Terry Bridgham not only graduated from Ivy Tech, but also earned a bachelors degree with high honors and started a new career. And Ivy Tech set the stage for success with a well rounded college experience. Read how Ivy Tech changed this graduate's life.

I chose to return to college following a twenty-five year absence for two reasons: first, I have known from shortly after I got married in 1982 that I wanted to return and get my bachelor’s degree because I needed to prove to myself that I could do it.  Second, I wanted to make myself more marketable, particularly after two downsizings that left me jobless. 

I chose to attend Ivy Tech because of the cost, its open enrollment policy, remedial help in Math and English, and its small campus size.  After being out of school for that long, I knew my Math would be very rusty and my English somewhat outdated, but as it turned out, I did not need any of the remedial courses to prepare for the college offerings. 

Ivy Tech had the most cost-effective package including financial aid.  The cost was very important to me because I already had one child in college and another one beginning the same year I did, and they were both attending private institutions, so it was important for me to keep my college costs as low as possible.

Size was important because I grew up in a very small community, and was currently living in another smaller community.  I was very comfortable at Ivy Tech from the very start and that aided in my success as a student.

I would not trade my experience at Ivy Tech for any other school. For the most part I liked all of my instructors.  On the whole, they really care about helping their students excel, and they often have the benefit of years of experience in their selected fields.

If a student has the ambition and drive, there is plenty of opportunity for involvement in student organizations like the Student Government Association.  I was involved with our local SGA for two of the three years I attended Ivy Tech, and I was able to assist in the planning and hosting of the statewide Leadership Conference in 2005.  Another wonderful, learning opportunity was my involvement in the Student Leadership Academy from 2003-04.  I gained valuable information in leadership concepts from team building to presentations.  I thoroughly enjoyed my entire time at Ivy Tech.

When I decided to go back to school, I knew I wanted to get my bachelor’s degree and I wanted to be in computers, but I did not know if I had the ability to do it.  Not only had I dropped out of college after two years with a C or D average, but I had not done that well in high school. I was really nervous about returning, but as it was important enough to me that I set a goal for myself.  I wanted to get my bachelor’s degree by the time I turned fifty years old, or in five years from my start date.  I not only completed my degree within that timeframe (eight months before my fiftieth birthday), but I graduated from Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio, Summa Cum Laude.  I was hired in March by the YWCA of Greater Lafayette as their IT Specialist, a newly created position within the organization, and their only IT position.

Academics and leadership development are not the only areas of my life enhanced by going to Ivy Tech, I made so many friends during my three years as a student and two years as a tutor in the Disability Services office.  Some of those friendships will last a lifetime!

I would definitely recommend Ivy Tech to other perspective students, its value, education, extra-curricular learning opportunities blend together to give their students a well-rounded college experience, but the student has to be willing to take the first step, even stepping out into unfamiliar territory, and be proactive in their educational pursuits.