As Lauren Garfield-Herrin nears the end of her journey in Michigan State University’s Strategic Communication online M.A. program, she reflects on how the experience coincided with a time when both her professional and personal life were in flux.

After being unexpectedly let go for the first time in a long and successful career in marketing and communications, she found a silver lining—finally having the time to pursue a graduate degree.

“It was kind of something I always wanted to do for myself, but at what point was I supposed to do that?” Garfield-Herrin said. “My life is insanely busy all the time, but when I was suddenly out of a job, I thought, ‘Maybe I should go back to school now.’”

Four months later, Garfield-Herrin applied to the MSU program and was accepted within the same week.

The online format was essential for Garfield-Herrin, a mother of two who lives away from East Lansing. She valued the flexibility it offered, allowing her to connect with peers and professors while managing daily responsibilities.

“The professors and advisors have been a great support,” she said, explaining that by sharing her unique situation during academic planning, she was granted permission to take on a heavier course load to finish her degree more quickly.

She said the online classes also allowed her to work ahead, which was especially convenient.

Garfield-Herrin has earned a 4.0 GPA in all her classes—an impressive achievement in any graduate program. She credits her success to a combination of a decade’s worth of experience in strategic communication and finding structure in her coursework during a time when she struggled with a loss of identity outside of being a student.

“There’s so many new concepts in communications, and I’m kind of an oldie,” she said with a laugh. “Because I graduated with my undergraduate degree from MSU in 2006, they weren’t teaching us about social media and video and all that stuff because it wasn’t a thing.”

While she’s been catching up on the evolution of the communications field, she’s also been balancing big moments outside the classroom.

In addition to wrapping up her academic work and preparing to walk at commencement this spring, she’s also planning an important family milestone—her daughter’s upcoming bat mitzvah. Despite juggling these responsibilities, Garfield-Herrin remains upbeat and focused.

“The most hectic times in my life always seem to align at exactly the same time,” she said, illustrating the blend of humor and resilience that has carried her through these busy months.

Garfield-Herrin’s time in the program is about more than academic success—it’s a testament to perseverance, balance and personal growth. The MSU program has given her more than knowledge; it’s provided a sense of purpose, structure and the confidence that she’s excelling at something meaningful during a challenging time.

“For the first time in a while, I’m excited about what’s next,” she said.

With her second MSU degree soon in hand, Garfield-Herrin feels ready to embrace a new job opportunity and take on whatever comes next. Her time in the Strategic Communication program has been significant—not just academically, but in the lasting grit and determination she’ll carry into the future.

This story originally appeared on the Communication Arts and Sciences website.