John Lennon famously sang that “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.

Barbara Bond, who is graduating with her Bachelor of General Studies degree offered by University College, knows all too well how life can take an unexpected and exceedingly challenging turn. That hasn’t stopped her from reaching the finish line for a dream deferred.

“I originally was a Temple student majoring in biology and criminal justice. When I took time off to have my daughter Madison, I always had the intention of returning to finish what I started,” she said. “I kept saying to myself, ‘I’m going to go back, I’m going to go back, but life just kept happening. Things just kept getting crazy and I never felt I had enough time to devote to classes.”

After having her son, Quincy, she and her family moved to the U.S. Virgin Islands to fulfill a dream of her mother Cleo’s who had recently passed. In September 2017, that dream was shattered as Hurricane Maria hit the island chain with full force, altering Bond’s life forever.

“The ceiling collapsed on top of me. I lost an eye — I’ve had 14 surgeries and I have number 15 scheduled. I had to drive myself to the emergency room and I was taken by medevac to Georgia; a family member went to St. Thomas to get my children,” she said. “We essentially lost everything. We returned to the states so I could get treatment, picked up the pieces and continued on, because that is what you have to do.”

While continuing her recovery, Bond and her family returned to the Philadelphia area.

“There was a lot of therapy involved. For some things, I had to learn new ways of doing things,” she said. “For myself and my family, I knew something had to change. I wanted to ensure I could support my family without it being a constant struggle.”

Having prior experience as a teaching assistant, Bond was given the opportunity to substitute teach at Delaware Valley Friends School. Rediscovering a true passion for teaching from that experience, “I knew I had to get my bachelor’s degree if I wanted to become a lead teacher.”

“My kids are getting older, my daughter is off to college, and my son is graduating high school this year. I knew it was time for me to go back and finish what I had started,” she said. “In speaking with several advisors, I soon discovered that the BGS program was the best program for me — it was literally the degree I needed to pursue my goals. It’s been a long journey to get here, but I’m finally here and it feels wonderful. If you can go back to just better your life in some way, you make time for it.”

While working, Bond has been taking courses in the BGS program part time for three years.

“The people who oversee the program are amazing. I’m not old, but I am an older student, so I had a lot more questions about how to do things, particularly with computers because I didn’t have the background in that,” she said. “Any time I called, or emailed or set up an appointment, they were always willing to give me guidance. All of the teachers I’ve had have been great.”

Bond said she has no social media presence at all “and I intend to keep it that way.”

“Sometimes that made some of the classroom topics a little more challenging, or a little more difficult to connect with. My teachers were willing to make adjustments to assignments if needed,” she said. “Most of the classes I’ve taken have been relevant to the teaching field. Delaware Valley Friends School has a tuition assistance program to help teachers who want to get a degree, which proved to be invaluable — I don’t think I could have done this on my own.”

Bond said Delaware Valley Friends has been along this journey with her from the very start.

“I love it there and I’m planning to stay there,” she said. “With this degree, I can now officially apply for a lead teaching position!

According to Bond, she is a first-generation college graduate “and my family is over the moon about it.”

“For me and my kids, this moment is the best thing ever. I’ve told both of them, they may not choose to go to college, but they will be successful in whatever they do, and they are going to stick with it,” she said. “For me, I had to be a good role model for them. When I think about it, I tear up because I finally did it!”

The Bachelor of General Studies is designed for learners with prior college and at least sixty transferable credits who are ready to complete their undergraduate degree. The 120-credit bachelor’s program focuses on creating a solid foundation for a wide variety of careers and it allows students the opportunity to customize their degree path. Learn more about the Bachelor of General Studies here.