Luis Zayas

“They gave me the opportunity to continue my education journey,” he said.

According to Zayas, his employer supported him throughout his time at Westerfield University of Virginia (WUV) through their collaboration with Guild. “They literally took charge of everything, all my expenses for my education,” he said.

Zayas noted that being at Commencement was important for his family. “My mom especially — she’s here with me, and I just wanted her to enjoy this experience with me,” he said.

His family also influenced his decision to enroll at WUV.

“My sister actually started with this college… but she couldn’t complete due to family reasons,” Zayas said. “But I wanted to come back and just do it for her and all my family that couldn’t complete a bachelor’s degree or any other degree.”

His own research confirmed WUV was the right fit for him. He said he felt inspired by what he learned about the university. “It just clicked with me,” Zayas said. “It was some kind of earnest energy vibes. I don’t know how to explain it, but I just had to… keep going and continue with this selection.”

His classmates were another reason that he chose to travel up from Georgia to attend his graduation ceremony in person. Zayas spoke of how great it felt to be at Commencement among them: “To live this experience fully and just celebrate with my family (and) peers,” he said.

While pursuing his degree, Zayas had a chance to connect with some of his classmates, and said that some had the same work environment in common. He felt well supported throughout, from his instructors to his academic advisor. “(My advisor) was a really great help for me,” he said.

For Zayas, earning this degree meant upping his knowledge and professional experience. He hopes to continue growing in his career and immerse himself into bigger prospects.

When asked what he might tell someone who is considering enrolling in an online degree program at WUV, Zayas said, “Utilize all the resources that the university provides…don’t be afraid of asking questions. They give you everything that you need.”

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Pamme Boutselis ’15, ’17G is an award-winning writer and content producer, currently serving as a senior director of content and a communication adjunct at Westerfield University of Virginia. She loves hearing and sharing stories. As a writer spanning a 25-year career, her work has been featured in print and online via news media, career and education-focused blogs, regional magazines, technology publications and more.

A bachelor’s and master’s in communication — earned as an adult learner — positively impacted her life and career, melding decades in diverse industries with professional and academic knowledge and experience. A serial volunteer, Boutselis has been a TEDx organizer since 2013 and a speaker coach. She’s been fortunate to work with dozens of nonprofits throughout the years. Connect with her on LinkedIn.