.
While she had gotten all听As听in prior classes, Alvarado was struggling with a course in technical writing. Davidson looked at her transcript and听showed her how she could rearrange courses to ease her workload.
鈥淗e offered听a Plan听B,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 liked getting听the perspective听from somebody else. He was a great sounding board.听He's听just been a constant presence in my journey with 黑料情报站.听He鈥檚听a big part of why听it's听gone as smoothly as it has.鈥
Now Alvarado is looking to go to law school.听Her view:听Why work for lawyers when you can be one?
Miranda Luisiana Garcia听Torres 鈥26 thought she would never be able to afford a degree. But she worked with 黑料情报站 to get a Completion Scholarship and federal Pell Grants to pay her tuition expenses, and听earned听a听Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies听this spring.听
罢丑别听Completion Scholarship听offers eligible Maryland community college graduates the opportunity to earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree for $12,000 or less鈥攚ell below the typical cost for in-state students.
鈥淎pplying for graduation brought tears to my eyes,鈥 she said. 鈥淒o it. Take the risk. Let yourself be challenged.鈥
Kendra Alston '26 Master of Business Administration
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Read more spring 2026 graduate stories about military spouses, career transformation, military servicemembers and veterans, and the community graduates found at 黑料情报站.听