The surprising odyssey started when Ashlea Rodriguez, then 20, on her first Air Power obligation task and pregnant along with her first little one, seen a buddy napping in her automotive at their base in Washington.
Rodriguez tapped on the automotive window to ask what was up. The girl, a detailed buddy and co-worker, defined that she was catching some z’s between work and her night time class at neighborhood school whereas her husband, with whom she shared a automotive, was understanding.
“Why don’t you’re taking a school class with me subsequent semester?” the buddy requested.
“OK,” Rodriguez replied. “I’ll see how I do. Why not?”
The odyssey will attain its surprising vacation spot Saturday, eight years and research at no fewer than 5 faculties on three continents later. Rodriguez, now a 31-year-old mom of three and Air Power veteran, will stroll onto a Mid-America Heart stage, ship the scholar speech at Bellevue College’s spring 2022 graduation of 640 college students and declare her grasp’s diploma in enterprise administration.
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She and her husband, Steve, a U.S. Military veteran, will make a journey for enjoyable to have fun — they’ll drive their children to Florida.
Alongside the best way of her academic odyssey, like many nontraditional school college students, Rodriguez discovered willpower and abilities she didn’t know she had. She developed a knack for making larger schooling methods work for her, and for locating the help she wanted to navigate by them. Rodriguez is already placing these abilities to work for different individuals as a mission coordinator in Bellevue College’s Psychological Well being Scientific Counseling program.
“My story is de facto about how the help of different individuals can create these alternatives that folks wouldn’t usually take, these dangers (to strive issues) that they don’t suppose they’re competent sufficient to do,” Rodriguez mentioned. “And the way giving individuals the help that they want, or the steerage, or taking the additional time may also help them select a path that they wouldn’t have chosen earlier than.”
Training wasn’t precisely Rodriguez’s ardour whereas rising up in Decatur, Nebraska.
“I used to be not distinctive in highschool,” she mentioned. “I procrastinated and did the work I wanted to do to tug my grades as much as a D.”
She obtained her highschool diploma by impartial research by the College of Nebraska. She enrolled at Metropolitan Group School in Omaha, however she give up throughout her freshman yr after she bought her first invoice from the faculty. Working within the service trade, driving 45 minutes to high school every method, she simply couldn’t afford college.
Rodriguez didn’t have a transparent thought of what she wished to do.
“I had quite a lot of pals with navy affiliations,” she mentioned. “So I simply went to a recruiter. I mentioned: What are you able to do for me? And I used to be gone in two weeks.”
Her first Air Power obligation task was at Fairchild Air Power Base exterior Spokane, Washington. Rodriguez labored in a pediatrics division with “wonderful” docs who had been decided to not simply deal with signs, however to search out solutions to assist individuals with no matter they had been combating.
“A variety of our job description was, how can we assist these younger mothers who’ve youngsters and don’t have their household, and possibly have a partner whose priorities lie with their obligation?” Rodriguez mentioned. “So now they’re juggling a world that they by no means knew they might be in and the place’s their sources?”
Rodriguez helped the mother and father discover and join with sources, expertise that has helped her by her school odyssey and to assist individuals in her work.
She didn’t know what discipline she wished to enter when she took that first-class at Spokane Falls Group School’s schooling heart at Fairchild AFB. She doesn’t keep in mind what that class was. However she does keep in mind the buddy who made her suppose she ought to strive it, and the expertise serving to her imagine she might do it. The category went nicely. She went on to take extra.
“I don’t even know if she actually seen she was giving me the help,” Rodriguez mentioned. “She actually was simply being type. … I imply, she is a loudmouth, Jamaican woman from the South. And right here I’m slightly Midwest woman whose first aircraft journey was to fundamental coaching. I don’t know if I might have gotten out of my shell.”
After 1½ years in Washington, Rodriguez, by then a mom, was despatched to an Air Power base in Japan. She wished to work towards a level in well being care, however couldn’t discover these lessons on bases abroad. She’s the sort of one that wants lessons in particular person, so none of her research have been on-line till her graduate lessons through the pandemic. She determined to give attention to enterprise administration.
Whereas on energetic obligation in Japan, Rodriguez knocked out a few of her lower-level lessons although the School Stage Examination Program. After a yr in Japan, she bought out of the navy — and her husband went into it.
He joined a U.S. Military Airborne division. She moved again to Nebraska to have her second little one the place household might assist whereas her husband went to eight months of coaching. They had been in a sort of limbo, not understanding the place they might be despatched, and when she would cease residing between households and will get again on monitor with college.
They bought orders to go to Italy.
“That was an enormous frustration, but it surely turned out to be a blessing in disguise,” Rodriguez mentioned.
She enrolled within the College of Maryland International Campus Europe. She took night time lessons on base with troopers. The lessons had been 4 hours lengthy, and met a couple of times per week. Her husband was away on obligation for his demanding job for all however about six months of their 2½ years in Italy. That meant that alongside along with her notebooks, she’d usually take a child to class as a result of she was nonetheless nursing.
