Faith Boudreaux knows herself very well. When the 22-year-old from Erath graduated from high school, she had some clear objectives.
She knew she wanted to study at the 星空无限传媒. Her dad had attended the University and she grew up wearing Ragin鈥 Cajun red and driving into Lafayette for football games.
鈥溞强瘴尴薮 Lafayette鈥檚 always been like our college in my family, so I never had to guess where I might go, I always knew it would be 星空无限传媒 Lafayette,鈥 she says.
She also knew she wanted to major in kinesiology and work with athletes.
However, to achieve her goals and ultimately thrive, Boudreaux would have to adapt to a few changes in her plans.
Early on, Boudreaux realized the kinesiology concentrations that lined up with her interests required a lot of biology classes and she could tell that subject might derail her entirely.
鈥淚 started in Pre-Professional Studies to be a physical therapist, but I knew biology was just not for me at all,鈥 she says.
Boudreaux briefly changed her major to Child and Family Studies to pursue being a health coach but that wasn鈥檛 the right fit either. Kinesiology still beckoned to her, so she visited the University鈥檚 website and looked at every concentration offered under the School of Kinesiology.
As she sifted through the program options, one by one, she could instantly tell which ones were not going to work for her, until she found the Health Promotion and Wellness online program.
鈥淚 looked at the course requirements and the instructors, and in my head, I was like, 鈥榊es, that鈥檚 the one. Go do it.鈥 And I absolutely love it,鈥 she says.
Finding her place
The smooth transition to online learning surprised Boudreaux. Originally, she had been set on studying in-person.
鈥淚 wanted to be on campus; I wanted that full experience,鈥 she says. 鈥淏ut once I started, I realized how much I love online learning.鈥
At the start of each semester, Boudreaux would download the new syllabuses and map out readings, projects and due dates in her planner, so she never lost track of responsibilities.
She became known for her organizational skills and time management so much that when the pandemic moved in-person classes to virtual classrooms, Boudreaux鈥檚 friends reached out to her for guidance on the adjustment.
鈥淪ome of my friends on campus asked me 鈥楬ow do you make this work?鈥 and I said, 鈥楤uy a planner. I will write it all out and show you how to color code it, then you can do the rest,鈥欌 she says.
Boudreaux found it much easier to speak with instructors online than it had been navigating office hours in person.
鈥淚 feel like the professors working with online students have good time management with us and with answering emails. I felt like whatever I needed, whatever it took, they would help me figure it out,鈥 she says.
Room to grow
The flexibility and independence of online learning meant Faith was able to take on three internships during her senior year: Girl Scouts of Louisiana, Louisiana Public Health Institute's Tobacco-Free Living campaign, and Louisiana Ragin鈥 Cajuns athletic department.
鈥淏ecause of the freedom I had not being in the classroom, I鈥檓 able to expand my skills and work in other areas,鈥 she says.
Boudreaux found working in nonprofit organizations particularly illuminating.
鈥淚鈥檝e been able to learn marketing skills, people skills, networking, and collaboration,鈥 she says, 鈥淚t鈥檚 all going to be so useful in sports, since everything revolves around making those genuine connections with people.鈥
Next up for Faith is graduate school. She鈥檚 been accepted to a Sport Hospitality Management program, which will also be online.