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Melinda Rodriguez ‘24 earned her Associate of Science (AS) in Accounting from Õ¬ÄÐƵµÀ (SNHU) for three people: her sons.

“I have a 15-year-old boy, a 3-year-old boy and one boy that’s going to be one year old next month,” she said. “And I did this all for them.” Obtaining this degree was important, she said, not only for her own sense of self-esteem but also to show her children they can succeed, too.

Rodriguez was drawn to SNHU for the flexibility it offered. As a working mother, she said the ability to complete her coursework at night was necessary. “It just worked with my life,” said Rodriguez.

Already working in the accounting industry, Rodriguez noted how beneficial her classes were. “It’s what I do in my day-to-day, so it definitely helped me grow in my career path,” she said.

Eventually, Rodriguez said she hopes to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and she'd love to be a controller or senior accountant.

Traveling from Lawrence, Massachusetts, Rodriguez attended the 2024 fall Commencement ceremony to celebrate her achievement. “I’m excited to have a big smile and just show off my degree,” she said.

Reflecting on her journey to that day, Rodriguez said she gave birth to two of her sons and dealt with the COVID pandemic during the course of her associate program. She said she wasn't always confident, but the experience gave her a boost in self-esteem.

“I’m so happy that I kept going and I’m here today,” she said. “It’s 100% worth it.”

Abigayle Mahnken ’22 is an assistant content writer at Õ¬ÄÐƵµÀ (SNHU), where she earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English and is currently earning a Master of Arts (MA) in English and Creative Writing. Passionate about storytelling and education, she enjoys learning from fellow students' experiences and sharing their stories. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family, reading, and learning. She also really likes video games. Connect with her on .