Real Frisco

For many people, the mention of college conjures up thoughts of the good old days; from term papers to spring break, it seems that everyone has an abundance of memories to share. This, however, was not the case for Stacey Miller, not until now, anyway.  As a resident of Plano, Texas, Stacey had a wonderful life – two beautiful daughters, ages 21 and 17, a loving church family, and an admirable job as the vice president of a local insurance agency, Roach Howard Smith & Barton. Still there was something missing. After years of avoiding all talk of college, and always putting everyone else first, Stacey knew that she could not be satisfied in life until she did one thing for herself – earn a degree. Even though, as she puts it, “life happened,” Stacey always knew that her high school graduation would not be her last.  Stacey has a family history with Dallas Baptist University. Her father, her sister, and brother-in-law all attended the school, so it was an obvious place to consider when looking into prospective universities. After researching DBU’s College of Adult Education, the fit seemed perfect. To top it off, she was able to earn credit for college-level learning gained through her years of life and work experience.  With the flexibility found at DBU Frisco, college was finally a real possibility. What she was not expecting was the way in which the professors, advisors, and fellow students at DBU reached out to her and made her feel at home.  Stacey knew that DBU was where God wanted her to be, and she felt blessed knowing that she was living out her dream.  Beyond the joy and satisfaction of fulfilling her biggest personal goal, Stacey has a lot to show for her time at DBU. Not only did she learn skills to help her in the business world, she has confidence that she never could have imagined before earning her degree. She can now proudly say that she is a college graduate and she loves telling anyone who will listen how DBU is a special place, how it has greatly enhanced her life.  Having a goal for so long and then finally being able to see it through gave Stacey a new outlook on life, one she wanted to share. While learning about servant leadership in all of her classes at DBU, Stacey found a way to use her life experiences, both personal and vocational, to help other women grow. Through Attitudes and Attire, a non-profit agency that helps women become self-sufficient and succeed in the workplace, Stacey educates women about goals and the importance of pursuing a dream.  In working with Attitudes and Attire, Stacey stresses the value of smart goals by teaching how to set a goal, plan a timeline, and then follow through with it. She proudly takes her graduation cap with her as a symbol of her accomplishments and to motivate other women to persevere.  One of the best rewards of Stacey’s decision to continue her education did not come as a diploma or graduation applause. Her daughter Sarah, a high school junior, recently wrote a paper describing her greatest inspiration: her mother. The essay details sacrifice, dedication, growth, and the impact made on both mother and daughter. For Sarah, watching her mother – her hero – walk across the stage was just the finishing touch to her newly gained understanding of how to truly follow your heart. As for Stacey, having her biggest fan there cheering her on was the perfect way to complete her journey many years in the making.

< Prev		Next >