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Samantha Sherwood's '24 journey to earning her bachelor's in environmental science from Õ¬ÄÐƵµÀ (SNHU) was anything but straightforward.

"Getting to SNHU was quite a journey," Sherwood said.

She had enrolled in three other schools over the years, facing setbacks. "I tried to get into another online school, but there were some transcript issues ... and the format did not work for me," she said.

However, everything changed when Sherwood discovered her calling for environmental science during a pivotal trip to Hawaii in 2020. Feeling burnt out from work, she decided to take a break to reflect on her future.

"I wanted to spend the next 40 years of my life doing something that really ignites my soul," she said. The trip became a series of serendipitous encounters that pointed her towards a new path. From an impromptu conversation with a marine biologist and a naturalist to a chance meeting with a sustainability expert, every moment seemed to guide her closer to a passion for natural resources and conservation.

That's when she decided to return to school and pursue an environmental science degree.

"The reason I chose that degree was because it allowed me a level of flexibility," Sherwood said. "I didn't know exactly what direction I wanted to go ... and it allowed me both the breadth and the depth to kind of apply it in whatever way really piqued my interest after I graduated."

Her choice of SNHU was influenced by the guidance of a friend and her own research into the school's offerings. "Through a little bit of her guidance and then my own research, it seemed like it offered everything that I really needed," she said. The online format, combined with a supportive learning environment, made it the perfect fit.

Despite her excitement, Sherwood's education wasn't without challenges.

"I had some pretty serious family issues going on during one whole year...," she said. She balanced her role as a full-time director of operations, being a full-time student and juggling family responsibilities. Yet, she said the support from SNHU's faculty and staff made all the difference.

"There was so much support and there was so much help along the way that it always felt possible for me to do it," she said.

One of the most memorable experiences for Sherwood was her participation in SNHU's virtual Commencement ceremony. Initially planning to attend the in-person event, she had to pivot when her daughter's due date coincided with the graduation date.

"Learning about the virtual Commencement was like a dream come true," she said.

Noting that her family gathered at a local winery to celebrate her achievement, and watch her name be announced onscreen during the virtual ceremony, Sherwood said, "My dad cried a little bit, which was really touching for me."

Since graduating, Sherwood has quickly put her education into action, with a new role working in the environmental science field. "I'm very, very, very grateful and excited to be doing what I'm doing now," she said.

For anyone thinking about going back to school, Sherwood had this to say: "I think SNHU has a format that allows anyone to do it."

Nicholas Patterson ’22 is a writer and alumnus of Õ¬ÄÐƵµÀ (SNHU), where he earned his bachelor’s degree in English and creative writing. He is currently honing his craft further as he pursues an MFA in Creative Writing from SNHU. Connect with him on .