Alumni Newsletter - WGU Alumni Community - Western Governors ...

graduate spotlightsJoy McIrvincolville, washingtonJoy McIrvin recalls that she knew from a young ageshe wanted to be a teacher, yet she married after highschool and chose to stay at home with her two daughtersborn within the next three years. Joy volunteeredat their schools, adding that she earned an associate’sdegree from a community college in Washington andworked as a paraprofessional for the past ten years,preschool through grade 12. Given the opportunity towork in a special education classroom following a familyrelocation, Joy says she was a bit nervous, but afterthe first week, she knew she wanted to be in specialeducation. She had “a burning desire to become a teacherand no way to become certified without abandoningmy entire life,” Joy explains, since the nearest traditionalcollege was a 100-mile commute. “That’s when Ilearned about WGU,” Joy says. By accelerating her pace,Joy graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Special Educationdegree in July 2011, becoming certified in specialeducation 18 months after enrollment. Tuition and“WGU’s unconventional approach toward tailorfittingan education to meet individual needs andintended degrees has been a perfect fit for me.”-WGU Alum, Joy McIrvinElaine Robichauxharrison, arkansasElaine Robichaux describes growing up in a militaryfamily as a “pretty ordinary” life, but by ‘ordinary’ sheimplies that most families commonly face significantchallenges and how they cope tends to separate ordinaryfrom extraordinary. She won many awards inschool in spite of hurdles, was in the National HonorSociety, and finished inthe top 10% in her classof 200. Straight out ofhigh school, Elaine wasaccepted to the prestigiousUniversity ofCalifornia at Berkeley.However, due to unforeseencircumstances,Elaine had to halt college.Subsequently, she marrieda man who loved her,bought a house and a dog,had children, worked acareer in computer programming,moved, andrelated expenses wereso affordable, Joy says,that she has no education-relateddebt. Shethanks her “terrificmentor” and particularlyher family, whohas given “unwaveringlove and support…without it, I don’tknow that I would bestanding here today.”She jokes that she haspromised them homemademeals with nomore Top Ramen. Joyaffirms, “WGU’s unconventionalapproach toward tailor-fitting an educationto meet individual needs and intended degrees hasbeen a perfect fit for me.” She feels fully prepared tobegin teaching in her own classroom this coming schoolyear. In fact, she’s replacing the teacher she workedalongside for five years who is retiring. Joy also plans toreturn to WGU for her master’s degree. “Without WGU,”says Joy, “I would still be simply dreaming!”•bought another house, buried the dog, and sent herchildren to public school. Elaine says she had an “aha”moment when she realized she wanted a job wheresharing knowledge was an art form. As such, she wantedto become a teacher. She wanted to pay back thoseearly teachers who saw academic excellence in her, andto help students in secondary school know someoneunderstands what they’re going through and discoverthe exciting world of science. That began her WesternGovernors University adventure. What strategicallyworked for her was to flip work to part-time and focusfull time on school. Due to her experience and background,she was able to accelerate her program. Elainesays, “I will be the first in my family to get a collegedegree.” She graduated in June 2011 with a Bachelor ofScience in Secondary Education in Chemistry degree,and she thanks WGU, “an extraordinary school helpingordinary people.” In spite of life happening all around,she affirms, “you still have the power to obtain yourcollege degree.” •WGU Alumni Newsletter - summer 2011 | 11