Julia Parsons (pictured above) wanted to go back to school for her family, in addition to realizing her dream of becoming a mentor and guiding force for college students. “I work full-time, I’m a mom and I’m a wife,” Julia says. Returning to school for her master’s degree was about “supporting my family and showing my daughter that I’m going to do what I set out to do.”

When Camille Jones graduated with her associate’s degree, she was pregnant with her daughter. “I worked for 15 years or so and I wanted to go back to school, but really didn’t have the time because I was a wife and mother of two kids.” She never gave up on her dream of going back to school, though, and she knew it was time when she kept hearing potential employers tell her the same thing. “I had interview after interview,” Camille explains, continuing that each time they would say, “We want to give you this job but you need a bachelor’s degree.”

For Troy Marables, the first in his family to go to college, it was about realizing his full potential. Troy received a promotion at work after 20 years of service, but felt he hadn’t gone as far as he wanted to go. “I needed to go back to school and get my degree in order to move to the next level of management.”

You may have dreamt about earning a college degree or going back to school, too. And each time you thought about it, you came up with reasons it wasn’t possible.

Like Camille, Troy and Julia, it’s time to turn your “why” into “how.”

Whether you want to earn your bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or obtain a specialized certificate, you can make your dreams come true through an online degree or certificate from University of Louisville (UofL) Online. UofL Online provides the support, expertise and student-driven focus needed to help you reach your goals.

It’s about you

Everyone has a reason for wanting to go back to school. They have their own unique set of circumstances that may have kept them from taking the first step. UofL Online has a team of trained counselors, faculty and support staff to help you throughout the discovery and decision process.

This is your dedicated team. They’re available to listen to your concerns, answer questions and guide you to the resources you need. They are truly dedicated to your success and will work with you every step of the way on your journey.

It’s about excellence

The faculty teaching at UofL Online are thought leaders and researchers actively contributing to the advancement of their fields through their work—and the same world-class instructors as the traditional, on-campus programs. For online students, this means exposure to new research, an environment of innovation, a culture of excellence and forward-thinking ideas. Because UofL is a tier 1 research institution, you have the opportunity to learn from the best and the ability to be directly involved in making a difference, even before earning your degree.

UofL faculty are preparing students today for the challenges of tomorrow, empowering them to be leaders and influencers in their chosen professions and their communities.

It’s about time—and your time is now.

UofL students come from all walks of life, all stages of career, with various backgrounds and from diverse cultures. Chances are you already know someone who has a degree from one of their programs. Now it’s your time to join UofL’s learners’ community.

With most of the online programs available at UofL, you won’t need to attend classes at set times. Choose the time that’s right for you to get your work done and meet course deadlines. You’ll also be able to work on your assignments and collaborate with classmates from any location.

Take the first step. Visit UofL Online to see what programs are available and start your journey. UofL currently has 32 online degree and certificate programs, with even more coming during the 2018-2019 academic year.

Turn your “why” into “how”. Gain the knowledge and confidence you need to knock down the barriers holding you back professionally. Become an inspiration to your family and friends. Most importantly, earn a sense of pride and accomplishment as you move past your hesitations, and embrace a future of possibilities.

“You can do it,” says Julia. “If it’s something that you want, that you have a passion for, and it’s where you see yourself in the future, then go for it.”

This blog post was originally published on Insider Louisville.