Claudia said the kids see the sacrifices as an investment in the family.
“The kids know they can have more things, they’ll be able to enjoy more vacations,” Claudia said.
For both Robert and Claudia, a college degree opens new possibilities at work and increased earnings potential. And both their employers have programs to help defray the costs of their continuing education.
Robert is enrolled in the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies program. He said completing his bachelor’s degree has always been a goal. He attended a community college right out of high school but left after one semester.
He began working full-time instead and built a career leading to his current position as an operations director for an insurance and financial services company. His UVA degree, Edmonds said, will help him take his career to the next level.
“At this point, my plan is to continue to advance in the field that I am in,” he said. “I feel like I have a lot of opportunity.”
Claudia is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in health care.