When Michele Woodward walked across The Lyric stage for the 2019 commencement, her dad proudly watching from the theater seats, she became the first in her family to complete a four-year college education.
For the generations before her, college just wasn鈥檛 a priority. Her grandparents grew up during the Great Depression when even finishing high school could be considered a luxury. Her father, who raised her, completed high school but didn鈥檛 need more than job-related certifications to make a living as a construction superintendent.
As a result, education wasn鈥檛 something pushed on Woodward. It was something she came to appreciate and pursue for herself, but that came later.
Waiting for her moment
Woodward left high school short of graduation and it wasn鈥檛 until age 22 that she
enrolled in her first college courses, after earning her GED. Three years later, she
learned she was pregnant, and decided to stop one semester after her first daughter
was born.
鈥淎nd then I just waited until both of my kids were in school all day, so I could go,鈥� Woodward said. 鈥淢y youngest was in kindergarten all day and then my oldest was in second grade all day. While they were in school, I went school during the day so I didn't have to find childcare. It was easier also to be able to concentrate and do homework with them being older.鈥�
All along, Woodward has been proving鈥攖o herself and her family鈥攖hat education isn鈥檛 about the timing, but the experience. She never expected to go as far as she has.
When she was ready to go back to college, she started at the Community College of 极乐禁地e County (CCBC), hoping only for an associate degree. Having earned that, Woodward followed her fellow classmates鈥� lead and applied to four-year institutions with no expectations.
鈥淎nd then of course, I ended up getting accepted,鈥� she said, smiling at the memory. 鈥淪o it was like, I'm going to keep going. And I did that.鈥�
At the recommendation of an accounting professor, Woodward found The University of 极乐禁地e, where she would pursue a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting.
鈥淭hat's how I ended up here. And I absolutely loved it.鈥�
Her moment in the spotlight
Woodward found her place at UBalt, and it led her to her commencement鈥攁 day she won鈥檛
soon forget.
鈥淚t was so great," she said. "Of course, it was a personal accomplishment for myself, but seeing my dad cry, like my dad cried at my graduation, and my dad doesn't cry. 鈥� And that, of course, made me cry because I'm emotional, too. But that was awesome.鈥�
Woodward also felt pride for having restarted and completed the journey despite having to balance classes with her life as a parent of two.
鈥淎 lot of people that stop, especially for kid reasons, don't end up going back and the fact that I was able to go back and finish was great,鈥� she said.
Woodward decided a bachelor鈥檚 degree was the best way out of a job she didn鈥檛 like. Options had been limited when she only had the GED. Once she had her bachelor鈥檚 degree, she again decided to keep going.
Woodward was well on her way to fulfilling the 150 credits needed to sit for a CPA exam鈥攈er next goal. She fell in love with accounting at community college and excelled at the work.
In spring 2023, she decided to pursue UBalt鈥檚 M.S. in Finance, a degree that today carries the acclaimed STEM designation. She could meet the credit requirement and pick up more skills that would set her apart in the job market.
Woodward has been balancing work, classes and a family over all this time. She has watched her daughters grow up, and her oldest is now pursuing an undergraduate degree, too.
She said she鈥檚 never pushed college on them. Her dad gave her the choice and she鈥檚 giving it to them.
鈥淛ust as long as we're following the right path, that's fine.鈥