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Spring 2023 College of Education graduate David Byrd Yeaman did not take the conventional path to his B.A. in education sciences. Despite initially having an anticipated graduation date of Spring 1980, he is thrilled to finally become a University of Florida alumni\u2014 and learned a lot about himself while earning his degree.<\/span><\/p>\n Yeaman arrived at the UF College of Education in 1978 after earning his A.A. from Santa Fe College. He had always been a massive fan of UF and was thrilled to be accepted as a transfer student.<\/span><\/p>\n His transition from Santa Fe to UF proved difficult, and after a few rough semesters of earning mostly C\u2019s, Yeaman grew frustrated and dropped out. After leaving UF, he pursued a profession in the insurance business, working with his father. However, according to his wife,\u00a0 Jennifer, \u201cHe always felt like something was missing without his [UF] degree.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Yeaman recalls feeling embarrassed and self-conscious about his decision to drop out of UF. Because of this, he did not mention his lack of degree to his friends or family until about three years ago. When one of his children asked Yeaman what year he graduated, he finally explained that he never did. \u201cThat moment stands out in my mind,\u201d he stated. That was a tipping point for Yeaman\u2014he needed to return to UF.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Forty-three years later, he decided to return and finish his undergraduate education. Yeaman thanks many professors and advisors for helping with his return to UF but states that his decision to return to school was ultimately his. \u201cThe primary motivator in all of this was me, quite simply,\u201d Yeaman said. \u201cOnce I decided it was time, I jumped into the process.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He was able to enroll in the UF College of Education\u2019s <\/span>online education science program<\/span><\/a> to finish his undergraduate degree. \u201cIt was always in my mind that one day I would finish, but online education really opened the door for me to complete my degree,\u201d Yeaman stated. He said that he was met with open arms when he was readmitted to the college. When starting the process, he was introduced to Aaron Ganas and Earl McKee, who played significant roles in his educational journey. He also mentions that he received encouragement from his younger classmates throughout his classes.<\/span><\/p>\n Regardless of the support he felt on his new journey, the fear of failure lingered in the back of his mind. Worried that he also wouldn\u2019t succeed this time, he decided to keep his readmission at UF a secret from his wife and family. Despite his attempted secrecy, two semesters into his classes, his wife saw an email from a fellow student working on a project with her husband on his computer. \u201cTalk about a blown cover,\u201d Yeaman stated. He recalls this as the hardest moment in his educational journey yet and said, \u201cI turned a corner that day and set my sights on completing my UF degree with the highest possible standards of performance that I could attain.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n For the next two years, he worked tirelessly to complete his degree. He recalls the inspiration he felt from watching the talent and intellectual skills of his largely Gen Z classmates. Yeaman attributes his ability to keep up with his fellow students to his experience and confidence. His wife said his incredible work ethic quickly landed him straight A\u2019s while also working full-time. Not only did he know he would graduate this time, but \u201cI realized that I could have cut it all those years ago if I had just applied myself.\u201d With graduation in sight, he felt it was time to tell the rest of his family about his forthcoming accomplishment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Yeaman drafted an email he planned to send to his kids once he received his degree, but his wife accidentally sent the email prematurely. Although unhappy that the news got out early, he took a step back and put the situation into perspective. \u201cWhat matters is I did what I set out to do a long time ago, and I finished with the type of performance of which I am capable,\u201d he stated.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As a 65-year-old graduate, Yeaman reflects on his unconventional journey, recalling when he told his advisor that \u201cthere is no room for mediocrity this time around.\u201d While completing his degree, he learned to embrace his differences and use them to enhance his unique educational experience. Additionally, he feels that his life \u201chas been amazing in spite of this failure, and now, I have managed to come full circle.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n He looks forward to using his education to benefit others. \u201cNow, it is time to use my knowledge to help the community in which I live and to help inspire my grandchildren to the benefits of higher education,\u201d he stated. He plans to \u201cput wings to [his] education\u201d and volunteer at the elementary school three of his grandchildren will attend next year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With the support of his fellow classmates, professors, advisors, and now, his family, Yeaman has successfully completed his B.A. in education science with the highest honors. Although he\u2019s always been the biggest fan his wife has ever met, she\u2019s thrilled \u201cthat he\u2019s a real, true, dyed-in-the-wool Gator, now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" “Online education really opened the door for me to complete my degree.