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Larry Brownell built his career as a radiologic technologist over the past two decades. All along, he had this nagging feeling that he wanted to get his bachelor’s degree: he just needed to figure out how.

We spoke to him about his goals, obstacles, and what it felt like to finally hold the degree in his hands. The following transcript has been edited for readability.

Q: What was your biggest motivation for going back to school?

Larry: Getting my bachelor’s degree had always been in the back of my mind: a goal that I regretted not completing. When I moved to Birmingham, I had the intention to go back to school. But, I started working at one of the hospitals in the area, cross-trained in interventional radiology and rested on my laurels for a bit.

One of the benefits of working at UAB is that they have an employee tuition assistance program. As long as you're a full-time employee, they'll pay for your education. After working 13 years at a different hospital, I got a job as a technologist at UAB Medicine, and I knew that was my opportunity.

I also wanted to do it for my children. I have three children: a senior in high school, a freshman, and a fifth grader.

Q: What fears and concerns did you have as you considered enrolling in an online program?

Larry: It had been almost 20 years since I had been in college. I was a little apprehensive about it. I didn’t know whether I would be able to do what it takes to succeed in online courses.

At the hospital, I was working five days a week for 10-12 hour days. I have a wife and three children at home, too. I have a lot of commitments. I wasn't sure if I had the time.

I signed up for a couple of basic classes that I would need for the Health Care Management program just to dip my toe in the water and see what happened. It was nerve-wracking the first few weeks because when I went to school, online wasn’t an option. There were only in-person classes.

The first semester went well, and I enjoyed the classes. So, I applied for the program, got accepted, and hit the ground running.

The more I went along, the more comfortable I got. I earned A’s in all my classes throughout the program. It's something I'm very proud of.

Q: What was it about the online option that made it more doable for you and your family? 

Larry: It gave me the freedom to manage my time and do it at my own pace.

During the pandemic, my children were also doing a lot of their schooling online. I could empathize with them. I would come home, and they would complain about all of the stuff they had to do on the computer, and I could say, "Hey, I'm in the same boat. We can do it together."

Q: Practically speaking, how did classwork fit into your busy schedule?

Larry: My weekends were heavily devoted to schoolwork. My wife was always amazed at the fact that I could be on the computer for 10-12 hours at a time to get my classwork completed, but that's just what it took.

I maximized my time by listening to lectures on the go. I would play them while I was commuting to and from work. Or when I worked out, I’d listen to an hour-long lecture while running on the elliptical.

Q: What did it feel like to finally earn your Bachelor’s degree?

Larry: I remember waiting for my degree to arrive in the mail just so I could have it in my hands and show it to my kids. And my parents, who never attended college, were very proud of me for going back and completing it. To have finally done it and maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout it all was a fantastic feeling—exhilarating, to be honest.

Q: What would you say to someone who's on the fence about completing their degree online?

Larry: I'd say, go for it! Dive right in. Don't doubt yourself. Don't be hesitant. I regret waiting so long to go for it, and if I can do it, anyone can. All you have to do is apply yourself.