Student Success Stories
Jennifer Osborne

On my 36th birthday my husband took me out to dinner.  We were having a nice conversation about our future and he asked me, "What kind of job are you going to get when the kids are grown?"  I had always been a stay-at-home mom and our daughters at that time were in junior high and high school. My response to him was that I really wanted to teach elementary school (a dream I have had since 7th grade), but I felt like I was to old to return to college and earn a baccalaureate degree.  His response to me was to "go for it" and he would give me his full support.

A few weeks after that conversation with my husband, I began my "Edison journey" by placing a phone call to set up an appointment with an admissions counselor.  

From that very first phone call to Edison in January of 1998 until now, I can honestly say that my "Edison journey" has been one of the most positive and rewarding things I have ever experienced.  The small class size lends itself to personal attention from the instructors and to developing personal relationships with my fellow classmates.  As an older student, I lacked self-confidence in my abilities as a student.  However, the instructors have been extremely encouraging and supportive of me and my self-confidence has reached a level that I could not have imagined just a few short years ago.  

In addition to the small class size and the personal attention from the instructors, Edison's affordable cost was also very attractive to me. Another monetary advantage to the program at Edison was the opportunity to take advantage of the Edison Academic Scholarship.  Although not a full tuition scholarship, it has helped to pay for a few classes along the way.  

I began classes in June of 1998 and I will complete my general education requirements and several Early Childhood Development classes in the spring of 2002.  At that time, I will be transferring to the University of Dayton to complete my baccalaureate degree in Early Childhood Education where, upon graduation, I will be qualified to teach pre-kindergarten through the third grade.  I hope to graduate from the University of Dayton in the spring of 2004 and begin my teaching career that fall.  On my 42nd birthday, my husband may be helping me grade papers instead of taking me out to dinner!