When I think back on my educational journey, it didn’t follow the traditional path. In fact, by most standards, I wasn’t supposed to make it this far. I was a high school dropout—or at least, that’s what the world would have called me.
The truth is, I did finish high school—just not in the usual way. I went to night school, taking an alternative route that, at the time, felt like the best option. Back then, high school just didn’t interest me. I had a tight-knit group of friends who felt the same way, and we spent most of our days at the beach, meeting new people, not really thinking about what we were missing.
For a long time, college wasn’t even on my radar. I built a career in retail, where no one asked about my education. I got married to someone who supported me in every way, and for a while, I thought I was set. But after a decade of working every holiday, putting in 12-hour days, and realizing there was no real future beyond my next shift, something shifted in me.
I decided to go back to school.
It wasn’t easy. Balancing work, family, and classes felt overwhelming at times. There were moments of doubt—Was I smart enough? Could I afford it? Was all this effort even worth it?
What made the difference wasn’t just my determination, it was the support around me. My family and friends encouraged me every step of the way. I found a job with an organization that believed in me and provided financial assistance, so I didn’t have to worry about student loan debt. That support allowed me to keep going, from my first college class all the way to my PhD, something I never imagined would be possible when I first started this journey.
That experience changed the way I saw education. It made me realize how many people out there want to go back to school but feel stuck because of financial barriers. I was lucky—I had the support I needed. But what if more people had access to that kind of help? What if we could remove student loan debt from the equation and make college a reality for working adults?
I’ve spent the past two decades working in higher education, seeing firsthand the struggles non-traditional students face as they juggle work, family, and school. Their perseverance inspires me every day. Watching them push through challenges and achieving their goals has only strengthened my belief in the power of education.
That’s what led to ElevatEd.
With ElevatEd at NUC University, we’ve built a program designed to remove the biggest barrier to education—cost. By combining institutional scholarships with employer tuition assistance, we’re making college accessible to the people who need it most—working adults, parents, and professionals who are ready to take the next step in their careers. And because we know that language shouldn’t be a barrier either, NUC University offers programs in both English and Spanish, so more students can succeed in the language that feels comfortable to them.
I know what it’s like to believe college isn’t an option. I also know what it’s like to prove myself wrong. And now, with ElevatEd, we’re helping others do the same.
If you’ve been thinking about going back to school but felt like it was out of reach, I want you to know—it’s possible. With the right support and the right program, your future is closer than you think.
By Margie Tlapa, Ph.D.