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Ashley Smith '24 traveled from Cincinnati to New Hampshire to celebrate earning her bachelor’s in communication online at Õ¬ÄÐƵµÀ (SNHU). Smith, who graduated summa cum laude, reflected on the significance of the day and the journey that brought her here.

“I feel emotional and accomplished, and really just excited for the future, to be honest,” she said.

Balancing Life and School

Smith began her academic journey in 2015 with an in-person program at another university, but she decided to step away after one semester. “I hated it,” she said.

A few years later, Smith said she was ready to go back to school.

“At that point, I had already had a semester of general education under my belt,” she said. “So I was like, okay, let’s find a university where I can carry those credits over and we can keep going.” Ultimately, she chose to enroll at SNHU to continue her education.

Over five years, Smith balanced school with significant life events. “I have moved five times. I have bought my first house and sold it… I moved from Kentucky to Ohio,” she said. “The pandemic was in the middle of all of that as well.”

Why Õ¬ÄÐƵµÀ Learning Made the Difference

Smith credited SNHU’s online learning model for helping her succeed. "I feel like I actually retained the knowledge that I gained from the classes, instead of it being, like, complete memorization," she said.

Smith highlighted the support she received from SNHU, starting in the initial call with her admission counselor: It wasn't just about the logistical side of enrollment. “It actually seemed like she cared about my education and my future,” she said.  

Pride on Graduation Day

Now a college graduate, Smith has set her sights on a career in social media.

“My program was focused in public relations, so I do enjoy the publicity side of it as well as social media managing,” said Smith, “But social media is really the field I’m trying to go into.”

During the ceremony, Smith wore a rainbow stole alongside her honors cord. “I am proudly pansexual,” she said, “I like that it was something I was able to add to the regalia ... and just be proud of who I am.”

Tessé Allen-Albino is a content marketing assistant at Õ¬ÄÐƵµÀ (SNHU) where she is currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in computer science. Based in Ohio, she is a proud mother of two, and enjoys coaching soccer and playing video games in her free time. Connect with her on .