She saved plugging away towards her diploma by extra strikes. Her husband bought posted to North Carolina. She took lessons in Christianity at Campbell College that would apply to her diploma and supplied perception that common enterprise lessons didn’t have. Her husband left the Military however went to Kuwait as a contractor. That occasioned a transfer again to Nebraska with now three youngsters, a yr left on her diploma — and one other hurdle.
“As a result of I had achieved all of most of my schoolwork at navy lessons, they had been eight-week lessons, and quite a lot of the universities that I known as round right here at first weren’t going to just accept a few yr of these lessons, the Christianity lessons, or simply the completely different lessons that I had,” Rodriguez mentioned.
She additionally wished to attend in particular person, partly as a result of her post-military advantages paid extra for in-person lessons than for on-line. She discovered Nebraska Wesleyan College’s Omaha campus. It might take all her credit. Her dad might drive down from Decatur to assist with little one care and she or he powered by till she had two lessons left.
One was an ethics course. Wesleyan solely supplied the undergraduate model in Lincoln however had the graduate-level class in Omaha. Rodriguez persuaded them to let her take the graduate class. She was intimidated at first, and her youngsters got here to view the pc as their enemy due to all of the studying and writing she needed to do, however she aced it.
That left an internship. On the peak of the pandemic. When her youngsters had been caught at residence due to COVID.
She mentioned her advisers at Wesleyan couldn’t assist her discover a firm to do her internship. Rodriguez known as a number of corporations and bought denied. She began on the lookout for veterans’ sources, searching for the unity and mutual help she had expertise in. She discovered Bellevue College’s Navy Veteran Providers Heart. They crafted an internship for her — updating their neighborhood useful resource info for veterans.
“She did it in document time,” mentioned Heather Carroll, supervisor of the Navy Veteran Providers Heart. “Then we had been in a position to signal her off, and she or he was in a position to graduate. And due to the companies which might be supplied right here on this facility, and the way it takes care of the veterans within the course of, she determined that she wished to turn out to be a grasp’s diploma scholar right here on the college as nicely.”
Rodriguez lastly bought her bachelor’s diploma in 2020. Now, she has earned a grasp’s as nicely. And her children — Tobias, 9, Vivian, 7, and Abraham, 5 — have earned a visit to Disney World and the seashore. What’s a 20-hour automotive journey once you’ve been on an eight-year academic odyssey like Rodriguez has?
Our greatest Omaha workers images & movies of Could 2022
Riverside’s Tony Berger wins the category D 110 meter hurdles on the Nebraska state highschool monitor and discipline match on Saturday.
South Platte’s Haily Koenen prepares for her subsequent try within the class D shot put at state monitor on Saturday.
Hartington Cedar Catholic’s Jaxon Bernecker throws discus in school C at state monitor on Saturday.
Ainsworth’s Carter Nelson makes an try within the class C pole vault at state monitor on Saturday.
Fremont Bergan’s Koa McIntyre celebrates profitable the category C 100 meter sprint at state monitor on Saturday.
Lincoln Lutheran’s Logan Lebo, left, finishes second to Grand Island Central Catholic’s Brayton Johnson, proper, class C 400 meter run at state monitor on Saturday.
Oklahoma State’s Chelsea Alexander (55) is hit by the glove of Nebraska’s Billie Andrews (6) whereas sliding into second through the Nebraska vs. Oklahoma State NCAA match regional softball sport at Oklahoma State College on Saturday. Oklahoma State gained the sport 7-4.
Waverly’s Drew Miller tags out Elkhorn North’s Drew Harper at third base within the third inning through the class B baseball state championship sport on Friday.
Nebraska’s Sydney Grey (7) bats within the North Texas vs. Nebraska NCAA match regional softball sport at Oklahoma State College on Friday. The Huskers gained the sport 3-0.
Nebraska is launched forward of the North Texas vs. Nebraska NCAA match regional softball sport at Oklahoma State College on Friday.
McCook’s Chayse Friehe competes within the Class B pole vault throughout Nebraska highschool state monitor and discipline at Burke Stadium in Omaha on Wednesday.
A masks ls partily lined by petals that blew off a close-by blooming tree in a car parking zone in Omaha on Monday.
Head Groundskeeper Zach Ricketts, left, works on the sphere whereas Carol Szczepaniak votes in Nebraska’s major election on Tuesday at Werner Park.
Larnisha Dortch fills out her poll at Fontenelle Forest throughout Nebraska’s major election on Tuesday.
Firetrucks spray water on a fireplace on the Flora Residences, 2557 Jones St. on Wednesday.
Kearney’s Brayden Andersen cannot maintain onto this pop-up hit by Millard West’s Nixon Snyder within the backside of the third inning through the Nebraska state baseball match on Friday. It was dominated to hit and Snyder finally scored that inning.
A dragonfly zooms previous Lincoln East’s Jalen Worthley as he throws the video games first pitch in opposition to Elkhorn South through the Nebraska state baseball match on Friday.
Lincoln East’s Jalen Worthley began the sport in opposition to Elkhorn South through the Nebraska state baseball match on Friday.
