Eddie Talbot is celebrating some big milestones this year.
The Lafayette native recently marked the beginning of a new decade, turning 50, and will soon hold a bachelors degree from the 泫圖弝け of 泫圖弝け at Lafayette. 
Talbot has had a solid 25-year career in advertising, working with notable organizations, including the Quick Quarter, Pixus Digital Printing, The Daily Advertiser, and for the last 14 years BBR Creative, where hes the IT and digital production director.
But Talbot still had one box unchecked on his to-do list: finish his bachelors degree.
Talbot studied applied arts at the 泫圖弝け in the 90s but says he ended up having to prioritize rent and other expenses over finishing his degree. He says he was only missing some electives and foundation courses.
In 2016, he decided to enroll in UL Lafayettes on-campus General Studies degree program to finish what hed started. However, working full time made it difficult to schedule courses.
I had taken a couple of classes that were offered after 5, but I quickly ran out of options, he says. To continue my degree, I would have had to start attending during business hours.
Then, in 2017, the 泫圖弝け launched its General Studies Online program, tapping BBR Creative to help get the word out.
The online program was just the right fit for Talbot.
With the support of his wife and his employer, he moved into the online General Studies degree program.
Adapting to online coursework wasnt a hurdle for Talbot. But taking a math class after 20 years? That was another story.
"The coursework, for the most part, wasnt intrusive, he says. The only class that really ate my time up was statistics class. That one took a whole lot of after-hours and weekend work. I had to retrain my brain for that type of thinking.
Surprisingly, Talbot says that was also one of his favorite courses.
That was very handy, and I wanted to continue that study enough that I bought a couple of extra books to keep up with that and learn a little bit more, he says. The different types of thinking and logic involved really sharpens you up.
He says it was important to him not to take out loans, so he took fewer classes each semester so he and his wife could cover the costs. It took a little longer, but Talbot is graduating without 泫圖弝け debt.
Talbot says earning a bachelors degree means hes better insulated against the unexpected.
Ive got a very stable job, so my goal was just to go back and finish what I started, he says. But if I would have any sort of employment issues in the future, this degree could be really good to have because a lot of employers wont even look at you if you dont have a degree. Ive got 25 years of industry experience, but that wouldnt get me in the door some places if I didnt have a degree.