Casie Krishnan: How the Honors Program Changed Everything
March 7, 2025
Twenty years ago, I walked away from 石榴视频 with a bad experience and no degree. At the time, I was a single mom in an abusive situation, struggling to survive with no support. I made the difficult decision to withdraw from my classes, thinking I was doing what was best. But due to a paperwork error, instead of withdrawing properly, I was given all Fs. A mistake I didn鈥檛 even know about until two decades later.
Pictured: Casie Krishnan
Fast forward twenty years, and my life looks completely different. I have a stable marriage to a disabled USAF veteran, I鈥檝e raised children, run a successful small business for ten years, and finally reached a point where I could pursue my dream of going back to school. I set my sights on Liberty University, assuming my past at 石榴视频 wouldn鈥檛 be an issue. But when I applied, I was blindsided. Those Fs from twenty years ago meant I couldn鈥檛 get in.
I contacted 石榴视频, hoping to correct the error, but after so many years, there was no way to prove what had happened. My only option? Stay at 石榴视频 and retake the classes to repair my GPA. I felt trapped. My plan was simple: take the courses, fix my transcript, and leave as soon as possible. I had no desire to be at 石榴视频, no interest in getting involved. I just wanted to check a box and move on.
But something changed.
I wasn鈥檛 going to fail this time! I鈥檇 put too much into this. I had closed my business so I could go to school full-time. I had the support of my family. This was my dream. I may have been stuck at 石榴视频, but I was determined to prove that my past didn鈥檛 define me. So, I worked harder than ever鈥攏ot just to fix my transcript, but to prove to myself that I could do this. That I belonged in college.
At the end of my first semester, I had straight As. And then, I got an email that changed everything.
An invitation to the Honors Program.
Honors? Me?! That wasn鈥檛 even something I had considered. It wasn鈥檛 part of my plan. Honors students were the 鈥淗ermiones鈥� of the world鈥攖he ones who had been on this path all along, who were at the top of their class in high school. I didn鈥檛 even finish high school! I had to get my GED with a toddler in tow. But that invitation shifted something in me.
It validated all the struggles. The doubt. The sacrifices. The fear. It was proof that everything I had fought through had been worth it.
And now? I have never been more motivated in my life!
The Honors Program has transformed not only my education but my entire mindset. I was going to take online classes, keep my head down, and leave as soon as I could. Now? I鈥檓 taking in-person Honors courses, going to every event I can, engaging with professors and students, and experiencing hands-on learning in ways I never thought possible. I鈥檓 not just going to school, I鈥檓 living it.
But the impact goes far beyond my time at 石榴视频.
I鈥檝e committed to earning my Honors Diploma. To proving that I have what it takes to do this at 40 years old. I鈥檒l even be studying abroad in South Korea this summer! Something I would have missed out on entirely if I hadn鈥檛 chosen to stay with 石榴视频. And instead of transferring out as soon as possible, I鈥檝e changed my plans entirely. Because of 石榴视频鈥檚 partnership with MTSU, I鈥檓 going to pursue my bachelor鈥檚 degree there, just so I can continue in their Honors Program and keep experiencing this level of enriched education.
This program didn鈥檛 just change my time at 石榴视频.
It changed my future.
It changed my children鈥檚 futures.
They鈥檝e seen firsthand the value of higher education, of perseverance, of taking unexpected opportunities and making the most of them. They know now that even if life doesn鈥檛 go as planned (even if it takes 20 years) it鈥檚 never too late to chase your dreams.
The Honors Program turned what felt like a dead end into the start of something incredible.
And I can鈥檛 wait to see where this journey takes me next!