Lincoln East’s A.J. Seizys scores after a bunt by Jaelyn Welch and an error by Elkhorn South catcher Cole Goeser within the second inning through the Nebraska state baseball match on Friday.
Lincoln East’s Jeter Worthley watches a pitch go by in opposition to Elkhorn South through the Nebraska state baseball match on Friday.
Quiana Smith, left, talks about her late father Rudy Smith Sr. with help from Rudy’s widow Llana Smith and son Rudy Smith Jr. throughout a ceremony to rename a piece of Lake Avenue close to thirty fourth Avenue to Rudy Smith Sr. Avenue on Saturday. Rudy Smith Sr. was a longtime World-Herald photojournalist.
Waverly’s Landon Tjaden (8) and Scottsbluff’s Jose Rodriguez (17) chase the ball into shadow through the Scottsbluff vs. Waverly NSAA Class B state quarterfinal boys soccer sport in Omaha on Thursday. Waverly gained the sport 5-4 after a shootout.
Omaha Duchesne’s Claire Niehaus (18) takes a nook within the Omaha Duchesne vs. Bennington NSAA Class B state quarterfinal women soccer sport in Omaha on Wednesday.
Members of the media await outcomes through the Brett Lindstrom for Governor election outcomes watch get together in Omaha on Tuesday. The race was known as for Jim Pillen.
Brett Lindstrom, Republican candidate for Nebraska governor, walks off the stage, with outcomes projected on him, after conceding the race throughout an election outcomes watch get together in Omaha on Tuesday. The race was known as for Jim Pillen.
Gretna’s Colton Damme (5) leaps over Millard South’s Sam Stutheit (16) as he slides to the ball within the Gretna vs. Millard South NSAA Class A state quarterfinal boys soccer sport in Omaha on Tuesday. Gretna gained the sport 4-1.
The Omaha Marian vs. Lincoln Pius X NSAA Class A state quarterfinal women soccer sport in Omaha on Monday. Omaha Marian gained the sport 5-3.
A masks ls partily lined by petals that blew off a close-by blooming tree in a car parking zone in Omaha on Monday.
Individuals and distributors line eleventh Avenue, wanting north in direction of Jackson Avenue on the primary day of the Omaha’s Farmers Market on Saturday.
Steve Kunasek performs the Cajun accordion on the primary day of Omaha’s Farmers Market on Saturday. Kunasek usually performs with The Prairie Gators.
The brand new indicators for CHarles Schwab Subject are actually put in. The sector was previously TD Ameritrade Park.
Papillion-LaVista South’s Cole Krska (proper) celebrates with Andre Santamaria after Santamaria scored a objective throughout their district ultimate in opposition to Omaha South at Papillion-LaVista South Excessive Faculty on Wednesday.
Chelsea Souder, the founder and director of Nebraska Abortion Assets, speaks as lots of of individuals rally for abortion entry rights after a leaked draft a U.S. Supreme Courtroom choice that might overturn Roe v. Wade turn out to be public exterior the Omaha and Douglas County Civic Heart on Tuesday.
A pigeon builds a nest within the signal on the DoubleTree lodge situated at 1616 Dodge Avenue on Tuesday.
Omaha Bryan’s Cesar Hernandez (8) celebrates his nook kick objective as teammate Christofer Gallardo-Mejia (14) comes up behind him within the Omaha Central vs. Omaha Bryan boys soccer district semifinal sport at Omaha Bryan Excessive Faculty on Monday. Omaha Bryan gained the sport 3-0.
Lincoln Lutheran/Raymond Central’s Jordan Ernstmeyer (left) and goalkeeper Sophie Wohlgemuth cease Norris’s Nicole Keetle (proper) throughout their Class B state soccer sport at Morrison Stadium on Wednesday.
Omaha Westside’s Martin Mormino (proper) makes a save as Creighton Prep’s Simon Metcalf tries to get his head on the ball throughout their Class A state soccer sport at Morrison Stadium on Tuesday.
Omaha Bryan’s Cesar Hernandez-Garcia celebrates after defeating Papillion-La Vista South of their Class A state soccer sport at Morrison Stadium on Tuesday.
Papillion-LaVista South’s Cole Krska jumps as much as kick the ball throughout their district ultimate in opposition to Omaha South at Papillion-LaVista South Excessive Faculty on Wednesday.
Omaha Westside’s Coehen Rusin (left) collides with Creighton Prep’s Zamere Issaka throughout their Class A state soccer sport at Morrison Stadium on Tuesday.
Elyz Onofre hugs her son, Omaha Bryan’s Carlos Vargas Onofre, after Omaha Bryan defeated Papillion-La Vista South of their Class A state soccer sport at Morrison Stadium on Tuesday.
Omaha Westside’s Johnathan Boyle (left) battles Creighton Prep’s Max Matthies for the ball throughout their Class A state soccer sport at Morrison Stadium on Tuesday.
Omaha Westside’s Coehen Rusin (left) battles Creighton Prep’s Brady Bragg for the ball throughout their Class A state soccer sport at Morrison Stadium on Tuesday.
chris.burbach@owh.com, 402-444-1057, twitter.com/CHRISBURBACH
