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Louisiana woman earns master's degree at 54 despite being blind
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SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — One woman from Bossier City demonstrates that with support, anything is possible.
LaShawn Benita Harley-Hill, who is blind, recently earned her master's degree from Louisiana State University in Shreveport at the age of 54. Hill earned a degree in counseling, a success she attributes to her support system.
"It felt really amazing," Harley-Hill said. "It was an amazing feeling to know that all of my classmates were looking for me at graduation, and I got big hugs from classmates and LSUS staff. I got home that day, took my makeup off and just cried."
Prior to graduation, things seemed to be an uphill battle for the LSUS graduate. Harley-Hill said she cried every day for a month after she went completely blind in January 2017. She felt like a burden because she couldn't drive and depended on others.
“My husband Columbus told me it’s OK, it’s not the end of the world, and that people go through what they go through," she said. "Just ask God for help, and we’re going to get through this.”
After she lost her vision, he completely reorganized her closet and home so she would know where everything was located. Hill mentioned that her professors were also very understanding and allowed her additional time to complete assignments. Even the librarians assisted her by finding articles for her research topics when she had to write papers. Additionally, a mobility instructor helped Hill locate her classes at the beginning of each semester.
Thanks to her support and determination, Hill completed her degree with a 3.9 GPA and is set to begin her career as a counselor with Pelican Bayou Counseling in Shreveport.
Harley-Hill hopes she can inspire everyone and wants people to know that just because things happen in life, you don't have to count yourself out.
“There were times when I wanted to throw in the towel because there’s a lot going on, but I didn’t give up,” she said.