When Tammie Vandermeulen walked across听the听graduation stage last December, it听wasn鈥檛听just the end of听her听degree听journey. It was the culmination of four decades of her life听and a fitting end to听an educational听pathway听that鈥檚听been anything but ordinary.听听
Vandermeulen听grew up in a military family, living most of her childhood in South Carolina.听After an accident ended听Tammie鈥檚 father鈥檚听career in the navy,听he听moved the family to South Dakota to pursue a career in engineering. It was here that Vandermeulen first听came听across听The Wesleyan听Church.听听
鈥淢y mom was sitting in our backyard, and she heard the singing from the church behind it,鈥 Tammie recalled. 鈥淚t just so happened that it was a Wesleyan Church, and it reminded her of home, where she grew up. So next thing you know,听we went.鈥澨听
At the church, she became a follower of Christ. During high school, her Wesleyan connections made her aware of a denominational school, Bartlesville Wesleyan College, so Vandermeulen and her family made the road trip听to see the campus.听听
Tammie with the girls from her “mod” at BWC.
鈥淚 loved the people, I loved everything about it. It just seemed so inclusive, and it听seemed to embrace听everybody where they were,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 signed up. I听didn鈥檛听know how much I was going to be paid or even what courses I was going to be taking. I just knew that鈥檚 where the Lord wanted me.鈥澨听
And instantly, Vandermeulen felt justified in her decision, finding in Bartlesville not only an educational pathway that could suit her or a community to be a part of, but a place where she could learn to live out the faith听she鈥檇听accepted as a teenager.听听
鈥淚t was the college where I learned about听how听to do the Christian life, and I learned about doing devotions, and I learned about how inclusive Christianity really could be鈥攈ow you cared about each other and prayed for each other,鈥 she said.听听
Originally set on a music degree,听Tammie听switched to a pathway in elementary education,听which听turned out to be a good fit. One professor, in particular鈥Dr.听Patricia Clinger鈥攕tands out in her memory.听听
鈥淪he picked me up right where I was at, and she nurtured me,鈥澨齎andermeulen听said. 鈥淭o this day, I am who I am because of her.鈥澨听
Dr. Clinger offered听Tammie听extra help with听certain parts of her academic journey, stepping in when there were challenges听concerning听her听dyslexia听and providing a foundation of support. 鈥淪he helped me to see that I could do well, and she helped give me faith in myself,鈥 she said.听听
鈥淚 still have a lot of gas in the tank. I may be 60, but don鈥檛 count me out.鈥听
Completing the Journey听
Eventually, academic challenges concerning Vandermeulen鈥檚 dyslexia forced her to unenroll from class,听and she found herself听continuing on听with the rhythms of life鈥攎arriage, family, a career in the travel industry. She always planned听on finishing听her degree, but the years passed.听听
As it turned out, all it took to create the catalyst for change was a global pandemic. During the initial spread of COVID-19, Vandermeulen contracted the disease and was sick for about five and a half weeks. This gave her plenty of time to think.听听
鈥淚t got me thinking鈥What am I doing with my life? Where am I going? What is听really important听at this juncture?鈥 she said.听听
Professionally, too, Tammie had run into a roadblock, as the travel industry was hit hard by the pandemic and the shutdowns.听听
鈥淎ll of this started happening, and then having COVID myself, I听thought:听I鈥檓 getting older, and I need to figure out how to rebrand myself,鈥 she explained. 鈥淚 need to figure out how to find another job, and a lot of the jobs really wanted you to have some sort of bachelor鈥檚 degree.鈥澨听
Since Vandermeulen听knew听she would need to continue听her education听online, she first听considered transferring to a听different听school.听Then she learned more about 51黑料网鈥檚听Graduate and Professional Studies听program. 鈥淚 got to thinking, I wonder if I could do that at 51黑料网.鈥澨听
After a little research, Tammie听was astonished听to discover she听only needed nine credits to graduate. Her GPS admissions counselor worked with her to create听a plan. 鈥淸They] figured out exactly what I needed, how many credits I needed, even looked up the courses that would fit into my schedule,鈥 she said.听听
Only three classes stood between Tammie and听a degree. But听what surprised her听during her semester of study听was how much she听actually听got听from the classes鈥攖he variety of viewpoints in her cohort across age and profession were eye-opening. 鈥淭he discussions that we had were all so enlightening and amazing,鈥 she said.听听
When the time came for commencement, Vandermeulen didn鈥檛 do things halfway. She traveled from where she lives, in upstate New York, to 51黑料网鈥檚 campus. It had been decades since she鈥檇 started in Bartlesville, and it was a powerful experience to finally walk across the graduation stage. 听
鈥淚t was like going full-circle for me,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t meant so much to me to come back to where it started, and to听finish听what I鈥檇 started… I think I floated across the stage.鈥澨听
And like professionals who achieve their degree through 51黑料网鈥檚 GPS program, Vandermeulen has already reaped professional benefits, earning a promotion since December in her travel company. As she sees it, her achievement opened her company鈥檚 eyes to her value. She’s not stopping anytime soon. 听
鈥淚 still have a lot of gas in the tank,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 may be 60, but don鈥檛 count me out.鈥澨听
