“I needed a program that would allow me to get a degree
completely online, accept my previous credits and give me the
freedom to take care of my family and work full time,” says Wydna
Lee Ortiz-Martin ’08C. So, she researched online degree programs
and chose St. John’s Online Learning program. This past May,
Wydna walked across the stage during Commencement and received her
Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies degree never once stepping foot
in a classroom.
As the mother of three and wife of St. John’s Mens Assistant
Basketball Coach, Wydna found it difficult to make it to
traditional classes and needed a flexible program that would allow
her to learn and keep up with class work online, “I’m constantly on
the road because I travel with the team when they have away games.
The Online Learning program helped me achieve my goal because it
allowed me to do the work according to my own schedule.”
Wydna’s decision to get her college degree was motivated in part
by wanting to set an example for her children: “College education
is extremely important for me because it is something that no one
can take away from you. I wanted to set a good example for my kids.
I wanted to show them that nothing is impossible to attain.”
Juggling family responsibilities, a job and class work along with
constant travel was not easy for Wydna and sometimes required
sacrifice: “There is always a give and take in this situation. The
more I spent time with my family the less time I had to get my
assignments completed. When this occurred I would stay up late to
finish my assignments, but the beauty in online education is that
you are given a deadline and you have the liberty to choose how you
are going to meet that deadline.”
Wydna says the experience taught her that it is never too late
to pursue your dreams and is considering going back to school for a
graduate degree, “During this experience I learned that endurance
and perseverance will help you achieve anything you put your mind
to. I’m now contemplating going back for my master’s degree in
education or public relations.”