Overnight, Lori Hasty’s life had come to resemble something from a bad dream. Two thousand eight was a devastating year for the Hasty family. After learning her husband had died in a car accident, Hasty was left widowed with two daughters to care for. In that instant, her life changed completely and no longer felt like her own.
In the years following the accident, Hasty’s goals and dreams took a backseat to making sure her daughters were cared for, and finishing college was, by far, the last thing on her mind.
Her decision to return to school would not come until years later.
“I worked full time in property management to support my family,” she said. “But over the years I realized that career was not satisfying or inspiring enough. I wanted to create a secure financial future for my daughters and myself, and I needed an education to get me there.”
In fall 2011, she decided the time was right to finish her studies. She took a class or two to begin, taking her time as she familiarized herself with being a student.
“I paced myself, not wanting to take time away from my daughters,” she said. “I had doubts that I could manage college, work and family by myself in my 40s. But inside my mind I kept hearing, ‘I can do anything I set my mind to; just take baby steps.’”
Hasty pushed forward with the support of her daughters, proudly becoming a first-generation college student and a soon-to-be graduate of the Administrative Leadership program. She earned recognition as a McNair Scholar along the way, a prestigious honor for students who demonstrate strong academic potential.
“I paced myself, not wanting to take time away from my daughters,” she said. “I had doubts that I could manage college, work and family by myself in my 40s. But inside my mind I kept hearing, ‘I can do anything I set my mind to; just take baby steps.’”
McNair Scholars, beneficiaries of a federal program designed to prepare undergraduate students for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities, are usually first-generation college students with financial need or members of a group traditionally underrepresented in graduate education. As a single mother and the first in her family to pursue higher education, Hasty met each requirement.
“Throughout my life, adapting to unexpected challenges as a means of survival has been part of my day-to-day existence,” she said. “Now, as I finish the Administrative Leadership program with two associate degrees under my belt, I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Most of my classes have been online and included a lot of extensive reading and writing, which I enjoyed. The light will come with the completion of my advanced degree and the practical and powerful tools I will receive in this area of study.”
In addition to reading and writing, Hasty enjoyed the breadth of the electives she was able to take during her studies. In particular, she values her experience with Robert Dougherty, her McNair Mentor, and memories of classes with George Henderson, a well-known professor, renowned storyteller and CLS dean emeritus.
“In [Henderson’s] classes there was organic exchange between individuals of various backgrounds providing me with real-life cultural diversity and intellectual experience,” she said. “In taking his classes, I learned how we as humans are more alike than different.”
In addition to these courses, Hasty also highlighted issues of gender equality during her time at CLS. Her final paper for the program, “Blazing the Trail to Pay Equality,” explored an important issue of gender equality in the United States. She hopes to take her research skill with her in future academic endeavors.
After completing her bachelor’s degree, Hasty plans to pursue a graduate degree in human relations before eventually applying to an administrative leadership doctoral program. Her perseverance, personal strength and desire to succeed will surely make her family proud.
Note: The College of Liberal Studies was renamed the College of Professional and Continuing Studies in 2017.
