Lesley (Chapa) Harris’ start to college wasn’t exactly smooth. Even though it appeared she had the perfect small-town West Texas high school experience – cheerleader, honor society, tennis, saxophone player, and drum major – her family life had become tumultuous, with her parents divorcing sometime around her sophomore year. Running away to college in the big city of San Antonio to get away from it all – being young, just thinking she knew better than everybody else – seemed like a good idea at the time to the first-generation student.
However, without a support system, the 18-year-old lasted one semester before she returned home to some who were disappointed and had expected more from her. She expected more from herself. That sting stayed with her, and she never lost the desire to get that diploma.
This May, after almost 20 years of feeling like she woulda, coulda, shoulda done more, followed by an additional four years of quiet – almost hidden – determination, Lesley crossed the stage summa cum laude with Texas Tech Online’s Bachelor of Business Administration in General Business (OBBA) through the Jerry S. Rawls College of Business. She graduated less than a week before turning 42, showing the world – and herself – she really could achieve what she wanted all along.