Tracey Meise is a recent graduate of Geneva College's Online Degree Program, previously known as the Adult Completion Program, graduating in August 2023. With three decades of service as a full-time registered nurse, Tracey decided to journey back into higher education. Although she had previously taken online courses with different colleges, Geneva stood out as the best option when she decided to pursue a degree.
As the director of a homecare agency overseeing 150 caregivers, many of whom serve the elderly, Tracey recognized the value of gaining a deeper understanding of how to serve the elderly well. This led her to pursue an Aging Services degree through the Online Degree Program in 2021. She says, “It was a huge step for me to go back to school after all that time but I wanted to for my own personal enrichment. I wanted to really enhance my nursing skills and I thought this was a really nice degree to be able to do that.”
Tracey’s familiarity with Geneva began when her daughter decided to attend Geneva which eventually led her to explore a degree from Geneva. Despite the demanding nature of her full-time work, Tracey undertook the challenge of juggling her profession with her studies, a challenge made possible by the program's designed structure. The 8-week segments, readily accessible professors, and the incorporation of biblical references into the curriculum all combined to ensure Tracey's success upon graduation. Specifically, Tracey reflects saying, “I was able to see how I can use what I am learning in my life and that was huge for me.”
Among her educational experiences, one course stood out as particularly transformative—her Death and Bereavement class with Professor Dubois. This unique class equipped her with the knowledge to train her caregivers who work with hospice patients, and she was able to apply policy procedures she learned. Also, it gave her the ability to see the intricate ways in which people process life's challenges from both spiritual and worldly perspectives. It was through this course that Tracey gained the confidence and strength to engage her coworkers and patients in meaningful discussions about her faith.
Additionally, she says that her Bible classes made her degree so special. It helped put everything she was learning into a Biblical perspective. Tracey stated, “We learned the worldly things we needed to know but having the spiritual backing was very helpful for me.”
Moreover, her degree altered her perspective on the care of elders, illuminating the importance of aligning her work with God's vision. Tracey states, “We get so caught up in the world and what we are doing and why we are doing it, but we need to step back and say, ‘This is how God sees it and God sees how we should treat our elders and the respect that we should have for them’…it was all very enlightening.”
For anyone contemplating pursuing a degree through Geneva’s Online Degree Program, Tracey will tell you, "You can do it! The professors are here for you and the flexible schedule allows you to succeed even with a full-time job.”
-Elia Glenn '27
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