Guest Writer: A TexasWorks – Granbury Student
The following story was written by TexasWorks – Granbury student Lindsey Sturlin, who decided to return to school and pursue a goal she had carried with her for years. Now, as both a high school and dual-credit college student, she shares her journey in her own words—and a reminder that it is never too late to finish what you started.
I first learned about the TexasWorks program at my son’s graduation from Premier High School in Granbury, Texas. During the graduation ceremony, the Campus Director, Mrs. Grissom, announced a new opportunity through TexasWorks for adults ages 18–50 who wanted to return to school and earn their high school diploma.
After the ceremony, two of my older sons came up to me excitedly and said, “Mom, did you hear about that program? You should do that!”
Their excitement stayed with me.
Over the summer, I prayed about it and thought about what going back to school could mean for me. Not completing high school had always been something that I felt had held me back in different areas of my life. I had spent years raising my family, building a business, and encouraging my children to finish school and pursue their goals. After seeing all five of my children graduate from high school, I finally decided: it was my turn.
At 45 years old, I enrolled in the TexasWorks program and started over as a freshman.
I didn’t know exactly what the program would entail or how difficult returning to school after so many years might be, but I was determined to succeed. I was excited to finally accomplish something that I had left unfinished for so long.
A few months into the program, I asked Mrs. Grissom if TexasWorks students were eligible to take dual-credit college courses like the students at Premier High School. At the time, I was the first TexasWorks student who had asked about that opportunity. She wasn’t sure if it was possible, but she told me she would find out.
And she did.
I learned that I could take dual-credit college courses, and suddenly my goal became much bigger.
I wasn’t going back to school only to earn my high school diploma anymore. I decided I wanted to work toward earning my associate degree at the same time. My new goal became to graduate not only with my high school diploma, but also with a college degree.
This year, I am enrolled in three college courses along with my high school courses.
TexasWorks has allowed me to add another chapter to my story. I am a 45-year-old mother of five who went back to school as a freshman and am now working toward both a high school diploma and a college degree while helping manage our custom home-building business.
I hope my story can inspire someone else who believes they are too old, too busy, or that too much time has passed to go back and finish what they started.
Your story doesn’t have to end because you took a different path.
Sometimes you simply have to decide that now it’s your turn.
For years, I encouraged my children to graduate, work hard, and chase their dreams. Now they are the ones encouraging me.
And this time, I’m chasing mine.