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":20736,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"\nSpring 2023 College of Education graduate David Byrd Yeaman did not take the conventional path to his B.A. in education sciences. Despite initially having an anticipated graduation date of Spring 1980, he is thrilled to finally become a University of Florida alumni\u2014 and learned a lot about himself while earning his degree.<\/span>\n\nYeaman arrived at the UF College of Education in 1978 after earning his A.A. from Santa Fe College. He had always been a massive fan of UF and was thrilled to be accepted as a transfer student.<\/span>\n\nHis transition from Santa Fe to UF proved difficult, and after a few rough semesters of earning mostly C\u2019s, Yeaman grew frustrated and dropped out. After leaving UF, he pursued a profession in the insurance business, working with his father. However, according to his wife,\u00a0 Jennifer, \u201cHe always felt like something was missing without his [UF] degree.\u201d<\/span>\n\nYeaman recalls feeling embarrassed and self-conscious about his decision to drop out of UF. Because of this, he did not mention his lack of degree to his friends or family until about three years ago. When one of his children asked Yeaman what year he graduated, he finally explained that he never did. \u201cThat moment stands out in my mind,\u201d he stated. That was a tipping point for Yeaman\u2014he needed to return to UF.\u00a0<\/span>\n\nForty-three years later, he decided to return and finish his undergraduate education. Yeaman thanks many professors and advisors for helping with his return to UF but states that his decision to return to school was ultimately his. \u201cThe primary motivator in all of this was me, quite simply,\u201d Yeaman said. \u201cOnce I decided it was time, I jumped into the process.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\n\nHe was able to enroll in the UF College of Education\u2019s <\/span>online education science program<\/span><\/a> to finish his undergraduate degree. \u201cIt was always in my mind that one day I would finish, but online education really opened the door for me to complete my degree,\u201d Yeaman stated. He said that he was met with open arms when he was readmitted to the college. When starting the process, he was introduced to Aaron Ganas and Earl McKee, who played significant roles in his educational journey. He also mentions that he received encouragement from his younger classmates throughout his classes.<\/span>\n\n\nRegardless of the support he felt on his new journey, the fear of failure lingered in the back of his mind. Worried that he also wouldn\u2019t succeed this time, he decided to keep his readmission at UF a secret from his wife and family. Despite his attempted secrecy, two semesters into his classes, his wife saw an email from a fellow student working on a project with her husband on his computer. \u201cTalk about a blown cover,\u201d Yeaman stated. He recalls this as the hardest moment in his educational journey yet and said, \u201cI turned a corner that day and set my sights on completing my UF degree with the highest possible standards of performance that I could attain.\u201d<\/span>\n\nFor the next two years, he worked tirelessly to complete his degree. He recalls the inspiration he felt from watching the talent and intellectual skills of his largely Gen Z classmates. Yeaman attributes his ability to keep up with his fellow students to his experience and confidence. His wife said his incredible work ethic quickly landed him straight A\u2019s while also working full-time. Not only did he know he would graduate this time, but \u201cI realized that I could have cut it all those years ago if I had just applied myself.\u201d With graduation in sight, he felt it was time to tell the rest of his family about his forthcoming accomplishment.\u00a0<\/span>\n\nYeaman drafted an email he planned to send to his kids once he received his degree, but his wife accidentally sent the email prematurely. Although unhappy that the news got out early, he took a step back and put the situation into perspective. \u201cWhat matters is I did what I set out to do a long time ago, and I finished with the type of performance of which I am capable,\u201d he stated.\u00a0<\/span>\n\nAs a 65-year-old graduate, Yeaman reflects on his unconventional journey, recalling when he told his advisor that \u201cthere is no room for mediocrity this time around.\u201d While completing his degree, he learned to embrace his differences and use them to enhance his unique educational experience. Additionally, he feels that his life \u201chas been amazing in spite of this failure, and now, I have managed to come full circle.\u201d<\/span>\n\n\nHe looks forward to using his education to benefit others. \u201cNow, it is time to use my knowledge to help the community in which I live and to help inspire my grandchildren to the benefits of higher education,\u201d he stated. He plans to \u201cput wings to [his] education\u201d and volunteer at the elementary school three of his grandchildren will attend next year.\u00a0<\/span>\n\nWith the support of his fellow classmates, professors, advisors, and now, his family, Yeaman has successfully completed his B.A. in education science with the highest honors. Although he\u2019s always been the biggest fan his wife has ever met, she\u2019s thrilled \u201cthat he\u2019s a real, true, dyed-in-the-wool Gator, now.\u201d<\/span>\n\n