For more than 25 years, Bonnie Parrish carried a goal she had yet to accomplish: earning her bachelor’s degree. Despite building a successful career in financial services and technology, advancing into senior leadership, and balancing the responsibilities of work and family, completing her degree remained something she wanted to do for herself.

Now, Parrish is turning that long-held goal into reality at North Carolina Wesleyan University, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership.

“I’m proud of the career I’ve built, but not having my degree was always something I felt was missing,” Parrish said.

With 27 years of experience in financial services, Parrish built her career in technology through hard work, professional opportunities, and the support of people who believed in her potential. Her journey took her from starting as a bank teller to becoming a senior vice president in technology, demonstrating the value of experience, relationships, and leadership.

But even with those professional accomplishments, one personal milestone remained unfinished.

Turning “Someday” Into Now

The opportunity to return to school came when Parrish enrolled in NCWU’s Executive Leadership Certification program to strengthen her leadership skills. During the program, she spoke with her advisor, Katherine Hensley, about her desire to earn a degree and the feeling of being among professional peers who had completed theirs.

Hensley encouraged her to reconsider what was possible and helped her recognize that coursework she had already completed for the certification applied toward the Organizational Leadership degree requirements.

“She told me, ‘If you truly want to obtain your degree, it is possible,’ and showed me how I could make it happen,” Parrish said.

Realizing she had already made progress toward the degree helped Parrish see a path forward. After years of postponing the goal, she decided it was time to take the next step.

“So, I guess the short answer is that I finally realized that ‘someday’ could actually be now,” she said. “After putting it off for more than 25 years, I decided it was time to stop looking at my degree as something that was out of reach and finally finish what I started.”

Balancing Career, Family and Education

Returning to college as an adult brought a new set of challenges. With a demanding career, family responsibilities, and the everyday commitments of life, Parrish had to find time for assignments and studying wherever she could.

There were late nights, weekends, and even middle-of-the-night study sessions. At times, balancing professional deadlines with academic responsibilities left her wondering how she would manage it all.

Yet being an adult learner also gave her an advantage. Years of professional and leadership experience allowed her to connect classroom concepts with situations she had encountered throughout her career.

“I came back with years of real-world and leadership experience, so I was able to connect what I was learning in class to situations I had actually experienced,” she said.

Parrish credits her husband and her faith with helping her persevere throughout the journey. Her husband provided encouragement and support at home, giving her the time and space she needed to focus on her education. She also credits God’s grace with giving her strength during stressful moments.

“There’s no way I could have done this without my husband and God’s grace,” she said.

Her experience reflects an important reality for adult learners: returning to school requires commitment and sacrifice, but the knowledge and experience gained outside the classroom can be just as valuable as what is learned within it.

A Degree With Personal Meaning

For Parrish, earning her degree is about more than professional advancement. Although she has built a successful career without a bachelor’s degree, completing her education represents the fulfillment of a personal goal she has carried for decades.

“I feel blessed to have built a career that took me from starting as a teller to becoming a senior vice president in technology without a bachelor’s degree, and I know I earned what I’ve accomplished along the way,” she said.

“Completing it has given me the satisfaction of finally accomplishing a goal I had carried with me for more than 25 years.”

The experience has also reminded her that learning and personal development do not have to stop at a certain age or career stage. She hopes to continue growing as a technology leader while dedicating more time to developing other leaders.

She has even begun considering graduate school, a possibility she might not have imagined before returning to college.

“More than anything, this experience has reminded me that growth doesn’t have an expiration date,” Parrish said. “At this stage of my career and life, I’m still learning, still growing, and still discovering what I’m capable of.”

Her Advice to Other Adult Learners

For adults who have considered returning to college but worry that too much time has passed, Parrish understands the hesitation. She spent years telling herself that earning her degree could wait.

Her advice is straightforward: stop assuming it is too late.

She acknowledges that returning to school is not always easy. Adult learners may need to rearrange priorities, sacrifice free time, and balance assignments with work and family commitments. But she encourages others not to underestimate the knowledge and experience they already bring to the classroom.

“You’ve already lived, worked, succeeded, failed, and learned a lot along the way, and all of that comes with you into the classroom,” she said.

“It may not happen exactly the way you pictured it years ago, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen. Give yourself a chance. Be willing to make some sacrifices, stay committed, and keep going even when it gets hard. You might be surprised by what you’re able to accomplish.”

Through its Online programs, North Carolina Wesleyan University provides educational pathways for students balancing their studies with professional and personal responsibilities. Parrish’s journey illustrates how returning to college can be about more than earning a credential. It can also mean revisiting a long-held dream, recognizing what is possible, and making the decision to move forward.

For Parrish, the goal that once seemed perpetually out of reach is finally within view. And as she looks toward what comes next, she carries a lesson that extends well beyond the classroom: it is never too late to keep growing.