Lauren Carlos Greig thought she left college life behind in 2015, until a dream pulled her back.
In it, she was walking across the 91Թ’s campus, leaving the Student Union. When she woke up, she was in tears.
“I didn't even realize that I cared that much about going back to school,” she says. “After that, I truly could not stop talking about it.”
Still, life was busy. She was married, raising two boys, working full time, and serving as vice president of the New Iberia Spanish Festival.
The idea of returning to college stayed with her, but it wasn’t until she was passed over for a job that the decision became clear.
“The supervisor said, ‘Well, this candidate’s got a degree,’ and that was it,” she says. “I came home and told my husband, ‘This is never going to happen again.’”
Finding Her Rhythm as an Online Learner
Greig first enrolled at UL Lafayette in 2009 with a scholarship and a spot in the Pride of Acadiana marching band. It was where she found her first college community, until funding from her Native American tribe ended, leaving her with no choice but to withdraw.
Years later, the dream and the job disappointment gave her the push she needed to come back — this time, through the online Bachelor of General Studies program.
It was a big step. Greig had never taken an online course before and didn’t know what to expect.
"I was nervous at first," she says. “I was worried about how my messages would be received without body language. I thought it would be too hard without that in-person interaction, but it really wasn’t like that at all.”
The program’s structure and flexibility helped her find her rhythm.
"April is always a busy time with the festival and the boys’ sports," Greig says. "But I had great professors. I would just let them know ahead of time what I had going on. Communication was key."
She developed a system to stay ahead, using Moodle’s calendar to break things down into manageable chunks.
"I kind of looked at it like this huge elephant. And how would you devour an elephant? A little at a time,” she says.
Even when she faced an emergency surgery mid-semester, her instructors stepped up to support her.
“One of them gave me her personal cell number and would actually check on me after my surgery," says Greig. "It was an emergency, completely unplanned, but they made sure I could stay on track with my assignments."
For Greig, the online format didn’t just make it possible — it made it sustainable.
“We have two very active boys involved in sports, and I work during the day, but I could still log in and do what I needed to during the times that worked best for me,” she says. “Going online was the best thing for us, for my family.”
Turning Experience into Opportunity
Shortly after graduation, Greig stepped into a corporate human resources assistant role. But when the position was impacted by economic shifts, she pivoted — landing a front desk administrator job at Clark Integrated Medical Clinics in Lafayette.
The transition felt natural. Though her responsibilities changed — greeting patients, scheduling appointments, scanning documents, and managing sensitive information — the core skill set remained the same.
“You’re handling sensitive information in HR, and now I do the same for patients. It translates seamlessly. Being able to use this degree in both career fields speaks to the versatility of the interdisciplinary degree,” says Greig.
Her concentration in behavioral sciences gave her the confidence to make that shift and thrive in the new environment.
“My coursework helped me understand the psychology behind those daily interactions, and not to take things personally. I want patients to feel welcome, and you never know what pain or stress someone might be carrying.”
The career change has also led her to reconsider her next steps.
She recently learned she’d been accepted into a master’s program in leadership and human resource development — a sign, she says, that she’s on the right path.
While she once imagined a future in child psychology, Greig says her journey has taught her to stay open.
“You might think you’re meant for one thing, but there’s so much out there,” she says. “I thought child psychology was my path, and one job opened my eyes to a whole new career trajectory. So don’t count anything out.”
Explore how the online Bachelor of General Studies at UL Lafayette can help you carve your own path on your own timeline.
