Made for Flexible Schedules: Lana Felan balances two jobs with flexible, online degree and campus resources

Lana Felan’s journey towards earning her online degree is a remarkable story of perseverance and adaptability.

Lana dedicates herself to nurturing young minds. She's a full-time preschool educator and part-time nanny. She also volunteers with a Texas-based nonprofit, teaching kids to be community scientists.

Driven by her joy of working with children, Lana is earning her associate degree in Sociology at Northwest Vista College, fully online.

However, Lana’s path to this point wasn’t straightforward. 

In 2019, she began her college journey at Northwest Vista. She worked a part-time job and took courses on campus. But when the pandemic hit, she had to support her family with finances. Lana took on a full-time job and had to temporarily set aside her education. Despite the setback, she never let go of her dream of earning a degree.

When the time was right, she returned to college, but things had changed in Lana's life. With a full-time job, in-person classes didn’t fit her schedule. So, she enrolled in online learning.

“I was a little hesitant at first because I’d never taken online classes. I wasn't sure what it would be like,” Lana admits. “Once I started, I realized how much I liked it, especially the flexibility to do everything at your own pace.”

"Once I started online learning, I realized how much I liked it, especially the flexibility to do everything at your own pace."

Ready to advance your education?
Click here to contact an Enrollment Coach today!

As a first-time-in-college student, Lana took on a second job as a nanny to help cover additional expenses.  Although the added responsibilities sometimes felt overwhelming, she leaned on student resources at Northwest Vista College to stay on track with her studies. ​

“I didn't have a laptop, so I spent most of my time in the library,” Lana shared. “The librarians helped me with my research essays, accessing catalogs and peer-reviewed articles that I can use,” explained Lana. “I also worked with my advisor, planning what my next classes would work and then just helping me find additional support.”

As she advanced in her online courses, Lana developed study habits that worked best for her.

“I know online classes can be intimidating, but take it slowly. Try not to procrastinate because you’re working on your time,” explained Lana. “On weekends, I’d find a quiet space to focus for a few hours, like a coffee shop. This helped me stay on track without stressing during the week.”

Lana praises the flexibility of online learning and how it fits into her schedule. She says she appreciates "being able to relax a bit after work before finishing assignments."

She's also proud of how far she’s come and has inspired others, including her boyfriend, who returned to college alongside her.

“I actually convinced him to go back. I told him, ‘If we can do this and graduate together, we'll be able to support each other.’ We’ve spent hours working together on our papers or finals. So having his support really helped.”

With hard work, dedication, and a supportive network, Lana is creating the future she once only dreamed of—proving that anything is possible with enough perseverance and ambition.

Like Lana, you can earn a degree that is flexible and fits into your schedule. Get started by contacting an enrollment coach today!