For Avis Armstrong, earning a bachelor's degree once felt out of reach.
After struggling to focus in traditional classrooms for most of her life, she was eventually diagnosed with ADHD, finally giving her an explanation for the challenges she had experienced as a student. Even so, she never gave up on her goal of earning a college degree.
"It was really kind of the perfect fit for exactly what I wanted," Armstrong said. 
After earning her associate degree from South Texas College, Armstrong began searching for a fully online accounting program that would allow her to continue her education without disrupting her busy schedule.
"It's really hard for me to sit in a classroom and listen," Armstrong said. "Of course, the teachers are engaging, but to sit for an extended period of time is really difficult for me. So, finding an online program for what I wanted to do was really great."
She found exactly what she was looking for at The University of Texas Permian Basin.
"This one at UTPB was the most seamless with the credits that I already had," Armstrong said.
At the time, Armstrong was working two jobs, including one that required a 45-minute commute each way. Balancing work, travel, and coursework wasn't easy, but the flexibility of UTPB's online program made it possible for her to keep moving toward her goal.
"If I can do it, anybody can do it," Armstrong said.
Her hard work paid off when she graduated this spring. To celebrate the milestone, UTPB President Dr. Sandra Woodley traveled to Austin in May to recognize Armstrong's achievement in person.
For Armstrong, what once seemed impossible became a reality through determination and the flexibility of UTPB's online program, proving that earning a degree can fit into even the busiest of lives.
